Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
I move one of the pillows to discover a blue velvet box. It’s clearly jewelry. “Is this for me?”
“Open it,” Zac says.
I lift the box to reveal a sparkling diamond bracelet. I show it to Thea who gives me a thumbs-up and a huge grin. I think she was in on this surprise. “This is gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”
“Pity you don’t own a mirror. We’ll have to work on that next,” Zac says.
“You can’t buy me expensive gifts,” I tell him. “I mean, it’s stunning but Zac—”
“Go to dinner with me tonight,” he says, and I remember Thea’s earlier words.
“You can get time away?”
“For you, I have all the time in the world. Be ready at seven,” he tells me. I hear a noise in the background, and I know his work is beckoning.
“I’ll wear the bracelet, and I’ll see you then,” I tell him in a rush.
“Good girl,” Zac croons. “Now go have fun with Thea.”
Chapter 17
Dotty
“Why do I have to get dressed and do my makeup here?” I ask Thea the next day as she ushers me into the backstage area to a door marked makeup. Last night, I had a perfect dinner out with Zac where he presented me with another piece of jewelry, a matching diamond necklace to go with the bracelet.
“Because there are going to be cameras trained all over Zac tonight,” she explains. “And we both know there’s only one person he’ll be looking at.”
My cheeks heat. Everyone will know from the way that Zac looks at me how crazy he is in love. I love him too. I’ve loved him since the moment I tapped him with my car, but I’m still nervous about saying those words out loud.
He deserves to know it though. I want him to feel as loved in our relationship as I do, and that means being brave and telling him the thoughts that are in my heart.
“I have to go smooth out the chaos now, but these are Zac’s hair and makeup assistants. They help him every night before he gets on stage. You can ask them if you need anything,” she reassures me.
I do my best to give her a serene smile. I want to fit into Zac’s world and show Thea that she doesn’t have to look after me.
“Look, I know it’s hard. It’s a circus here tonight but try to enjoy yourself,” Thea says, and to my surprise, she gives me a quick hug. “You’ll do great.”
My eyes prick with tears but before I can say anything, she releases me and hurries down the labyrinth of halls. She’s already talking into her earpiece and issuing commands in that fearless way she does.
I walk into the makeup room. There are two women sipping coffee and leaning casually around a mirror. They stop talking the moment I walk into the room. The first one is a tall willowy woman with an eyebrow piercing, and the second is a shorter woman with a tattoo of a mermaid on her arm. They send me a look that makes me feel like the new kid who ripped her pants in front of the whole class.
There’s another woman on an old, faded couch. She’s tapping away on her phone, and she hasn’t looked up since I entered the room.
“I’m Dotty, Zac’s girlfriend,” I introduce myself, trying to give them a bright smile. These people work with Zac, and I want to make a good impression on them. Thea has been kind and sweet to me.
The one with the eyebrow piercing rolls her eyes. “Tara, do you think you have enough concealer for all these acne scars?”
My smile falters and my heart falls. They aren’t future friends, then.
Tara, with the mermaid tattoo, chomps her gum loudly. “I’ll have to get an ice cream scoop to fill some of these craters, Aspen.”
I blink rapidly. I didn’t ask for the acne that left behind these scars or the eating disorder that put my brain and body at war. But I don’t have to stand here and take this. I’m proud that my voice doesn’t wobble when I say, “I’m afraid there’s been a mistake. I won’t be needing help with my makeup this evening.”
I turn toward the door as Aspen sneers, “It won’t last. Zac feels sorry for you.”
I face her again. “Zac is in love with me, and I’m going to marry him.”
While the two women are still reeling from that news, I stomp from the room. The third woman hurries after me. She grabs my elbow so I turn and face her. I’m prepared to tell her to go to hell too, but she grins. “You did good. Tara and Aspen have always been bitches, but you stood up for yourself.”
I blink at her unexpected praise and wait for her to follow up with a catty remark, but she doesn’t. “Thanks, I think.”