Tangled

129 Ava: Getting Ready

“Holy shit.” Staring at my reflection in Lisa’s full–length mirror, the transformation is amazing.

Lisa’s jeans hug my curves like they were made for me, accentuating the newfound definition of my legs. I twist, admiring how my butt looks. Damn. Jericho’s torture sessions are paying off.

Lisa grins at me from her perch on the bed,

surrounded by a sea of discarded tops. “See? I told you we’re basically the same size now.”

I run my hands over my hips, marveling at the fit. “I’ve always been too big for your clothes. This is wild.” Ever since I took over the meals and grocery shopping, the one luxury I’d ever been able to afford was eating a little extra. It translated to a smidgen of extra padding and a little tummy flub. Running from the pack burned

off the rest of it.

“Well, get used to it, babe. We’re going to be trading clothes all the time now.” Lisa tosses a silky black top at me. “Try this one with it.”

I catch the top and slip it over my head, shimmying a

17:50

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129 Ava: Getting Roady

little to get it past my chest. The fabric drapes just right, skimming my body in all the perfect places. I stare at myself, hardly recognizing the girl in the mirror.

“Damn, Ava. You look hot,” Lisa says, coming to stand beside me. She bumps her hip against mine. “Lucas will go wild if he sees you in this. Maybe we should dress you in a potato sack when we leave so he doesn’t come flying back to bring you home.”

My cheeks warm at the mention of Lucas. “I’m not dressing up for him,” I mutter, fiddling with the hem of

the top.

Lisa rolls her eyes. “Yes, yes, I know. It isn’t like he’s here. But you’re going to end up sending him a picture, aren’t you? Just–wait until later. So he doesn’t crash the party.”

I glance down at the black top and jeans. Sending a selfie hadn’t even crossed my mind, but maybe she has a point. “Black looks good on everyone. It’s a classic.”

“Uh–huh. Keep telling yourself that.” Lisa winks at me before turning to rifle through her jewelry box. “Here, these will complete the look.”

279

120 Ava: Gotting Ready

pendant necklace. I put them on, letting the pendant nestle just above my cleavage. The final touch

me looks confident, sexy, ready to take on the world.

I’ve been lately.

do a little twirl. “How do

I look?”

husky lifts her head from where she’s lounging on Lisa’s rug. Like a fierce

moving to flop onto the bed. “Let’s see what

starts pawing through her closet. “Kellan isn’t even on my radar. He’s

for me. Oh! I have just the thing. He won’t be able to

website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters

she doesn’t.”

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39

Ava: Getting Ready

of colors and sequins. This is nice, the two of us getting ready. No drama, no life–or–death stakes. Just two best friends primping for a

tangle of complications waiting for me outside this room. The mysterious text, Sister Miriam’s cryptic words, my missing family, my newfound powers, the

the one.” Lisa emerges from the closet, holding up

more revealing than anything I can pull off, and I whistle. “Kellan’s the one we’re going to have to worry about. He’s not going to let us go anywhere looking like

he has

need his permission,” I

into the dress. It clings to her like a second skin, the

Dandall is on the

17:50 —

Ava: Getting

comes to join me in front of the mirror.

reflections. Me in my sleek black ensemble, her in

maybe a

eyes meet mine in the mirror, and

try this again.” Lisa dives back into her closet. “You’re fine, but we can try a simple crop

me a second.”

with the black shirt. Pulling it over my head, I

changes into a pair of dark jeans that hang off her hip bones, pairing the casual look

dark hair falling in

Getting Ready

of a curling iron earlier.

some eyeliner as my eyes twitch incessantly. A quick braid

lip gloss, her

realize I have a problem. My gaze drops to my feet, bare against the plush carpet. Every pair of shoes I own are

toes. “I don’t

that will work

any