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

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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

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

the full effect. The girl staring back at me looks

I’ve been

what do you think?” I do

I look?”

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

say to Lisa, moving to flop onto the bed. “Let’s see what scandalous outfit you’re

starts pawing through her closet. “Kellan isn’t

Oh! I have just the thing. He won’t be

Gøøglᴇ to access

course she

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39

Getting

two of us getting ready. No drama, no life–or–death stakes. Just

forget about the tangle of complications waiting for me outside this room. The mysterious text, Sister Miriam’s cryptic words, my missing family, my newfound powers, the unresolved tension with Lucas and Clayton. In here, it’s just me

from the closet, holding up a slinky red number.

one we’re going to have to worry about. He’s not going

if he has a

permission,” I

before shimmying into the dress. It clings to her like a second skin, the neckline plunging dangerously low.

is on the

17:50 —

Ava: Getting Ready

she comes to join me

there shoulder to shoulder, taking in our reflections. Me in my sleek black ensemble, her in her va–va–voom red dress. We look good.

a

the mirror, and we

her closet. “You’re fine, but we can try a simple crop top

me a second.”

over my head, I adjust the hem as it settles just above my belly button. The fabric is soft and stretchy.

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

hair falling

Getting

a curling

some eyeliner as my eyes twitch incessantly. A quick braid for my hair, and I’m done.

dabs on some lip gloss, her lips shimmering in the

with our reflections that I realize I have a problem. My gaze drops to my feet, bare against the plush carpet. Every pair of shoes I own are either worn out or covered

wiggle my toes. “I don’t think

work with this outfit.”

any