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

of silver hoop earrings and a delicate pendant necklace. I put them on, letting

back at me looks confident, sexy, ready to take

I’ve been lately.

I do a little twirl. “How do

I look?”

her head from where she’s lounging on Lisa’s rug. Like a fierce she–wolf, she says, her tone warm with approval.

the bed. “Let’s see what

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

the thing. He won’t be able to take

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course she

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39

Getting

watch her pull out dress after dress, a rainbow of colors and sequins. This is nice, the two of us getting ready. No drama,

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

is the one.” Lisa emerges from the closet, holding up a slinky red

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

has a

permission,” I

winks before shimmying into the dress. It clings to her like

Dandall is on the

17:50 —

Ava: Getting Ready

me in

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

maybe a little overdressed.

meet mine in the mirror, and we both laugh.

back into her closet. “You’re fine, but we can try a simple crop top instead. Me, I have

me a second.”

with a soft thump. On Lisa’s orders, I switch it out with the black shirt. Pulling it over my head, I adjust the

off her hip bones, pairing the casual look with a

hair falling

Ava: Getting Ready

curling iron earlier.

sits me down to finish my makeup, fiddling with some eyeliner as my eyes twitch incessantly. A quick braid for my hair,

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 in mud

wiggle my toes. “I don’t

work with this

any