Page 21 of Valentine Masquerade
“You’re more than welcome, Ari. You too, Ice Princess,” he calls out to Abi’s retreating back.
She freezes at his choice of words but ignores the jab and waits for me to step up beside her.
Even though she’s wearing her masquerade mask, it’s clear she’s blushing.
“You okay?” I whisper.
Reaching up, she pulls a curl over her cheek, her hands shaking slightly.
“Yeah, you just can’t find good staff these days,” she says loud enough for him to hear as he’s getting back into the car.
He mutters something under his breath and pulls the door closed before driving away.
Abi’s statement is a crock of shit. Firstly, technically he isn’t employed by her, his mum is, and I’m pretty sure whatever that exchange was, him driving us was a way for her to do something nice to help him without him feeling like it’s a handout.
But around him, she acts like she’s swallowed a wasp.
“I don’t get it. You love his mum, she’s always looked out for you, so what is it with you and Seb?” I ask. They used to be friends, but she never talked about what changed between them, and after a while, I stopped asking.
She turns to me, her smoky eyes on mine, the mask making her azure irises pop even more.
“I do love her, but unfortunately, her son likes to get on my last nerve.”
“If you say so.”
She elbows me. “Don’t you start. Come on.” She hooks her arm through mine, and we make our way up the steps. The door opens, and I take a breath as we walk in.
My heart races a mile a minute, and there’s a real possibility I could actually have a panic attack right here in the foyer. It’s stunning, but I’m struggling to take in my surroundings or any of the intricate details as my anxiety heightens.
Abi says something, but I’m struggling to hear her over the hammering in my chest.
And then she’s in front of me, her hazel eyes on mine.
She nods. “Right, ladies it is,” Abi says loudly, guiding me in the direction of the toilets.
Once inside, she quickly checks that the cubicles aren’t occupied, locks the main door, and turns to face me.
“Ariana, breathe with me, okay?”
She takes my hands in hers and takes a deep breath before exhaling, coaxing me to do the same. A few minutes later, my breathing is back under control.
“Are you okay?”
I shake my head and then nod, because fuck, I don’t know.
“I might have fooled around with Hunter and Harrison,” I admit, the words flying out of my mouth.
“What?”
“Something happened the other day.”
She pulls me over to one of the chaise longues and urges me to sit as she does.
“And you’re only telling me this now?” she asks incredulously.
“I think I was in denial. Or shock.”
A knock at the door has her sighing before she shouts, “Out of service. Go use the one on the first floor.”
