Never Say Never by Brittany Holland

Author:Brittany Holland [Holland, Brittany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Scarlett

I step onto the midnight-blue carpet with Teddy by my side looking very dapper in his traditional tux, crisp white shirt, and black bowtie. Both our masks are black, though mine also has silver beads and some lace. We’re quite the pair, us outcasts, who came from nothing.

We arrive just behind Piers and Willow. She looks stunning in a sleek silver dress, though I can’t bring myself to admit it out loud. I hold my head high and plaster on a smile as I stand between Piers and Teddy, posing for photographs. As the flash of bulbs go off all around us, I switch angles and expressions, noticing how overwhelmed Willow seems.

“Piers! Great timing! You look dashing.” I nod in Willow’s direction. “Willow.”

“Scarlett,” she replies flatly.

“Hello, Scarlett.” Piers takes her hand, and off they go through the massive wooden doorway, away from the glare of the lights. “Are you okay?” They stand together, talking in hushed tones as he searches her face.

“Why wouldn’t she be?” I ask, stepping around him to a large gilded mirror hanging on the wall, checking my wine colored lipstick. She needs to see this is all a part of his life. A very important and public part. They can’t stay hidden away on her blessed estate forever.

“That kind of press is intimidating for anyone, especially someone not expecting it.” Piers sticks up for her, turning his attention away from me. “Willow, you remember Theodore Stone?”

Teddy steps forward, moving his mask aside. He pulls out tortoise shell specs and puts them on. “This might help.”

She studies him for a moment. “Teddy!” She wraps her arms around him in a hug, which earns them a growl from Piers. Stepping back, she catches up with him, while I continuing pretending to check my makeup in an attempt to avoid looking at her. “How are you? You look fantastic!”

“Hello, Willow. You look lovely.” He smiles bashfully in true Teddy fashion. “Yes, it’s me, but I go by Theo these days.” He and Piers exchange greetings as I turn around and look at my childhood reincarnate standing in the entry hall.

“So, you and Scarlett?” she blurts out, looking at him, then me.

“Oh, God no!” I jump in, wrapping her arm through his. “He’s much too busy with his books and doing whatever it is anthropologist’s do to actually talk to women. I needed a date when Piers dropped me last minute to bring you.” I attempt to smile without showing contempt, but the look on her face tells me I’m failing miserably. “Teddy was kind enough to come along. He was on the list anyway, so it wasn’t an entire seating chart nightmare rearranging everything for Piers’ last minute change of heart.”

Piers gives me a heated look, and taking the hint, I wrap it up. “He never brings dates anyway, so I knew he would be available,” I offer, and suddenly feel bad when I feel Teddy go still beside me before looking away and fiddling with his mask.

“No need to be rude, Scarlett.

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