Chapter 23
As soon as we pulled up to the lodge, Evey grabbed my wrist, and dragged me from the truck.
“I’ll bring your bags to your room, El,” Abraham called after us.
Evey gasped. “We can call you ‘El’ now? That’s fantastic! We’re big on nicknames as you can tell, and that full name of yours is a mouthful.”
“Well–” I began when Evey interrupted.
“Oh I see,” she said, with a sly look in my direction. “That must be Abey’s special name for you. I get it.”
“No, that’s not–”
“Oh no, that’s fine. I think I like the sound of Ellie better anyway, and it rhymes with Evey,” she proclaimed with a victorious smile. “What do ya’ think?”
What did I think? I’d never really had a nickname before. My formal parents would rather cut their tongues out than call me by anything other than my full name. Even my gran called me ‘Elizabeth’, or the occasional term of endearment. But, no one in my life had ever given me a real nickname. I guess that was about to change.
“It might take some getting used to,” I warned her.
“Then I’ll just have to use it more often!” The woman’s excitement could not be
dampened, and I felt my face stretch into a smile. “Come on, Ellie, let’s go find Callie, and get you something sexy to wear tonight.”
“Not too sexy,” I told her.
She just laughed dragging me through the house, and up the stairs to the third floor. Instead of turning toward the hall that led to mine and Abraham’s rooms, she turned down another I’d never been down before. We walked past a few closed doors until Evey stopped in front of one and knocked.
“Come in,” Callie’s soft voice called.
We stepped into Callista’s room, and I took a minute to look around. Her space was a lot less ornate than the other rooms I’d visited in the lodge, but it fit her. The furniture was all re-purposed, and of varying styles, but seemed to fit together. The large king size bed was dressed in shades of brown, and the floors were hardwood.
Callie sat at a large vintage desk against one wall, typing furiously on a small silver laptop. “Just give me one second.”
“Take your time,” Evey called as she continued to drag me across the room, and over to a set of double doors. Evey pulled them both open to reveal an enormous walk-in closet. I stood there gaping at the space that could have fit my master bedroom in it while Evey made a beeline for a row of dresses.
“No dresses, Evey,” I called to her.
She spun around and placed a hand on her cocked hip. “What the heck do you mean ‘no dresses’?! Of course you’re wearin’ a dress. We all are. Suck it up,” she advised before returning to her search.
I sighed loudly. “Fine. Just nothing too short.”
She waved my request away as she pulled a few garments from their hangers and draped them across her arm. I shook my head and went to see what Callie was up to.
The curly-haired woman was still typing away at her laptop, but now a big grin spread across her face. She clicked the last few keys with a flourish and flopped back in her chair.
“You look happy,” I commented.
Callie turned toward me, and her smile grew. “I am. I just finished a big proposal I’ve been working on for weeks. Now I need to proofread and send it off. It’s a load off my shoulders to be honest.”
I sat on a nearby settee. “What kind of proposal?”
She was on her laptop again, clicking the mouse with her brows furrowed, and her lip between her teeth. “This one is to get funding for a program to protect the Blue Ridge Parkway.”
“What’s happening to it?”
“Businesses are trying to buy up the land lining the parkway which would not only affect the ecosystem, but take away from the beauty of the highway. We’re trying to get the government to lift restrictions on land preservation in that area.”
“Wow, that’s incredible.”
Callie’s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she shrugged her narrow shoulders. “It’s not one of our more vital interests, but it still needs a voice.”
“What is one of the more vital interests?”
She perked up, a fire igniting her pale blue eyes. “There are the bees, and the monarch butterflies, and the state parks, and–”
“All right, Smokey the Bear, we get it,” Evey interrupted, eliciting a glare from her sister. “Tell Ellie about your tree-huggin’ missions another time. I need her to try on a few things.”
Callie rolled her eyes. “It’s not about tree-hugging Evelyn, it’s about conservation. It’s about food production, and–”
“Oh I know all about it, big sister. And you’ll have all week to tell Ellie, but right now, I need to get this girl dressed so I can get dressed so we can leave so Del doesn’t kill us when we’re late.”
Callie took a glance at the time on her laptop and hopped out of her seat. “Why didn’t you tell me it was this late!” she hollered as she ran across the room to her ransacked closet.
“I was tryin’, but you just wanted to talk about bees!” Evey yelled back. “Ugh, sisters,” she complained good-naturedly. She shoved a big pile of fabric in my arms and turned me toward a nearby door. “The bathroom’s over there. Go try on what I picked out. Come out after every outfit so I can help you pick.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m perfectly capable of picking out my own clothes, Evey.”
The bubbly brunette took a skeptical look at my jeans and t-shirt. “Sure, if you’re cleanin’ the house.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but she held out a hand to stop me. “Quit arguin’ cause’ you won’t win this one. I picked out some things I think you’ll like so please, just go try them on.”
I huffed. “Did you even ask Callie if I could borrow something of hers?”
“She didn’t, but you’re more than welcome to anything I have!” Callie called from the depths of her closet.
Out of excuses, I locked myself in the bathroom, and sorted out the clothes Evey had picked out. A few things immediately went into the ‘discard’ pile. Finally, I pulled on a long strapless shirt that flowed past my waist nicely. I took a look in the mirror and thought it might be cute with a belt.
I left the bathroom to show Evey the first thing I’d tried on. As soon as she saw me, her eyes clouded with confusion. “Why are you wearin’ your jeans with that?”
“Um. Why would I take my pants off to wear this shirt?”
Evey fell backward on Callie’s bed, clutching her stomach as she laughed long and hard at my expense. I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. “What’s so funny?”
“That’s a dress, Ellie, not a shirt,” she gasped out between laughs.
I gasped, and looked down at the long shirt–no, short dress I had on. “No, Evey. In fact, hell no. I’m not wearin’ this as a dress. You’ve lost your mind.”
Evey sat back up and wiped a tear from her eye. “Ah, I like havin’ you around. You’re always good for a laugh.” At my glare, another chuckle burst from her lips. “Okay fine, I guess that’s a little short on you. Go try something else on. And I’ll give you a hint: they’re all dresses.”
My eyes widened. “All of them?”
Evey nodded seriously, her pink lips still twitching, fighting off laughter.
I retreated to the bathroom, and sorted through the clothes once more, adding a few more items to the ‘discard’ pile. Finally I found an off-white knee-length shirt dress that I thought might look cute. I slipped it on and pulled my jeans off before exiting the bathroom once again.
This time Callie was standing there too, having changed into a cute dress that had tan ruching on top, and blue floral pattern on the bottom with a thick brown belt cinching the waist. “You look great, Callie,” I told her earnestly.
She shook her head. “You look great!” She turned to Evey, “You found that in my closet?” Evey nodded her eyes still raking my form. “Huh, I don’t even remember buying that.”
Evey’s eyes lit up, and she jumped to her feet. “What size shoe are you, Ellie?”
“Eight, why?”
She didn’t answer and instead sprinted from the room. I watched her disappear wondering how long it would take for me to get used to the super speed of werewolves. And, more importantly, when I’d start moving that fast.
Evey came running back in the room with a pair of brown leather cowboy boots with teal filigree stitched along the sides. “Here,” she thrust them into my arms, “Try these on.”
I toed off my sneakers and shoved my feet in the tall shoes. They fit like a glove. Evey clapped her hands. “All you need is a statement necklace, and you’re perfect. Well, besides hair and makeup, of course.”
I fingered the thick plait in my hair and shook my head. “I can do my own hair and makeup.” Evey opened her mouth to protest, but I shot her a look that made her drop it.
“Fine, fine. But at least let me go find you a necklace. I’ll be right back, Del has the best accessories.”
Before I could agree, the small woman was gone again. I turned to Callie. “Do I really look all right?”
She nodded. “You look amazing. Abey’s not going to know what to do with himself.”
My cheeks heated. “I’m not getting dressed up for him,” I muttered.
Callie wrapped a thin arm around my shoulders. “Of course you aren’t.” Then quieter, “But, it can’t hurt, right?”
I couldn’t help the small smile that spread across my face, but did my best to not let Callie see it. His sisters didn’t need to know how obsessed I’d become with their brother.
Evey flew back in with a chunky necklace made of teal and gold beads that were bunched together in the shape of flowers. I lifted the braid off my neck and stooped down so Evey could fasten the necklace. When she was done, she patted me on the back, and I turned to her and Callie.
Both women were smiling from ear to ear. “You’re perfect!” Evey exclaimed. “Now, go up to your room, and get your hair and makeup done while I get ready. Abey said we’re leavin’ in twenty.”
I turned to Callie before I left. “Thanks for letting me borrow this dress,” I said, pinching a corner of the soft fabric between two fingers.
The willowy woman waved me off with a genuine smile. “Please, that dress would have never looked like that on me. You should keep it.”
“No way. I’m not keeping your dress.”
She shook her head, tight curls bouncing from side to side. “It looks better on you than it ever could on me. I want you to have it.”
I sighed. “At least let me give you some money for it.”
Her curls were still bouncing around her face as she turned down my offer. “No. I don’t even remember buying that dress. How could I charge you for it?”
I sighed again. “Okay fine, then I’m taking you to dinner while you're at my place this week.”
Callie smiled, her eyes lighting up. “That sounds good to me. Do I get to pick the restaurant?”
I laughed. “Of course. I’ll see you in a bit,” I told her, and retreated to my end of the floor.
Thankfully, I didn’t run into Abraham in the hall. As silly as it sounds, I was hoping he wouldn’t get a look at me until I finished getting ready. Although I knew I needed to keep my ‘no men’ rule in place, I still wanted to impress him. He’d seen me at my worst, broken, bleeding, and filthy, and now I wanted him to see me at my best.
I don’t normally wear a ton of makeup, but I whipped out some foundation and blush for the occasion, even adding shimmery eyeshadow to my lids. I finished with black mascara and a rose-pink lipstick, impressed by the reflection staring back at me.
I unraveled my braid, trying to decide what to do with my hair. My thick blonde locks fell around my face in loose waves that looked pretty good. I bent over, flipping my hair upside down, and gave it a little shake before standing back up. Now my hair straddled the line between styled and mussed. I spritzed a bit of hairspray, and then some perfume, and I was ready to go.
A knock came, and I called for them to come in, assuming it was Evey come to tell me it was time to go. Instead, Abraham entered, instantly making my heart race, and my mouth go dry.
He was wearing a fitted, button-down plaid shirt of dark blues and greens that matched his eyes. He’d changed out of his old scuffed pair of jeans into a darker, more formal pair. I smiled when I saw he still had his work boots on.
“El,” he breathed, and I met his gaze, the denim blue color almost electric. “You look amazing.”
I smiled and hoped the foundation would cover the blush I could feel burning a path across my cheeks. “Thanks,” I told him shyly, eyes on the ground.
I watched his tan boots walk across the floor until they were inches from my own. He grasped my chin, lifting my face until it was level with his. “So beautiful,” he whispered reverently.
I wanted to look away, but I was a small fly in his spider’s web. There was no getting out unless he released me. His rough hand slid along my jaw, and around the back of my neck where he buried his fingers in my thick hair.
My chest rose and fell in time with his, our bodies only inches apart. I licked my lips, his eyes tracing the movement. With a small cough to clear my throat, I choked out, “You look nice too.”
His eyes softened, the lines around them crinkling with his warm smile. He leaned in closer until his lips were a breath away from mine. “I was hoping you’d think so.” I swallowed nervously. His proximity making me dizzy. “Breathe,” he whispered, his warm breath rushing across my open lips.
I took a breath, and he chuckled, making one of his soft lips brush against mine. I sucked in a deep breath at the contact and closed my eyes.
Evey chose that moment to barge into my room.
“Are you ready? Del’s gonna’ kill us if we’re late–” She stopped short, and I stepped out of Abraham’s gravitational pull. “Am I interruptin’ somethin’?” she asked with a cheshire grin.
I stalked across the room toward the door. “Nope. Had something in my eye. Let’s go.”