ATHENA

"I don''t believe that shit for a second!" Isabelle holds her hip as she watches me brush my hair.

"You look beautiful with your hair down." A certain voice I shouldn''t have in my head whispers, making my heart clench.

"Not everything has to do with Alex, Izzy. I won a prize and took it." I watch her through the mirror.

She straightens and walks towards me. Still in scrubs and looking tired as hell.

"You should rest."

"Nope. I have to see your dress and see your full look. Otherwise, I''ll have a sleepless night." She walks to the bag where the dress is.

Noticing how silent it has been, I turn and find Isabelle standing with her mouth half open.

"You don''t like it?" I bite my lip.

The women kept on rmending it to me, and I ended up convinced.

"Girl, how much was this dress? I have no words for it. It''s so gorgeous." She carefully ces it on the bed like she''s holding something fragile.

Then she takes her phone to take a picture of the dress.

"What are you doing?" Iugh.

"Checking the price. This dress looks like it can buy me a car. In Fact two." She says, and I roll my eyes.

"Izzy, put your damn phone dow-"

"$10,000?" Her wide eyes look at me.

What?

"That''s not possible. Mine should be an imitation." I state the obvious. "Now unless you want me to bete, help me zip up!"

Isabelle''s hands are cold as she helps zip me up, muttering under her breath.

"If this is an imitation, then I''m Beyoncé."

Iugh despite the growing nerves in my stomach.

The fabric hugs me like it was made for my skin. It''s the kind of dress that makes you stand taller, breathe slower. Midnight blue, velvet-like texture with a thigh-high slit and a delicate shimmer that catches the light every time I move.

I feel like a stranger in my own skin. A more powerful, less breakable version of me.

"I swear to God," Isabelle murmurs, circling me slowly, "If I didn''t know you, I''d think you were a... femme fatale in a Bond movie. One look and men drop dead."

I snort. "Not exactly the goal, but I''ll take it."

She grins and moves to fix a strand of my hair, her fingers softer now. "You''ve never looked like this before. Like... you''re about to burn the world down and not apologize for it."

That earns a softerugh from me, though my throat tightens. "Maybe I am."

"Good," she says. "They deserve the fire."

The doorbell rings, making us both turn around.

"Are you expecting someone?" She asks, and I shake my head no.

"Let me check it out then." She says, and I nod.

I do a final touch-up and grab my purse.

I''m walking downstairs when Isabelle''s eyes meet me halfway.

She looks flushed, and I''ve known Isabelle long enough to know she never blushes.

"Who is it?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"Hi Mrs King." Lucas''s annoying voice answers my question.

Luca is usually in his army uniform, so I''m shocked to see him wearing a ck T shirt and dark jeans.

"Didn''t take you for the type to have ink on." I divert the conversation.

He chuckles.

"Oh this? Don''t mind it." He pushes away from my counter.

His arm is curved in ink, some intricate design I can''t make out under the low light.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

Because we both know he didn''t pass through to check on me, and I''m already-

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"What?" Isabelle asks.

But I ignore her and shoot Luca a re.

"I''m not going anywhere with you?"

"Rx," he adds, "You''re the safest with either me or Alex, and since he can''t be here, I have to be. Or should kgive him a call? ?''m not even in the mood to babysit after all."  s

"I''ll be withn." I argue.

n is going to bete. He is with Sloane." He says, making me halt.

I look up, my eyes sizing into slits.

"You''re lying."

He chuckles.

"Call him then. When you do, join me in the car." He starts walking towards the

exit before winking at Isabelle.

I don''t calln.

It''s possible he used Sloane to keep me from calling him, but it''s also possiblen

is actually there. He does sleep in the hospital most nights.

I just wish my best friend could wake up so we can talk about how they fell in love.

I''d do anything to see that sparkle in her eyes one more time.

Isabelle watches me closely, her lips pursed. Something she does when she''s being self-conscious.

"You want me toe with you?"

I shake my head. "Even if I did. It''s not possible. Sleepover tonight. Rayen will be

thrilled to see you when hees back tomorrow."

"I will."

We hug briefly, and she squeezes my hand before I step outside.

The evening air bites, but I barely

feel it. Luca leans against a sleemet

ck car, his face holding the same irritated expression, he has on 30% of the time.  s

"Backseat or front?" he asks.

I slide into the front without a word.

The drive is quiet the entire time as I zone out into my own dreand.

"Athena."fn5990 ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F?nd-Novel/fn5990

"Hmmmm." I don''t even bother turning my head knowing he will probably say something to piss me off.

"Listen to me very carefully.

Apparently, the guest list tonight has

a few people

Alex doesn''t trust. I

have something I need to do so can''t go in with you. Stay where he see you and for crying out loud don''t take drinks from anyone."  s

"If it''s dangerous, then why am I here?" I ask.

We both know the voting shit was a lie andn is in on it. Alex ocherstrated the

whole thing.

But why?

Instead of giving me an answer, Luca shrugs.

"Why don''t you ask your husband?" Luca raises his brow, making me want to

punch him.

He is huge and will probably break me, but it''s worth a try.

I''m about to color him with insults when the side of my door opens and when I turn

to see who just opened it,

I''m met with green eyes.