I shake my head but can’t help but feel good knowing how supportive they are. The designer makes his way out, and the crowd cheers for him, but I disappear to find Sage's room.
I had to bribe some girls and reassure them a hundred times that we’re dating and I’m not a crazy stalker but after a while, I get in her fitting room and it’s scary how much money can buy you but I chose to believe the pictures I showed her as proofis what got her to open the door and not the stack of cash she counts as she walks off.
After a few minutes of waiting, the door swings open and I rise to my feet. She’s frozen for a second but then a smile touches her lips and I waste no time closing the distance between us. “How did you get in here?”
I wrap my arms around her waist as I rise to my full height again. “Some possible illegal ways but I wanted to see you.” I feel her smile into the crease of my neck and the ache I’ve somehow developed in all of my bones from not seeing her all day, disappear.
“To say you were amazing on that stage would be disrespectful to you.”
She pulls away to take her flowers and a beautiful smile is on her face. “I wassonervous, Lee.”
If I didn't know her, I wouldn't have believed that. “You didn’t look nervous at all.” I look between her green eyes and I’ll do anything to keep the happy look in them. “You were perfect, beloved. I'm so proud of you.”
Her smile somehow widens and I swear the whole room seems brighter. My eyes are glued to her smile and I couldn’t look away even if you put a gun to my head.
Chapter Forty-Three
Liam
“Smile.”
I glance over at Sage and her smile is the only reason I obey. “Good, now keep that smile intact.”
I let out a sigh, and the second she turns, my face drops.
“Liam Leslie.” She warns.
“Jesus Christ.” I smile for her and she shakes with a silent laugh before knocking on Sire’s door. The night of her show we all went to her after-party but Sage said it was awkward and she wants me to bond with her brothers so here we are… to bond.
“Hey, babe.” Vidia pulls Sage in for a hug after complimenting her dress. After spending the night with them all in Italy, I realized this was Sire’s girlfriend. I vaguely remember her from the few times she was at our baseball games in college.
“Me? Look at you!” Sage pulls away and gives her dress a once over. “Sire was right, blue is so your color, V.”
“Thank you!”
Sage moves aside, and Vidia’s eyes land on me. “Hello again.” She gives me a small smile, and I feel Sage watching me, so Ireturn it. I look around their apartment as she lets us in, and their huge floor-to-ceiling windows catch my attention first.
When I glance over at the couch August is sitting there with a girl in his lap. Her blonde fro covers her face, but I immediately recognize that it’s his girlfriend, Hazel, I think her name was.
The door closes and August glances up at us with his usual bright smile. “Sup, Walker.”
I give him a single nod. “Hale.”
Hazel looks up at me and barely spares me a glance before turning to Sage. “You look hot.” She nods in approval of Sage’s dress before looking back down at whatever they’re watching and I think I like her the most. She isn’t as nice as everyone else and clearly isn’t going to pretend to like me or bother me at all.
“Hello, cutie!”
I turn at the sound of Sage’s voice, and she bends over to pet ahugedog. I walk over to her and pull her dress down when it rises too much.
“You said this dress was fine when you bend over?”
Sage pulls her dress down more and looks over her shoulder at me like she’s in trouble. She gives me an innocent smile and I shake my head at her.
“Maybe it’s a little short, but it’s cute!”
“True.”
She laughs softly, but the dog starts growling, and I quickly pull her closer. I take a step back before pushing Sage behind me, and the dog keeps its eyes on me.
