This beard already itches like hell but it looks too good not to wear
Jules:
How did the green turn out, Liam?
Liam???
Liam doesn’t answer; he just texts a mirror pic of himself decked out in a sparkling purple robe with gently mussed hair and a homemade green orb-capped staff at his side. I’d spent hours helping him paint it last week.
What he didn’t paint, though, is his face.
Liam:
I can’t commit. It would all melt off, anyway!
Jules:
Awwwww
Morgan:
COWARD
I let out a quiet yelp as Noah pulls the corset tighter. “Almost there,” he promises. I drum out a response to the others.
Howl’s moving castle vibes. You killed it.
Morgan:
He’s just doing hot-Alastair because I’m bringing my brother
Jules:
Oooooo
I’ve met Morgan’s twin and my new co-worker Marcus only a handful of times since he returned from his summer abroad, but I can already tell that he shares his sister’s earnest friendliness and blunt, infectious humor. He’d trained alongside me at Bluebonnet as Morgan showed us how to manage the café, where I’ve been picking up a few shifts when I’m not working on my next project: a storybook mural for the kids’ section. I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity than to work with them while I explore daydreams about what comes next for me.
But it’s Liam who’s been the most keen to spend time with Marcus. After a few instances when I caught sight of his car pulling into Liam’s driveway—ourdriveway—just as I pulled out, I’d gently encouraged Liam to invite him to join our game. It hadn’t taken much persuading for Liam to agree to extend our current campaign—especially after the hellish cliff-hanger he’d left us on—and I knew from Morgan’s delightfully meddling hints that Marcus would love to play, too. So, starting in a few weeks, he’ll embark on the next chapter with us, and already I can’t wait to see what he thinks of our rowdy crew as we battle to escape from Hell.
Jules:
Sadie? Noah? How are things coming for y’all?
Liam:
I’ll be there in ten, so you better be ready
we’re ready!!
With one more great tug, Noah ties off the corset and settles his hands tiredly on his hips, looking for all the world like he’s just finished a workout.
I hold my phone out at arm’s length. “Pic for the group?”
Noah ducks in for a selfie by pressing his cheek to mine, and I take a moment to marvel at how incredible we look together. Although my hair isn’t as long as Jaylie’s, I’ve started to let it grow out, and my curls bounce underneath the circlet I’d fashioned with gold coins. My face is fuller, and the dark circles I’d arrived in Texas with are long gone. I painted my lips to match the pink layered skirts of my dress, and my corset—
I glance down in alarm to where it looks like my boobs are about to spill out my front.
For someone who can regularly get away with going braless, it’s not a problem I’ve had before. I never thought it was even possible to get them to look like this.
