“Yeah,” I say slowly.
“Olivia runs a nonprofit aimed at providing resources to that same demographic.It’s an after-school arts program, but she’s interested in widening their offerings.”
“This sounds likeexactlywhat I want.”I stare at Olivia’s texts in wonder.“She wants to meet for coffee…and she followed up with—Gage, is this for real?”
His eyebrows draw together in confusion.“Is what for real?”
“She’s inviting us—including Dmitri—to a benefit next week.”Excitement has my hands jittery as I point at the second text.Then I frown at Gage.“First, how much did you tell her about our relationship?”
“Not much.”He smirks.“She floated the benefit invite past me, and I might have said that instead of a plus-one, you’ll need a plus-two.”
“Gage!”I stare at him in disbelief.
“It’s the truth.Would you want to deny Dmitri the opportunity to see you looking glamorous at a black-tie affair?”
I wilt.“It’s black-tie?I don’t have anything to wear.”
“We’ll worry about that in a moment.First I need to know if you want to go to this thing.”
A night spent all dressed up, on Gage’s and Dmitri’s arms?It sounds fabulous.
“Will people stare, though?”I tap the side of my new phone.“San Esteban’s reputation for nontraditional relationships is a thing, after all, but…”
“Are you ashamed of what we’re doing?”
“I’m not ashamed of our relationship, it’s just so new.”And every now and then, my stepfather’s cruel words enter my head.
“If it’s any comfort, Olivia has two husbands.”
“Two husbands,” I repeat.
Gage levels me with a look.“That’s what I said.”
“Right.”Well, what better place to debut my relationship with two men in public, than at a benefit hosted by a woman who has two husbands?
He curves a hand around my waist, drawing me closer.He nuzzles my neck, then scrapes his teeth along my skin.Shivers erupt over my body.“So, little girl…are we going to the benefit, all three of us?”
“Yes.”My knees are weak, but my resolve is strong.“We’re doing this.”
“Well.”He pulls back so I can see his face.His dark eyes are lit with an inner fire.“I suppose we better go shopping.It’s been several days since I got to spoil you.I need to make up for lost time.”
10
Dmitri
Carol’s Closet is the kind of store I would never have looked twice at.The front windows display mannequins in stylish, feminine clothes.Danica mentioned this place to me once.She said it has price tags that made her wallet “shrivel up like a dead leaf.”
The sign saysClosed, but Gage knocks anyway.
“What are you doing?”Leah tries to tug him away.“They’re closed.We can go somewhere else.”
Gage gives her an indulgent smile.“They’re closed to the public, but not to us.”
“I—what?”Leah blinks in surprise.
A dark-haired man inside the shop unlocks the door and holds it open for us.He gives us a respectful nod and greets us by name.“Welcome.I’m Charles, and I’ll be assisting you today.”
He steps back and allows us into the shop, then locks the door after us.The closed sign remains in place.
