Bast
Stone,Serena, and the kids left early for Ariel and Tag’s house to prepare for the ceremony. Molly had to help me dress. She combed my hair and put it in a ponytail, although parts of it didn’t reach and hung around my face.
“God damn you, Sebastian.” Molly complained as she helped me into a Broncos hoodie that was soft and warm but had no zipper, so it felt like a straitjacket. My right arm went through the sleeve okay. “You fell off a cliff, and you still look gorgeous.”
“Sorry.” I handed her a makeup kit. “I want to go full Sebastian Keye with my face, since I can't dress like myself for the occasion. Can you help me with eyebrows and liner?”
“Poor baby. You tried out Brawny commercial Sebastian and got stuck with him.” She took the bag. “You’re going to need sunscreen too.”
“It’s in there.
She pursed her lips before asking, “What did you think of Serena?”
“She’s pretty.” I gave the shallow answer because I’d resisted any in-depth exploration into what felt like none of my business.
“She seems willing to engage in a dialogue with Stone.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Of course.” She started with sunscreen and liberally coated my face. “He told me his kids think he’s a monster. They didn’t seem scared to me.”
“He’s afraid that’s how they see him. I doubt they actually believe he’s a bad man.”
“I hope not.”
I tilted my head back so she could fan my face to dry the matte sunblock. “Do you think he’ll be able to start over with them?”
She shrugged. “Parents have made worse mistakes and mended relationships. It will take Stone some time to regain their trust.”
“It destroys him that he’d failed at being the kind of father he wanted to be.”
“Close your eyes.” She used a pencil to lightly line each of my lids. “You want to borrow some hoops?”
“Please.” I had traveled light. Though I had a watch, t-shirts, jeans, and sweats, I’d left all my jewelry and anything truly fashionable at home, knowing I wouldn't need them here. It felt nice to wear Molly’s good earrings. Nice to feel a bit more like myself than the lumberjack I’d been playing for a few days.
“Brows.” Molly brushed on some brow control gel and pronounced me ready to go
“Okay. That's more like me,” I muttered, meeting her gaze in the mirror. “I don’t know who I am if I don’t look like Sebastian Keye.”
“Your looks defined you from such a young age, it makes me sad sometimes.”
“I own my image. Clothes aren't important but I'm still a little bit vain about the face.”
I made sure I had my billfold, although that was more habit than anything. I’d done nothing that needed a wallet for weeks. Molly still had my phone on lockdown.
Before we stepped out the door, I asked, “Am I making a mistake, attending this thing?”
She frowned. “Define mistake?”
“Will my being at Artemis's be more of a distraction than a benefit to the people who matter?”
“The people who matter—Ariel and Taggart—specifically invited you. Stone could probably use your support in such a social setting because he’s none too comfortable around people.”
“You don’t think he’ll be the target of rumors or—”
“Didn’t he tell you to come?” she asked bluntly.
“Yes, but—”
