Chapter 30
I woke up earlier than usual.
My body just refused to stay asleep. The house was quiet in that early-morning way. I lay there for a bit, staring at the ceiling, listening to the low hum of the air conditioner and the distant sound of someone moving around downstairs.
I eventually got up, showered, and dressed in something simple. Jeans. A soft long-sleeved top. Nothing fancy. I tied my hair back, glanced at myself in the mirror, and looked away before I could start overthinking.
When I got downstairs, breakfast was already set.
Auntie May was moving between the counter and the table, humming under her breath. She’d been in Lucas’s house for as long as I could remember. Longer than Ivy, longer than Caleb. She used to make my lunch before school, braid my hair when I was too young to care, scold me when I skipped meals. At some point, she stopped feeling like staff and just became… family.
“Morning, my girl,” she said when she saw me. “Sit. Food will get cold p>
I did.
Ivy came down a few minutes later, still in one of Lucas’s oversized shirts, hair messy, eyes barely open. She dropped into the chair beside me and rested her head on my shoulder.
“You look like you didn’t get much sleep,” she murmured.
“I slept,” I said. “Just… barely p>
Lucas and Noah joined shortly after. The table filled the way it always did. Plates clinking. Chairs scraping. Someone asking for more coffee.
Normal.
Too normal, considering everything.
We were halfway through breakfast when Auntie May disappeared upstairs and came back down carrying a large box.
It was matte black. Clean. Heavy-looking. There was a cream-colored envelope taped neatly to the top.
She stopped beside me.
“This came early,” she said. “Courier asked for you by name p>
I frowned. “For me p>
She nodded and set it down gently, like it was fragile
The room went quiet.
Ivy straightened immediately peering at the box. “What is that p>
“I don’t know,” I said honestly.
The envelope had my name written on it in clean, sharp handwriting. No return address. No explanation.
I slid my finger under the seal and opened it.
It was an invitation
Formal. Thick paper. A dinner date, time, location. Zane’s name printed at the bottom like a signature.
And then there was a second note tucked inside.
Short.
You’ll wear what’s in the box.
— Z
I stared at it for a second longer than necessary.
“Let me see,” Ivy said, already leaning over.
She read it.
Her mouth fell open. “He did not p>
I lifted the lid.
Inside was a dress wrapped in soft paper, deep and dark in color. Beneath it sat a velvet case with jewelry inside. Elegan and expensive.
I felt heat crawl up my neck.
“He’s got some nerve,” Ivy muttered. “After you told him you’d handle it p>
Lucas pushed his chair back slightly. “You don’t have to wear that p>
“I know,” I said, though my voice sounded tired.
Auntie May hovered nearby, concern written all over her face. “Is everything alright p>
“Yes,” I said quickly. “It’s fine p>
It wasn’t.
Ivy snapped the box shut. “Nope. Absolutely not p>
She stood. “Finish your food. We’re going out p>
Lucas looked between us. “Out where p>
“Shopping,” Ivy said. “Because apparently he thinks Elaine can’t dress herself p>
I tried not to smile. Failed
“We don’t need to rush,” I said. “It’s just p>
“It’s not just,” she cut in. “It’s control. And I don’t like it p>
She grabbed her phone, already pulling up store locations. “We’ll find shoes. Jewelry. Something that actually fits you. He can keep his dress p>
I hesitated. Then nodded.
“Okay p>
We excused ourselves from the table, Ivy dragging me upstairs to change while rattling off ideas. Heel height. Necklines. Colors that would photograph well but still feel like me.
As I slipped on my jacket, I glanced at the box sitting downstairs, untouched now.
Tonight felt closer than it should.
And whether Zane trusted my fashion sense or not, I wasn’t about to walk into that dinner looking like something he picked off a rack for me.
If I was doing this, I was doing it my way.