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Chapter Eighteen

Olivia

The bathroooing to be late" He sighs, tapping his fingers against the wood in a cute, fast beat

I roll my eyes and adjust the beaded purple straps How is he dressed already? I’ve barely been in here five minutes And the dinner is downstairs in the function room by the arena I pull my phone off the counter and check the ti on fortyslo- and only woke up two hours ago I don’t drink coffee, either, so being a nor less realistic by the minute We slept until late in the afternoon and e checked our phones, they were full of es and missed calls from the rest of the crew Seth had a lot of calls to make once he woke and I replied to Selena’sready for dinner Nerves chew their way throughthere on Seth’s arm That’s why I needed the perfect dress, so I don’t look so out of place next to his beyond gorgeous face

I shs The dress is perfect, to say the least andchocolate hair that I’ve curled into subtle waves adds that extra touch of elegance I remind myself of a Cadbury chocolate bar I twirl once, careful not to roll h heels, and when I’ Seth’s suit-clad back The fabric is crisp and straight, following the same shade of his hair--jet black He turns around and I visibly see air being forced fros His eyebrows lift and his lips part--the exact reaction I was hoping for Forgetting me, I take in his entire fors to his chest and you just know there’s a killer body hiding underneath it I nervously run the tips ofa collar and it’s suddenly choking me He looks…there are no words In the suit, he looks s at the drop of a hat and hide it behind his classy suit

"Now I feel bad," he says, finally speaking and raking his fingers through his hair

Instinctively, I step forward, pressing ainst his chest and under his black tie "Why?"

He reaches for er underneath the beaded strap He avoids my eyes and miraculously comes off as indifferent "Because you spentto destroy" His eyes flick froe le dollar you spent"

I’ve already kissed the dress goodbye His rough hands, wet tongue, and hard body feels better on my skin than any fabric ever could--even one as expensive as this

There’s a knock at the door and my breath catches inI suppose theer and I would have torn the dresshis elbow to me

"Let’s do it"

He leads me out of the bedroom, down the stairs, and over to the front door He wastes no tilamorous friends Selena takes one look atme into her ar"

Selena’s black silk gown has Vegas written all over it She releases olden hair is tied up in an elegant bun on the top of her head with strategic strands that spill fro neckline It clings to her waist and goes wide at the skirt Fro the elina Jolie," I say, taking a step back

I think Selena would even look aant, but at the sa as I did getting ready Who a herself for the dinner

"So that girl was Seth’s sister?" Selena whispers to me when Darryl and Jackson pull Seth to the side and scold hiet with the thin, silver bracelet on my wrist "Yeah--Maddi Did Jackson tell you?"

"Yep I bet he never saw that coh once "Did you see his reaction? Of course he didn’t see it co"

She inches closer to lass" I look over one There’s no trace of what happened last night when Seth and I came home "Are you okay?"

"I’s "He kno Seth is"

Jesus How regularly does he ss?

"There’s a hefty bill Seth has to foot e leave here, though The hotel is not iizing on Seth’s behalf since last night"

I shaketo Seth about I look at him, there’s the faintest hint of a smirk on the side of his lips and Darryl watches hih to Seth I findat him He does what he wants and explains hiuess deep down, I love arguing with hiressive and de Granted, it’s not the hobby I’m most proud of, but it’s definitely one that excites me above all others With a swift nod of his head, Seth steps away fro his eyes on les his head ever so slightly, his eyes flaring that over-confident gleam of his I feel heat pool inin randoetting caught looking at him He never lets me live it down Thankfully, he doesn’t say a word in front of the others I couldn’t handle it if they started pointing it out, too

I know I look at Seth a lot, but give nore and I’m only human I can’t be held accountable for the decisions un point

Selena, Darryl, and Jackson stroll froain, Seth extends his elbow to ruffly

I don’t take his elbow straight away and I don’t answer because this isn’t about me This is about him I’m just here for moral support

"Are you ready? Because this is it--everything you’ve worked so hard for has led to this moment"