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“You don’t knohy they like to be late?” He gave me a look like I was stupid over his shoulder Of course, he knows; he knows them as well as I do

“How else are we going to show off this?” Anna did a flourishing wave of her hand up and down her body clad in a black and gold evening gown that came to her knees Of course, Rosa was dressed the sarownup style of Gianna’s gown

Jewelry, I forgot to get her some She wore a pair of diaed to one of my sisters and a choker to one with D-Grade ice diamonds; flower petal-shaped ems she needs as far as I’m concerned

Besides, are we at the jewelry buying stage? The ass walking ahead of me would have a lot to say about that, I’m sure Still, she should have her oelry and lots of it

It’s getting harder to re in the first place, especially with today’s events While I was out shopping, I told myself that it was all just part of my plot, so it didn’tthe right colors, the right fit, the right everything tospecifications, I toldthe enees I was about to make in her

But hoas I to know that she’d be transfor with o and pull this shit The sweet, demure Gianna, with the curly hair and innocent eyes, I couldI could’ve easily slotted her in with my sisters and left it at that

The little interruptions she’d brought thus far weren’t ht any unwanted attachh to be swayed by a woman’s looks But this; if I turn her into what I’d planned to, I’d be setting myself up for some shit that I don’t need A self-assured Gianna who looks like she does right now ained for But I can’t deny what’s real

My skin burned where she touched h the fine wool of the tux, and I was very aware of her every breath; that’s hoas able to detect the fact that she wasn’t breathing “Breathe, Gianna, and hold your head up” Her sers that clasped my forearm

She straightened her shoulders and lifted her head as weMa had so to the opera, which should be fun; she hates it almost as ht off ether I’d told her to breathe, but the truth is, I wasn’t doing too well in that department myself

“Why are you shaking?” I asked her softly so no one else could hear

“I wasn’t aware that I was, sorry”

“You look beautiful, and this opera is one of the best, you’ll enjoy it, I’ehten her nervousness, but since there was nothing to be done about it at this point, I left it alone and led her outside to the waiting car

When she clutched her hands together as she sat beside ain, I realized this was a bigger deal to her than I’d anticipated Her discorandeur of the evening than anything else Like the fact thather as one of their own, the whole day was so Maybe all of this inclusion and acceptance was too much too soon

She could have no idea that her reaction was putting more nails in her family’s coffins The fact that she was this affected by a dress, some shoes, and a few kind words from people she’d only just met, told me more than words, just what kind of life she’s led

Anna and Rosa, on the other hand, were in contrast, their usual carefree, relaxed selves as they hounded Pop about soo back to to disappear into the seatback How could I overlook her unease? While I was enjoying the new her, she was in torment