Chapter 283

• Once in my apartment, I go straight to Sarah’s room. She’s still sound asleep in bed, so I quietly pull two dresses from the back of her closet with a grimace. This doesn’t sit well with me, but I pick the floaty floral number my mother would approve of. It’s not as short as the other one, but I know Sarah has shoes that match the floaty dress. I go to my room to not disturb her and change quickly, despairing at my reflection with a curse, and in less than ten minutes, return to the SUV, looking like some floaty hippy girl in love.
• “Better,” he says, his eyes appraising me quickly as I slide in. I ignore it. Dressed like this, I feel exposed; I need my armor. I need my tailoring and hair up to keep the PA persona with me. Dressed like this, I’m like teen Emma, and it scares me and takes away my defenses. I don’t like to be unprepared.
• The car moves off again, and I sit back, trying to relax. It’s hard to do when every one of my nerve endings is on high alert. My legs are exposed in this floaty dress, and I pull them in tightly against the seat, tugging the hem toward my knees sharply.