Abby “Hey. Looking for a sous chef tonight?” Karl’s unexpected presence in the kitchen startles me, and my heart skips a beat as I turn to face him. For a moment, we just look at each other. His easy smile and the mischievous glint in his eyes make my cheeks flush with warmth. The proximity be
Over the next hour, I get to work scrubbing, shaving, plucking, and rinsing, followed by styling my hair and putting on my makeup. I opt for an understated shimmery eyeshadow since I’ll be wearing a mask, and a plum red lip—a color which, thanks to Elsie, is now my favorite on myself. Then, I care
Abby Karl leads me onto the dance floor, his hand warm against my back. The soft strains of classical music fill the air, and the elegant masks of the other guests twinkle in the dim light of the ballroom. As we start to move together, his hand wrapped securely around mine, I can’t help but feel a
“All I ever wanted was to make you feel like a princess,” Karl says as the twirl ends and I come close again, so close that our bodies are pressing up against one another. “Nothing short of that.” As the music swells around us, our movements become more fluid, more intimate. The world seems to fad
Abby “Can I sit with you?” Karl is standing in front of me, his mask in his hand, his hair tousled by the chilly wind. His brown eyes are full of concern, although I think he’s trying to hide it just a little bit. I nod, moving over to let Karl sit beside me on the cold metal bench. The night
Abby Karl and I glance over our shoulders one last time at the distant sound of the party before we burst into laughter. He takes my hand, pulling me along after him. The cold night air nips at our cheeks as we run together, my heavy dress held up in one hand to keep it from slowing me down. The
Karl When we’re finished, I stand up in the snow, feeling the exhilaration of our secret rendezvous coursing through my veins. My chest heaves as I catch my breath, and I reach out to help Abby to her feet. Her eyes meet mine, and we share a contented smile. There’s something about being out her
Marcus gestures discreetly toward a corner of the room, and I follow his gaze. My eyes narrow as I spot two figures in elaborate masks, standing amidst the partygoers. It takes a moment for me to make out who they are, but then it becomes clear as day. It’s Ethan and Gianna. I feel a surge of an