Chapter 73
And it smells like home.
Before I can think twice, I’m suddenly pulling the sweater on over my head, drawing the thick fabric up to my nose and inhaling deeply. A sense of calm washes over me that I haven’t felt in years, and I allow myself a moment to enjoy the comfort. Just a moment, I tell myself,hen I’ll take it off.
With that, I move out of the closet, laying the dresses I’ve picked out on the bed. I run my fingers across a pearly- white number, but it feels a little too formal. I then hold up the deep lilac ankle–length gown that I’ve chosen, but the pl
unging neckline feels like too much.
Finally, I settle for the black cocktail dress that I used to wear often. I know it looks good on me, hitting just above my knees while the thin straps show off my shoulders.
I then pick up the dresses I didn’t choose, planning on putting them back, when something catches my eye. Arthur’s bedside table drawer is cracked open, revealing what looks like a photograph laying within.
This time, something other than a mate’s instinct drives me. This time, it’s pure nosiness that prompts me to open the drawer and pull out the picture.
As I hold the picture in my hands, my heart sinks heavily. I slowly sit down on the bed, staring at the picture.
It’s… us. Younger, happier, and smiling. We’re wearing our bathing suits, sitting on the sunny beach with a
vibrant blanket beneath us and a picnic spread around us.
We look… in love.
I don’t realize that tears have begun to prick at my eyes until I hear the sound of footsteps approaching.
Shit.
I look around wildly, making a snap decision. I’m wearing Arthur’s sweater and snooping through his things–I can’t give him the satisfaction of seeing that. So I quickly put the picture away, closing the drawer, then grab the dresses and rush into the closet, where I hide amongst the racks
As the door opens, I silently kick myself for being here. Surely Arthur will find me and scold me; or he’ll just laugh at me, never letting me live it down.
But when I peer through the crack in the closet door, it’s not Arthur that I see walk in.
It’s Selina.
I furrow my brow as I watch her stand in the middle of the room, sniffing the air and looking around. I wonder if she can smell me; with Arthur’s strong scent in here, she likely can’t tell that I’m hiding in the closet, especially since I have his sweater on as a sort of protective shield against my natural scent. But she can certainly tell I was
here.
More importantly, though, why is she here?
Huffing, Selina struts over to the bed and sits down in the exact spot I was just sitting, crossing her legs. She pulls her phone out and begins texting furiously, as if typing out a long message to someone. I watch her back, observing silently as she flips her hair over her shoulder with a manicured hand.
Selina remains like that for a long time. A very long time. So long, in fact, that the sound of the rain outside and Arthur’s scent cocooning me begins to lull me into a sleepy state. When she still doesn’t leave, I finally sit down on the closet floor, leaning my head back against the wall.
And soon, I’m dozing off.
1/2
Chapter 731
+25 BONUS
The next thing I know, I’m being jolted awake by the sound of the closet door opening. I blink against the light suddenly being turned on and shield my eyes. Arthur is standing above me, looking utterly baffled.
“Iris? Why are you sleeping in my closet, wearing my sweater?”
