Phoenix of Dawn

Hold My Heart

"Is it this one? Or the purple one..."

Bex twisted in the floor length mirror of the boutique, trying to get a look at herself from every angle. Her usually smooth mocha skin was bunched between her brows in anxiety. I'd also started to notice that she chewed the inside of her cheek when she was stressed and she was doing it as she looked over the red silk. 

"It's pretty," I agreed, "Better than the purple. You made the right choice. Besides, this one will go with anything Nikko wears because of his hair."

She inhaled, turning once more, "Does my butt look fat?"

I looked at her butt which did stand out in the clingy material but that was not a bad thing in her case. Bex had endless curves but dress shopping the last few days had taught me she wasn't sure of them. 

"Your ass looks great," I gave her a slow nod of appreciation, "If I were gay I would totally  consider tapping that."

"My cousin is gay," She muttered, "Should we get her opinion then?"

"No, we don't need everyone's opinion," I reasoned, setting aside the book I'd been skimming, "Nikko's opinion is the only one that matters and that boy would eat you up whether you were in burlap or a plastic bag. You're stunning."

At last she stepped away from the mirror, the little v fading from her brow. For now, at least, her anxiety was satiated. 

If I'd known what I'd been signing up for I'd never agreed to attend or help her find the dress. I was in the middle of trying to persuade Nikko to burn clean my soul of this brand so I chose to suck it up. This was important to Bex anyways and she was my friend. 

Stepping out of the dress she carefully hung it back on the hanger and sat on the bench beside me in only her slip. 

"Did you find anything about your mystery spirit visitor?"

"Not really."

"I'm just relieved you finally know you're a gray wolf. Why they had us keeping that to ourselves is beyond me. Piper said it had to do with you figuring it out on your own."

 I pursed my lips in through before leaning forward, "Between us girls. Do you know who my father is?"

She sucked in her bottom lip, "I'm not really sure, honestly. I don't think any of us are. We know what we know and we're waiting for you to figure out the rest."

"What do you know?"

Her mouth pressed into a hard line, "I shouldn't say..."

A lightbulb seemed to go off in her head all of a sudden. 

"Come to think of it. Who would really know if I told you?"

"My point exactly."

She pulled a knee up and settled in, "Well. We're not really sure but we suspect you're related to Ky in some way."

"Yes. And?"

Her eyes went wide, "You knew? You know? Is he your dad?"

My jaw clenched, "I thought you would know if he was."

"We thought you would know if he was."

I dropped my head back with a loud groan, "So no one knows if he is or isn't?"

"You do," She offered, grimacing at my irritated expression, "Somewhere in that pretty head of yours. You just have to remember."

"How does no one know who my dad is but Laura knows who my mom is?"