Almost

Chapter 73: Rehearsal

Friday felt like a very long day. Katherine hated how much she dreaded the rehearsal dinner. She knew she should be excited; knew they were getting close to something they'd worked so hard to plan. But she couldn't help but feel like it was the green sky before a tornado.

She took her time getting ready. Ezra watched from his side of the counter, his razor dangling loosely in his hand, while she followed her familiar steps. He thought he could do it for her, if she ever needed him to.

He recognized the dress she wore from his parents' anniversary. She'd transfigured it from the soft blue to a white that was almost blush, just pink enough to notice how it pulled at the pink undertones of her skin as the scalloped neckline crossed her collarbones. The sleeves hung around her arms where she'd pushed them up just enough to keep them out of all of the powders and creams in front of her.

"What are you thinking?" Ezra asked.

She didn't look away from the mirror, from the blush brush she'd swept too many times against the same cheek.

"Katherine?"

Still, nothing. He set down the razor on the marble, moving towards her. When he put a hand on the small of her back, she jumped as if startled, then turned to him.

"Sorry," she said, setting down the brush. "What were you saying?"

"What are you thinking?" he repeated, more softly this time.

"Nothing."

"Katiebird—"

"Tell me again—how are the aurors going to stay inconspicuous with your parents there?"

Ezra sighed as she picked up a pencil and traced it through her eyebrows, but answered, "They'll be upstairs. We can transfigure the floors to be transparent. They can watch and plan from above without my parents being any the wiser."

The brow pencil was replaced with brow gel. When her fingers closed around her mascara, he said, "What else are you thinking?"

"We should try and get there a little early. To look at the mirror exhibit. And the Snidgets."

"You want to give up your trip tomorrow?"

Katherine's hand stilled, and he realized that it wasn't that she didn't want to go tomorrow, but that she didn't think they'd be able to.

"You were so bound and determined to sneak away during the reception."

"I know," she answered, running the long mascara wand through her eyelashes.

"I promised you a half hour. Beginning once we left the Snidgets."

"I know."

"I promised you," he said again, putting a hand to her chin and turning her gently to face him. "I intend to keep that promise."

Katherine bit at her cheek but nodded while kissed the tip of her nose, careful not to disturb her work. He closed his eyes and shook his head almost imperceptibly.

"I guess that doesn't mean we can't go twice," he offered, the tone begging for her to smile. Begging for a bit of light in the teal irises.

She did smile. But there was no flicker in her eyes as she set her face. No flicker when she picked a lipstick. No flicker as she crafted her hair into gentle waves that she pinned back from her eyes.

No flicker when she picked up a strip of lace from her desk, pushed up her sleeve, and tied it around her arm.

"What is that?"