Page 82 of Always You (A Lilac Bay Novel)

CHAPTER 15

“You have got to me kidding me.”

I looked up at David Jenkins and tried my hardest not to laugh. From the murderous flash in his eyes, I don’t think I was very successful.

“I think you look nice,” I squeaked out, avoiding his eyes.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “I’m taking this off.”

“You can’t!” Posey shouted. “You look perfect in that costume!”

“Posey, I look like an idiot.”

He kind of had a point. The tunic and tights combo that Posey had designed fit the theme of our show perfectly. But that didn’t mean it was something that a guy wanted to walk the street in.

“Just wait until Iris comes out,” Posey said, tugging on the tunic a little so that it showed off more of David’s…assets. “You’ll look perfect together.”

“I don’t understand how in the hell I got talked into this,” he muttered, pulling the tunic back down.

“Because we’re telling the story of the legend of our island,” I explained patiently. “Which—as I’m sure you remember since you’ve seen this damn thing every year since you were born—is about a couple madly in love. And the entire island voted, and that couple is you and Iris. So maybe stop bitching, okay?”

He glared at me. “I’m intights, Riley.”

“This looks pretty silly,” Iris said as she pushed aside the curtains in the changing area to join us. “I mean, what era is this even supposed to—”

She looked up from her own gauzy skirt, caught sight of her boyfriend, and burst into laughter. “Oh my God,” she gasped. “The tights!”

“See?” he cried, turning to Posey. “Even Iris can’t keep a straight face!”

“Is that a hat?” Iris howled, pointing at the fabric in his hand. “Put it on, you have to put it on!”

I plucked it from his hand and pushed it down over his blond hair, and Iris actually doubled over in hysteria.

“That’s about enough of—” David began, but before we could find out specifically what he’d had enough of, Andrew came in, a stack of boxes in his hand.

“Riley, where do these go? The tag just says woodland creatures.” He looked up over the boxes and saw David, an evil grin spreading over his face. “Not bad, my man.”

“Shut up.”

“No, really.” Andrew set the boxes down and came over, still grinning. “It takes a real man to be secure enough in his masculinity to wear something like that.”

“David is playing an important role,” Posey snapped, clearly annoyed that none of us were appreciating the brilliance of her costume design. “What kind of Legend of the Lilacs skit is it going to be without the princess’s true love?”

In all honesty, the Legend of the Lilacs skit was pretty ridiculous. As was the legend itself. Though it was supposed to take place in Michigan, there was a princess and a king and a bunch of fairies, and none of it really made sense. The entire thing had probably been made up to charm tourists and sell souvenirs. But it was still tradition. So I bit my tongue and tried to sound convincing. “Posey is right. The skit is a very important part of the closing festivities tonight. David and Iris, you both look great. So let’s get those costumes off so they don’t get dirty.”

“Hang on,” Posey said, approaching David with a pincushion in her hand. “I just need to adjust the hem of that tunic a little, I think. It’s a bit too long—”

“Don’t you dare,” David growled, setting Iris off all over again. He glared at her in her gauzy, fuchsia, bedazzled dress. “You really have room to laugh,” he muttered. “You look like a stripper wood nymph.”

“At least you can’t see my junk,” she replied.

“Go get changed,” I told them, struggling not to laugh.

Once they were gone Andrew slung an arm over Posey’s shoulder. “It’s okay, cuz. They just don’t understand good fashion design.”

“Thanks, Andrew,” she sniffed. “I thought they looked nice.” She sighed. “I better go check on the little ones. Twenty fairy costumes I had to make for those kids! Twenty!”

“No one appreciates you more than I do, Pose,” I told her. She gave me a weak smile and then set off with her scissors.