Page 47 of Dead to Me

I smiled.

“Not long.”

“How long is not long?”

“Until I finish what I came here to do.”

China looked at me in the mirror. I met her gaze. Sierra started laughing.

“That sounded ominous as hell.”

“It did, didn’t it?”

I laughed along with her. China stayed quiet.

Malcolm called at eleven forty-three.

China put him on speaker while the hairstylist worked on a bridesmaid.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hey.”

I could tell right away that Malcolm sounded tense. China didn’t notice.

“Did you get the cuff links?”

“Yeah.”

“And your dad has the rings?”

“Yeah.”

“Why do you sound weird?”

“I don’t.”

“You do.”

Malcolm was quiet.

Then he asked, “Is Milan with you?”

The room kept moving. No one else noticed, but I did. China glanced at me.

“Yes.”

Another pause.

“What is she doing?”

I smiled. China frowned.

“Getting ready.”

“Has she been with you all morning?”

My pulse stayed calm, but I saw China’s face shift.