CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: ATHENA

Today was Vera's birthday, and Sophia and I were getting ready upstairs. Sophia wore a blue off-the-shoulder mermaid gown with a string of pearls and black pumps, and her hair was styled in a bun with hair accessories. while I wore my red off-the-shoulder vintage floral lace hi-lo gown and let my hair fall.

"Do you think this gown is too much?" I asked Sophia as I lifted the sleeve's of the dress up to my shoulders

"No, you look really nice, honey," she said as she turned to admire my gown. She had a proud look on her face that made me smile.

"You look lovely, Sophia, Stephen will be so jealous he missed seeing you all dressed up," I said as Sophia smiled and hit me across the arm playfully.

Sophia and I were ready a long time ago, but because I was nervous about going downstairs to meet everyone, Sophia suggested we wait a little longer so I could calm down. I took out my phone and looked at the time; thirty minutes had passed.

"Shit, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize it was already this