3

My outfit leaves little to the imagination, but that’s the point. I want to look so good that when Caden sees me, he’ll have no other option but to fall at my feet and worship the ground I walk on.

I slip on the new purple heels Fiona got me for my birthday. I pair them with a white, strapless crop top—not that I have much to cover, but what I do have looks great. The criss-cross design across the chest gives the illusion that I actually have curves beneath the fabric.

The matching white skirt sits high above my belly button. It doesn’t show too much of my flat stomach, but it still screams sexy. The skirt clings to my thighs, short and snug, while a sheer layer drapes over it, trailing to my ankles with a huge slit up the left side that reveals the fitted mini underneath. With my new purple heels, matching bag, and a purple choker around my neck, I look hot. Even I have to admit it—and I’m not usually a confident person.

My hair is half-up, half-down, pulled tight and sleek. My makeup’s soft but defined—winged eyeliner with a hint of purple shadow under my eyes and a touch of shimmer in the inner corners. Light contouring carves out my face in all the right places. I still look like me, just… elevated.

“Dang, we look good!” May grins from behind me. She’s in a strapless green corset dress that’s short but stunning. Ryan was not happy about it—until she promised to wear shorts underneath.

“We look more than good, May. We look like fire.”

She bounces on her toes, looking absolutely radiant in her black Christian Louboutins. The heels pull her look together and give it that extra flair. Her hair’s styled like mine, only hers is curly while mine is straight.

“Let’s go. I need a drink,” I say, grabbing her hand and dragging her toward the elevator. We head down to the kitchen.

When we walk in, Ben freezes mid-sip, spilling coffee down his shirt. Matt frowns at him, clearly annoyed—until his eyes land on us.

“What are you doing, that’s my favorite shirttt—aaah…” Matt’s voice trails off as he, too, stares.

“You guys look amazing,” Ben says, eyes wide. I grin as Matt slowly nods in agreement.

“Yep. Caden’s going to flip though,” he mutters.

Ben rolls his eyes. “Serves him right. And it’s not that short. Although, May… has Ryan seen that dress?”

“Yes. I’m wearing shorts,” she replies confidently.

Ben’s grin widens as he slaps Matt’s chest. “Shorts! Why didn’t we think of that? Can you imagine Fiona in that black dress with the push-up thingy?”

Matt’s eyes light up, his brain clearly taking a detour. “That would be so fucking hot. Ooh! Let’s go out tomorrow and make her wear it!” He actually shivers at the thought.

Dad walks in from outside, eyebrows shooting up.

“We don’t look that different,” Ailm grumbles. “Why is everyone so shocked we clean up well?”

Dad snorts, laughing as he pats both Matt and Ben on the chest. “If that’s not a revenge outfit, I don’t know what is. Normally, I’d tell you to change, Baylee—but this time? I wanna see his damn face when he sees you.”

The guys all snort, nodding in agreement.

Then Dad’s eyes land on May, immediately zeroing in on her legs. His face drops, horror flashing across his features.

“May May Moon, you cannot go out with a skirt that short!” he whisper-shouts at her.

“It’s fine, dude,” she says, rolling her eyes. “Ryan made me wear shorts underneath.”

Dad pauses, blinks, then grins. “Shorts under the dress… Damn it, that’s brilliant!” He turns to the boys, launching into an excited conversation as if we’re no longer in the room.

I shake my head and go straight for the tequila. I open the bottle and down half of it in one go. I need the Dutch courage to walk into a bar dressed in basically nothing.

“Oh hush. I wear nothing all the time. At least your bits are covered. It’ll be fine, I promise,” Ailm tells me, pushing my arm for another drink. “Just keep drinking. We’ll be fine.”

The burn jolts through my veins like a lightning strike.

“Damn, ladies, you both look amazing!” Mum calls out as she pulls us into a crushing hug. We’re probably the only two people in the world she doesn’t have to look up at—we’re actually shorter than her.

“Thanks, Mum. Are you sure you guys don’t want to come with us?” I ask.

Mum yawns, shaking her head. “No, love. Bed is calling. But go have a great time!”

She kisses our heads, and Fiona does the same as they grab a bottle of wine and a couple glasses.

“We have a standing date with Damon Salvatore. I don’t need a night out to know I’m not missing anything,” Fiona giggles.

We all sigh dreamily. Damon is obviously the best character in the show.

“Well, damn it, that does sound fun,” May pouts.

Fiona chuckles, shaking her head. “Go be young and have fun. You can be old and boring the rest of the time.” She winks before she and Mum disappear.

We’re left in the kitchen with another bottle of tequila while we wait for Ryan, who, somehow, takes longer to get ready than we do.

“What is he doing? Straightening his hair or painting his nails?” I snap.

May snorts. We’ve already finished a bottle each and we’re well on our way to tipsy. We can hold our liquor better than most, but if we’re not careful, we’ll be stumbling into the bar—not out of it.

“After today, it wouldn’t shock me,” May giggles harder, which makes me laugh louder, and then she laughs again. By the time Ryan finally walks in, we’ve forgotten what we were even laughing about.

His eyes widen as he sees the empty bottles on the table. “Seriously? Two bottles each? You really needed that much?”

May waves a hand at him, shushing him as she presses her fingers to his lips.

“We just needed to give Baylee Dutch courage so Caden can eat his words,” she says, trying her best to be serious.

He groans, swatting her hand away. “Fine. But you’re both cut off for at least an hour!”

Wolves have faster metabolisms than humans—if we stop drinking now, we’ll be sober in an hour.

We leave, walking impressively straight for two girls who just drank enough for four. As we pass the garage, I glance inside, looking for Caden’s car.

It’s gone.

I roll my eyes and refocus. We’re going to have fun—with or without him.