Angel's POV
I was completely absorbed in the book.
The Immense Pleasures of Gloria had started innocently enough - a young woman, sheltered and naive, stepping out into the world for the first time. Making friends, experiencing independence, discovering who she was beyond the strict confines of her upbringing.
I related to Gloria immediately.
The way she questioned everything she'd been taught. The way she looked at the world with wonder and uncertainty. The way she…
"I'm done!"
Lyra's voice shattered my concentration.
I looked up to find her standing in the middle of my room, already halfway out of the burgundy dress.
"Done with what?" I asked absently, my eyes already drifting back to the page.
"This whole ridiculous charade!" Lyra yanked at the sash, unwinding it with violent efficiency. "Nothing worked. Not the dress, not the conversation, not the strategic positioning at breakfast. He barely looked at me, Angel. Barely acknowledged I existed."
