Barbie Btch (Rejects Paradise #3) - Sheridan Anne Page 0,49
around theme ideas for next month’s party and to be honest, I couldn't be less interested. Though I’m not going to lie, Colton coming here and eating dinner with us—instead of with his mom and sisters—gives me all sorts of thrills.
I love that in all this bullshit, he’s stuck by my side. It means the world to me and concretes the fact that what we are building between us is real. So fucking real.
I’m starting to see myself having a real future with him when only a few short weeks ago, I’d deny the fact that I had any future at all.
Moving to Bellevue Springs is quickly becoming one of the best things I’ve ever done. There’s a possibility that I might go to college, I’m all of a sudden saving money for a future, I have a boyfriend who cherishes and worships me as though I walk on water, and not to mention the incredible friends I’ve made along the way. It was certainly a bumpy start though, one that I’m more than happy to have moved on from.
Colton and I have had to do a lot of growing over the last two months, but we came out the other end so much better, stronger, and a hell of a lot happier. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“You’re quiet over there,” my mother says, forking another mouthful of salad between her lips.
“Oh, I, umm … yeah. Sorry, just got things on my mind.”
Mom’s brow shoots right up. “Oh, really?” she questions. “Usually talk of elaborate parties is enough to get your mind whirling with great ideas.”
“Yeah,” I say, glancing at Colton. “I mean, while the parties are freaking cool and all that, every single one of them has ended in disaster for me, so I think I’m good. I might give this next one a skip.”
Mom blanches at me. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my daughter?”
“I’m serious,” I tell her, fighting against the smirk on my lips. “The black and white party ended with me throwing drinks all over Colton and the boys, the masquerade ended with me … umm,” Fuck, I haven’t told her about this. “Well, I think someone slipped something in my drink.” She sucks in a sharp breath but I continue on. “The wake wasn’t really a party but that ended with Colton kicking Nic and the Widows out and the Gatsby party ended with Nic being Nic.”
Mom looks baffled for all of three seconds before she pulls herself back to today. “Okay, let's rewind a little and go back to someone slipping something in your drink. What are you talking about? This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
“It’s fine,” I insist, averting my eyes as I struggle to meet hers. “It was handled and I slept it off, but then all the Charles stuff happened and I guess I forgot to mention it again.”
“Oh, honey,” she says with a heavy sigh, reaching across the table and giving my hand a firm squeeze. “I wish you would have told me about this. Perhaps Colton can get one of his security guys to go back through the surveillance tapes and find out who spiked your drink. One less predator around here, the better.”
“I, uhh…”
“Of course,” Colton says. “I'll have them look into it first thing in the morning.”
Mom gives him a dazzling smile as though he holds all the answers to the world's problems in his hands, though if you ask me, all the answers lie deep in his pockets among the bucket loads of cash. One thing is for sure, she never gave her approval to any of my Widows like that.
We carry on with dinner and every few bites or so, mom glances up and watches me with concern all over her face. It isn’t until a text comes through on her phone that the silence breaks.
Colton and I watch as she glances over the text. “Oh,” she laughs, completely taken by the message as her cheeks flush the brightest shade of pink.
“Who’s that?” I question, watching her with curiosity as she tries to pretend that nothing happened.
She slips her phone off the table, allowing it to drop onto her lap, knowing damn well that I’m not above swan diving across our dinner plates and wrestling the phone out of her hand. Who cares about the mess and spilled drinks. When there’s information to be found, I'm going to get it one way or another.