“It was an accident.” She tried to maintain a blank expression, but fire spat from her eyes. “Sorry.”
“The hell you are!” I snatched up her glass and tipped it right over her head. She shot up screaming.
“Belle,” Rosalie cried. She rushed between us. “Girls, let’s leave it there.”
“Preston hasn’t changed his mind about marrying you,” I said. “He chose you. What exactly are you trying so hard to protect?”
Delilah looked from me to our silent audience. Her face crumpled.
Spinning around, she tore out of the dining room.
BUBBLES CLUNG TO THE fine hairs on my arm, popping too gently for me to feel.
Delilah doused my favorite silk butterfly dress. That earned me an afternoon in my bathroom, handwashing it in the sink.
Mom spoke to me from the soap dish. “How was your day, dear?”
“You don’t know?”
“How would I?”
“I figured Mrs. Desai gave you regular updates.”
“Your movements aren’t being reported on, Belle. I’ve spoken with her once to confirm the address to send your sim card.”
“Oh. Good to know there’s some freedom in my prison.”
Mom didn’t take the bait. “Well, tell me. How is it going?”
“So far, so good for me. None of the guys are interested in the new girl. I’ve been keeping to myself. Relaxing on the beach. Catching up on some reading. Looks like I’ll be walking off this beach ringless after all.”
“No one is interested? How can that be? You’re a wonderful young woman with so much to offer. Intelligent. Funny. Generous. I don’t understand.”
She truly sounded stunned. It was hard to be mad at someone who thought I was as wonderful as my mom did. It baffled her that men wouldn’t throw themselves at my feet, but the strong “I’ll step on your head climbing over you” vibes that I gave off would do that.
“Would it be the end of the world if no one proposed to me?” I carefully wrung out my dress and hung it on the shower rod. “I’d come home, pack for college, and life would continue moving on.”
Silence came from the other end.
“Cecilia? Are you still there?”
“I’m here, darling,” she spoke up. “Have the calls from that man stopped?”
“They have.”
“Email, social media, and such also clear?”
“Nothing for days.”
“Good. Security has also spoken to the neighbors. First, I want to say that we don’t know for certain that it’s him. The man described has blond hair.”
My hands froze on the dress. “Who?”
“The Jimenez family who live a street over said they hired a bodyguard two months ago that didn’t show up for work yesterday. They haven’t been able to reach him.”
“Mal.”
“We don’t know it’s him,” she repeated. “He doesn’t fit his description.”
“It’s him.” I knew it as surely as I knew my own name. “Anyone can dye their hair and put in a few contacts. Mal knew the second I left. He had to be close by.” I clutched my twisting stomach. “And now we don’t know where he is.”
“More importantly, he doesn’t know where you are. We’ve asked the Jimenezes to pass their information on to the police. We’ve let them know the restraining order was violated. Everything is going to be fine, dear.”
Mom and I talked for a little while longer. I let her go with the promise to call again soon and consider picking up when Dad rang me.
I trudged out of my bathroom and shoved my shoes on. What I needed was chocolate, caramel, or vanilla therapy. Didn’t matter which. I wasn’t picky.
I went downstairs and rounded the final corner. Voices floated out of the kitchen.
“Get the banana and chocolate sauce.” Giggle. “Whipped cream too. I’ll meet you in my room.” Giggle. Giggle.
“Can’t tonight, Kel. Not feeling well.”
I slowed, pausing just short of the entrance.
“Being hungover never stopped you before.”
“I’m not hungover. I get normal headaches just like the rest of the mortals.”
“I’ll make you feel better.”
“You know I would, but I’m serious, Kel. I came down for something to take with the Advil and then I’m knocking out early.”
“Ugh.” Rapid footsteps and Kelli was in front of me, jerking to a stop. “Oh. Belle.”
“Hey. Did you scope out where they hide the snacks?”
“No,” she said, walking around me. “See you later.”
“Bye.”
Nathan looked up from pouring a glass. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I stuck my head in the freezer. Neither chocolate, caramel, nor vanilla, but strawberry would do just fine. “Plans for the evening fall through?”
“Nope. My plans were pills, shower, bed.” Nathan plucked the ice cream container from me. “I heard about your altercation with Delilah.”