“Yes, Kat. I told you when we talked last that I was better. Nothing has changed.”
“A lot has changed. Your dad—”
“I know about my dad,” I snapped. I rarely did that, lost my temper. As much as I loved Katrina for her strong personality, there were moments I wish she’d drop something. She knew my father was a sore subject, but not as much as my disorder was. Blowing out a deep breath, I set the fruit down on the table. “I told you I’m fine. I didn’t lie. So just…”
She shifted uncomfortably because she wasn’t used to being yelled at. People were intimidated by her and her own father rarely ever raised his voice when she was involved. She had him wrapped around her finger. “I’m sorry, Del. I just care about you. I know how hard things were for you and how much stress could make it worse.”
I felt bad, so my shoulders dropped. “I didn’t mean to get angry. I just don’t want to talk about this. Tell me about what you’re doing now that you’re back.”
Her dulled expression changed in a millisecond, becoming much more chipper as she perked up. “I’m renovating the guest house to move in to before my classes start this summer. In fact, Sam and Gina said they’d help.”
Ah. Sam and Gina used to dance with us once upon a time. Their mothers were friends with our mothers, so we’d all hung out quite a bit growing up. I never liked them because they were into things that I didn’t like being part of. Sam almost got arrested for shoplifting when we were sixteen, but her father got her out of trouble. I was certain they still participated in the hobby because I saw Gina’s mugshot in the New York Daily only months ago for stealing liquor.
“Get that sour look off your face. They’re not that bad,” she scoffed knowingly.
I tried my best to act unfazed. “I didn’t know you hung out with them still. I heard that Sam got into some trouble at some high-end party last year.” Theo had been at that party because it was for some investor who put a lot of money in Interactive Marketing. Sam’s father had made it no secret he wanted in, so he was there to try talking with Theo when Sam showed up drunk before causing a scene. I wasn’t sure what happened with the potential business Theo could have drummed up from it because I heard Sam’s dad was a strong-willed man.
“They like to party. So what?”
I didn’t say anything.
Kat sighed. “You need to lighten up. Why don’t you come over to my place tonight? They’ll be there and they mentioned how much they’ve wanted to reconnect. They feel bad about…things.”
I held my tongue, knowing it was better not to say a word about what those things were. Reminding myself that they weren’t their fathers usually helped, but it would be easier if they didn’t act like they didn’t have a foot in the door of the family business they should have been avoiding altogether if they were smart.
“I have a lot of homework,” I told her quietly, picking up my fruit again.
She grabbed it from me. “You’re lying. I know you, Della. You’re bad at it. My place. Eight. I’ll tell them to be on their best behavior.”
It didn’t matter what she told them, they marched to the beat of their own drum. I used to wish I could be like them. Free. Willing to take risks. But the risks they took weren’t the same kinds I wanted to.
I knew Kat though. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, which meant one way or another I’d wind up at her house. If she was moving into the guest house out back by their large pool, who knew what I’d be walking into.
She took a piece of fruit and winked. “I see the wheels turning. Live dangerously for once, Del. You know you want to.” Passing me back my food, she grabbed her purse and shot me a wink. “I’ve missed you.”
Why didn’t I believe her though?
The music was loud, vibrating the ground as I walked toward the white house that was larger than my flat. I heard laughter, something crash, then more laughter following. Hesitating at the double glass doors that were wide open, I glanced into the building to see white everywhere inside too—carpet, walls, furniture. Except the expensive sofa that looked nearly identical to the Adriana Royal living