Cherry Creek - Dani Matthews Page 0,34
kind of smile that has me going alert with caution. It reminds me of the way Roman looks at me. Like he's humoring me. “I'm Tatum, a friend of Roman's,” she introduces.
Well, that's not surprising. Roman's gorgeous, so I would expect him to surround himself with good looking people. I wonder if they're dating. “Nice to meet you,” I say politely.
“I would have introduced myself at the party, but you disappeared.”
“I wasn't really in the party mood,” I say lightly.
Tatum nods as if she understands. “It must be strange getting used to a new family and new town. At least you don't have to deal with school until September.”
The mention of school has apprehension rising slightly. The idea of being the new girl once again has me dreading the end of summer. I hate being the new girl. “What's the school like? Is it big?” I can’t help but inquire.
“Not too big. Trust me, though, you're going to want friends before you start,” she warns.
“It’s that bad?” I ask as my eyebrows shoot up.
Tatum purses her lips slightly as if she's debating on what to say and how to say it. She tilts her head and shrugs a shoulder. “I wouldn't say it's bad. But it's very...cliquish, you could say. Everyone has their own group to hang with. Trust me, you're going to want yours before school starts.”
“And what if I don't? Have a group, that is?” I ask as a hint of concern creeps up on me.
“Oh, honey, we're already working on it. You'll be fine. Just start opening up a little more. Come to the club and play.”
Come to the club and play? I don't understand these people, and I'm not in the mood to figure out exactly what 'play' means. “Is the school dangerous?” I ask, going back to the topic that worries me the most.
Tatum shrugs carelessly. “No more dangerous than any other school.” She turns away and picks up a red teddy, looking at it intently. “Mm. What do you think?” She turns to face me as she holds it up against her body.
“It's pretty.” What little of it there is.
Tatum arches her eyebrow. “Aren't you a sales clerk? Shouldn't you be telling me that the color will really pop against my dark hair and tan skin? That the sides ride up to accentuate my small waist?”
I can feel myself flushing. I've been comfortable giving strangers my opinion, but Tatum is different. I feel like she's toying with me, and I'm trying hard not to fall into her trap.
Tatum sighs. “Roman wasn't kidding,” she says with distaste as she puts the scrap of fabric hanging from the padded hanger back on the rack.
“What's that supposed to mean?” I feel my hackles beginning to rise.
“You're shy,” she says as if she’s just bit into something distasteful. “You can't by shy in Cherry Creek, or the others will chew you up and spit you out.”
“What others?”
“Everyone,” Tatum says with exasperation as she tosses her hair back over her shoulder. “You need to grow a backbone.”
I'm beyond irritated. “I have a backbone, or I wouldn't have cracked my boyfriend's skull open with a baseball bat.” The words are out before I can take them back.
Tatum smiles triumphantly, looking pleased. “There she is. I like her. You on the other hand, you need to loosen up.”
“Why does it matter to you, Tatum?”
“Because you're Roman's cousin.”
“Are you his girlfriend or something?” I can't help but ask.
“Definitely not girlfriend,” she says with a laugh. She looks momentarily distracted and pulls out a cell phone from her pocket, glancing at the screen. “Time to go. Come out with us one night, and we'll show you what you're missing,” she says before she turns and walks back out of the store, her hips swaying confidently.
The only thing I'm missing is my old life, and I want it back. I turn away and walk over to a display of bras as the conversation with Tatum plays back in my head. Thankfully, the rest of the afternoon and evening goes by smoothly.
When I get back to the mansion after my shift, I make polite conversation with Adelaide before I explain I'm going to eat up in my room. Much to my relief, she doesn't question it. As I eat, I sit on my bed and search for private investigators in the area. There are two in Cherry Creek. Both claim to be highly experienced and guarantee one-hundred percent confidentiality. The only snag I run into