was drugged. It’s almost like someone messed with her drink.”
“Are you serious?” I asked. “She got her own drinks. She had them the whole—”
But she didn’t. She took my drink.
“Oh God,” I said instead, crouching and taking Maddy’s hand. She had taken my drink for me. The drink she had ordered. It didn’t make any sense.
“Can you call a car?”
“Shouldn’t we—shouldn’t we take her to the hospital?” I asked.
“You can’t take her to the hospital. The media would go nuts. Get her home and make sure her mom’s there. Saves her having her face all over the papers tomorrow morning.”
I looked at him with doubt, suddenly feeling a surge of protection for Maddy in her vulnerable state. But he was right, a hospital trip may be a last resort with her famous family.
I sighed. “Okay, I’ll call the car.”
After I’d called an Uber, I sank down next to Maddy on the pavement, Desmond hovering on the lookout for the approaching vehicle.
“So, you’re Will’s new thing, huh?” he asked.
“I’m hardly a thing,” I said, my voice faint and vaguely annoyed.
“Well, obviously.” He snorted, as if it were funny. “I was just curious. I’ve spent four years videoing these guys. I’ve come to know them pretty well.”
“Really?” I asked, hoping he’d elaborate.
“Yeah, I literally have a box full of hard drives with footage of their parties. They pay a good wage,” he explained with a chuckle.
I looked toward the club. “I thought you were on a job trial.”
“I can afford to take a minute. Anything to look out for an old friend.”
I looked to Maddy, her eyes closed and her lip popped in an uncomfortable pout. I was brushing away a lock of hair that had stuck to her cheek when the driver pulled up to where we were sitting. Des and I both straightened before hoisting Maddy to her feet and walking her into the back seat. My first night clubbing and I was going home just after eleven.
“Hey,” Desmond said before I tucked into the seat beside Maddy. “It’s okay. It’s not like this is an unusual thing for Maddy. It’s messed up, but she’s always doing reckless things like this.”
I nodded, giving a thankful look. But beneath the surface, his words bothered me. Just because she was reckless didn’t mean she should just be waved off when things went wrong.
“And—” He regarded me carefully as he adjusted the camera strap so he could reach into his pocket. He pulled out a small business card. “If anything happens to her, call me straightaway.”
I frowned. “Thanks.”
He nodded farewell as I shut the car door, feeling oddly uneased by the seemingly friendly encounter.
Getting Maddy inside was difficult. Once we’d pulled up at her house, I pressed the buzzer to her gate, alerting the housekeeper I was with Maddy.
It was her mother who came to the car, her appearance goddess-like, a picture-perfect replica of Maddy with enough Botox to pass as her sister.
“I—I think she was drugged,” I said.
She took Maddy under her arm, giving me a wary glance.
“You girls at that school are a bad influence on her.”
I gulped. I figured that was my cue to leave.
Once I’d ordered a ride and finally arrived at the gate of my house, I took a moment to check my phone again. No text. I felt a little ache in my heart, but I tried to ignore it. Now was not the time to be caught up on William Bishop.
Twenty-One
Monica,
You broke my heart. You should know that.
I had no idea how little I’d prepared for the loneliness I felt when you first sat at that Level One table. I never made friends like you did. It never came as easy. I sat with your old friends—like we were last season’s clothes.
I know deep down you missed me. But I wasn’t cut out for Level One.
Not like I am now.
Love, Chloe
I WOKE UP to a vibrating sound against the bedside table. It took me a while to process that it wasn’t my alarm. No, it was the demanding droning of a call. I groaned, my hand lazily swiping the answer button and bringing it to my ear.
“Hello?” I asked, my voice groggy with sleep.
“Chloe, hi.” It was Maddy.
Suddenly, the events of last night came rushing back and I sat up straight in bed.
“Maddy,” I said when I had my bearings. “Are you okay?”
Maddy laughed musically on the other end of the line. “Yeah, I’m great. I just wanted to say sorry for last night.”
I hesitated. “How