The Envy of Idols (Rich Boys of Burberry Prep #3) - C.M. Stunich Page 0,6
weren’t interested in dating me. That, and I warned it would be short-lived, but beautiful.”
“Wow, how romantic,” Miranda spits, giving him a death glare. “Remind me to seek your advice next time I want to ask a girl out. Hey, I don’t plan on dating you for long, but want to try it anyway?” She rolls her eyes, and I grin. I’m pretty sure Windsor’s joking.
At least … I think he is?
He is, right?
Our conversation is momentarily paused when Charlie walks back in the room, tapping his cell against the palm of one hand. The way he looks at me in that moment, it’s like he’s scared for me, but he knows he can’t hold me back. I feel a surge of sadness come over me, followed immediately by excitement mixed with anxiety.
“Okay,” he says, and my brows go up, “you can go with Miranda, but Kathleen is in charge of you the whole time. If I get one whiff of trouble out there, I’ll come and get you myself. Oh, and if those boys so much as utter one rude word in your direction …” Dad trails off, but I smile and move over to give him a huge hug which he returns.
“I won’t be gone too long,” I whisper, “and then I’ll be back so we can go to the lake together.”
“Okay, Marnye-bear,” he says, giving me a kiss on the head. But I notice that his eyes fall on Windsor … and narrow. “I’m going to go take a shower. Just … if Miranda goes, then leave the door open, okay?” He lets go of me and turns to head toward the bathroom while I look between his retreating back … and Windsor’s smiling face.
“Yes, please do, leave the door open,” Windsor purrs, and I grab my hairbrush from the vanity, and chuck it at him. He catches it in one hand and laughs, while Miranda and I exchange a look.
Oh yeah, we’re in need of some serious girl time.
Especially since I’m pretty sure my boy-free summer has just turned into a boy-centric one.
One week later, and I’m on a plane, sitting in business class again and trying not to be nervous about this trip. Part of me wonders if I’m going to have the time of my life … or experience a nightmare I can’t undo. When I close my eyes, I see Greg and John and Ben. I see Harper ordering them to rape me. Bile rises in my throat and I open my eyes quickly, just in time to order a soda from the flight attendant.
I’m all alone on this flight—the others all left days ago. But that’s okay. It feels good to have a moment all to myself to think.
What, exactly, is my relationship with the guys?
Windsor … is a friend. Right? And Zack is a … crush? Do I want him to be a crush?
I’m pretty sure Creed thinks I’m somehow his after what happened in the hot tub (idiot). Zayd is so ashamed he can barely look at me. And Tristan is … well, he’s Tristan.
Groaning, I down my soda like the guy two seats up and one over is downing tiny bottles of rum. When I went to the bathroom last, I saw he had like seven on his tray. Guess first-class customers really do get away with whatever they want?
There’s a button that turns my seat into a bed, so as soon as the flight attendant collects my cup, I press it, and then curl up to take a nap.
When I arrive, there’s a limo waiting for me.
The Cabots live in an almost disturbingly huge mansion, right on the edge of the beach. My room leads out onto a deck with stairs that go right down to the yard, and from there, it’s just a short walk to the sandy shore. Even though I grew up in Cruz Bay, and the beach has always been a short drive away, it’s no less impressive. I just have to keep reminding myself that this is the Atlantic Ocean, not the Pacific. It’s pretty surreal, to be honest.
The house itself is actually quite homey, considering, and I can see Kathleen’s fingerprints all over the place.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she says, giving me what’s probably the twentieth or thirtieth hug since I got here. I know how bad Kathleen feels about what her son did to me, and I appreciate her genuine want and need to try and make up for that.