Ari's exuberant tone made Neva smile. At least she was enjoying herself tonight. "Do you think you could call that friend of yours and see if she's still interested in working at the diner? I need a fill-in for the next few days."
"Wow, that coffee spilling trick really did work, didn't it?"
If only. "Yeah, it worked."
"Cool." She hesitated. "You told the folks yet?"
"Oh yeah." Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them away. The deed had been done, and there was nothing she could do, or say, to take back the hurt. She could only hope they'd see past this sometime in the future. "The 'Sounds of Silence' is the only tune I'll be hearing from them for a while."
Ari snorted. "They'll get over it. And you've played the dutiful daughter long enough. Go screw that beautiful man's brains out and enjoy yourself for a change."
"That's the plan." And somewhere deep down, some small part of her half-wished it was. But in one way or another, she had a feeling the frustration of the last twelve hours would continue.
"So, where is he taking you?" Ari asked. "Somewhere wild and wicked, I hope."
If she told Ari just how wild and wicked, her friend would faint. Ari enjoyed the dance as much as the next wolf, but even she refused to go as far as those at the mansion.
"He has some awards dinner on Saturday." It was better to continue the lie already told, especially since Ari would more than likely give her dad a piece of her mind at the diner tomorrow. Her friend certainly didn't believe in holding back feelings or thoughts, and she'd clashed with Neva's dad more than once over the years. "I'm staying with him until then."
"An awards dinner? Sounds boring."
"But he's not." And wasn't that the truth.
"Woohoo!" Ari's excited bellow echoed down the line. Neva winced and pulled the phone away from her ear as Ari continued, "The deed has been done. Was he good?"
"A master." At manipulating. At ruining her relationship with her parents for no justifiable reason. At leaving her so totally frustrated she thought she'd burst.
At giving her a glimpse of the stars, then snatching it away again.
And the fact that her mind placed the most emphasis on those last two only proved how rattled she was.
"Then I expect to see you in a week with the biggest smile on your face. And I want details."
"Only if you buy the coffee. I may not have a job when I get back."
"They can't fire you. Who else would they find to work the sort of hours you do for crap pay?"
She had a point. "I'll talk to you next week."
"Take care of yourself, sweetie," Ari trilled and disconnected.
Neva placed the phone back on the receiver and stood staring out at the dark expanse of her back garden. Duncan hadn't followed her into the house yet, and while she had no doubt he would soon appear, she was extremely glad for the breathing space.
She closed her eyes and reached for the warmth of her sister's mind, as she had in the past when in trouble. But there was no response, other than a slight stirring in the cloud of memories. Consciousness was drawing closer, but it could be several days yet before it happened.
She bit her lip and resolutely turned away from the window and made her way upstairs to her bedroom. She packed a bag with enough clothes to last four days then studied her wardrobe for something to wear to his stupid costume party tonight. She flicked through her dresses and eventually pulled out the elegant black dress she'd bought two years ago when Ari and she had gone on a somewhat drunken shopping spree in Denver.
It was form fitting, plunging past her br**sts in the front, and to the base of her spine at the back. The skirt was full and swirled around her toes, but the four panels were split right up to the top of her thighs, so that when she walked she flashed a lot of leg. The hem of the skirt was beaded, the tiny drops of color forming gentle flames that shimmered like the real thing with every movement.
Match it with that stupid mask she'd worn last night, and she might just pass as a she-devil. Which was only fitting, given her partner.
She found a matching pair of high heels, then picked everything up and took the lot downstairs. Duncan still hadn't appeared and hope flickered briefly. Maybe he'd given up his whole sordid game — whatever it was. Maybe he was so overcome by remorse that he'd decided to just walk away.
Maybe tomorrow the Earth would stop spinning.
She rubbed her forehead. A large glass of whisky on top of an agitated but basically empty stomach had not been one of her better ideas. She stretched out on the sofa and closed her eyes. The temporary darkness felt like heaven to her aching head.
She wouldn't sleep, just close her eyes and rest a little.