“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 room set that we had in our living room growing up had a bright red stain in the middle of it now.
Sam stared from her empty glass to the cushion, looking too amused over the wine stain. It was probably Cabernet, Screaming Eagle if I knew Kat. Her father loved the expensive stuff and had a cellar full of various wines he collected for garden parties they held on their estate.
“You made it!” Kat greeted me as soon as she stepped into the living room. Her arms wrapped around me as she squeezed me tightly to her, my lips weighing into a frown at the alcohol stench radiating from her.
It wasn’t quite eight yet because I knew if I were even a minute late, she’d blow up my phone and then hunt me down. Getting noise complaints from my neighbors again because of her loud entrance in my building was the last thing I needed when I wanted to lay low.
I pulled away first, keeping her at arm’s length as I watched Gina and Sam dance in the corner of the room. There was something off about them, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I didn’t see them often enough to know exactly what. “This place has changed,” I noted, examining the fur rug under the glass table perched between the furniture and the cobblestone fireplace that was lit despite it being warm out.
“I told you I was renovating,” she sang, looping an arm around my waist. “Want something to drink? I took out that nasty white wine you love so much.”
“Lame!” Gina called out from where the two of them danced.
I refrained from rolling my eyes, but the blush from her comment couldn’t be hidden on my face. “I’m driving home later, so I’ll pass.” I paused. “But thank you.”
Kat snorted. “Always so polite.” She unwound herself from me and grabbed a glass of red wine for herself to drink, stumbling slightly while doing it. “I obviously don’t need to introduce any of you, but how nice is it that we’re all together again?”
I wasn’t sure that was the word I’d use, but the other two cheered. Although, I was certain they’d cheer over anything right now based on the empty bottle of wine on the floor and the half-empty one on the table. “What are you guys planning on doing tonight?” I asked, walking over to the armchair, and sitting.
Kat gestured toward her wine. “Drink?”
That made Sam laugh. “What else is there to do on this fine Wednesday night?”
My lips twitched. “You mentioned renovating. How many rooms have you done so far?” I knew the guest house had three bedrooms and two and a half baths. We’d spent a lot of time here when we were younger having sleepovers and gossiping about boys we liked. It was in this same house that Kat admitted she had a crush on Lawrence, and Gina insisted she was going to tell. To my knowledge, Ren had no clue Kat had a thing for him, but what did I know? The only thing I was sure about was that old crush was long gone considering Kat’s adventures with other men who were the exact opposite of my best friend.
“I’ve only done the living room.” She dropped onto the couch, staring down at the stain beside her. “Though it looks like I’ll need a new couch thanks to someone.” Another laugh from the girls. “But I want to do my room next. It sees a lot of visitors, after all.”