Like it mattered, right?
But it did matter.
These were rich and powerful people.
Their opinions didn’t matter to me as much as making Noah, Easton, and Xavier think that I cared so they would get closer to me. That was always the goal.
Get close but not too close.
I walked to my closet and let out a sigh.
I shut my eyes and just grabbed clothes.
I walked them to the bed and dropped them in a bag and half zipped it up.
“Done,” I said
“Winter…”
“I know,” I said. “I’ll organize it.”
I hurried into the bathroom and shut the door.
Suddenly, my heart was in my throat.
I was jumpy.
Nervous.
The door opened behind me.
“Okay,” Gia said. “Time to talk it out.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said.
“Oh, I think there is.”
I spun around and leaned against the sink. I opened my mouth and almost confessed what had happened with Talon. Or what I had texted him. What I had wanted.
But I knew better.
That would only make Gia mad at me.
“You’re really nervous about this,” she said.
“Maybe I am.”
“Why?”
“It’s all new people, Gia. It’s strangers.”
“Are you worried about their power or something?”
“Not really. I just don’t know how the guys are going to introduce me. Or what I should do. Or if the accident is going to be brought up. Or maybe they already know about the accident.”
“Who cares?” Gia asked. “Own it. That’s why you’re there, remember?”
“I remember everything,” I said. “That’s the problem.”
Gia laughed. “It’s not a problem.” She sighed. “I can tell you what’s going on here and you’re going to hate me for it.”
“Good. Don’t say it.”
“You like them.”
“I said don’t say it.”
“You like that they give you attention. That you’re going away with them. You don’t have anyone in your life who is telling you not to go. Your mother is a psycho bitch who loves drama.”
“What about you?” I asked.
“I think this is crazy,” Gia said. “I also know what it means to you. To get back at them. To find your peace with what happened. I also know if you do have some kind of feelings for them, staying away is only going to make it worse.”
“So what’s the solution?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” Gia said. “I’m your best friend. So I’ll be here for it all.”
Gia reached behind me and opened the medicine cabinet.
She looked around and let out a hmm sound.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m looking for something.”
“What?”
“The most important thing to pack.”
“Which is?”
Gia looked at me. “Common sense.”
“Oh, shut up,” I said.
I pushed her away.
She laughed. “Sorry. Had to. But… common sense, Winter. Just please use common sense. No matter what.”
“It’s two days,” I said. “Or two nights. Whatever I’m trying to say here. I’ll be fine. I just need to know as much as I can. I need to put it all together and then break them for good.”
“Leave your heart here then,” Gia said. “And your desires for them.”
“Again… shut up.”
I walked out of the bathroom and Gia followed me.
I reorganized my bag and zipped it up for good.
I put my hand on the bag and looked at Gia.
I took a deep breath.
She did the same.
“It’s going to sound dumb,” she said. “But I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you too,” I said.
“Ugh, we’re such good friends,” she said.
“That we are. Messed up lives and all.”
My phone lit up on the nightstand.
I looked and I sighed again.
It was time to go.
Chapter 18
ours now
I put my bag into the backseat of Tank Two. I carefully hung the dress so it wouldn’t fold or wrinkle. I still loved that the guys had no idea what I had done.
Xavier sat behind the wheel of his SUV.
It almost dwarfed mine.
Big, sleek, everything custom (as always).
It screamed money.
The exact kind of vehicle you’d take to something like where we were going.
“What are you doing?” Easton asked as he smoked a cigarette in my driveway.
“Driving myself,” I said.
“No way, Winter. That’s not-”
“I’m driving myself up there,” I said.
“It doesn’t work that way,” Easton said.
“Actually, it does,” I said.
I got into the driver’s seat of Tank Two and stared at Easton in the mirror.
Right on cue, Noah got out of the other SUV and hurried toward me.
I locked my door just to be safe.
I did put the window down though.
So Noah and I could argue.
“This doesn’t look good,” Noah said.
“Do you think I care?” I asked.
“Winter,” he said.
He looked back at Easton.
I looked in the mirror.
Easton dropped his cigarette and stepped on it.
He walked back to the other SUV.
Noah looked at me again.
His eyes were different. They were almost kinder. Almost innocent.
Then he said a word I never thought I’d hear come from his mouth.
“Please.”
“What?” I asked with a grin.
“Winter, please,” he said. “I know you’re a bad-ass tough girl who can drive herself. I get it. You want to prove to the world that your accident didn’t change you.”
“What do you know about my accident?” I asked.
Noah’s lip curled.
“Winter. I’m asking you to do this for me.”
“And what are you going to do for me?” I asked. “Why should I do you a favor? I’m already going to this fucking ball thing.”
“Stay home then,” he said. “Fuck it. I just don’t want anything to happen to you. That’s all I care about.”
“So you think something will happen to me when I’m driving?” I asked.
“I didn’t say that,” Noah said. “It’s about looks. We show up. You’re with us. It’s known you’re with us.”
“Wait a second… do you think whoever is following me is going to be there?”
“I don’t know, Winter,” Noah said.
Xavier beeped the horn.
Noah waved his middle finger.
I watched in the mirror as Xavier threw the door open and jumped out.
He hurried toward Tank Two with speed.
“What the fuck is this?” his voice boomed.
“She won’t listen,” Noah said.
“Surprise there,” Xavier said.