by Nora Cobb
“I’m not the misogynist-bonehead-oversexed jock anymore.”
Natalie shakes her head. “As long as I’m not the middle-class-strung-out-dealer’s toy.”
I scoff. “But I’m still an ass, and always will be. Can I still call you Trashalicious?”
“Only if I can still call you Jock-boy.”
I want to say more, but my phone buzzes in my pocket, cutting our conversation short. It’s my dad.
Greg: Troy. Is your sister with you?
Troy: I’m in Miami.
Greg: Is she with you?
Before I can type a reply, another message appears.
Greg: She’s missing.
I groan loudly and sit up. This is bad ... worse than bad. Vicki’s run away again, and I wonder if it has anything to do with Connor. Involuntarily, my gaze goes to Cora. She’s rich and pretty, but I can’t marry that girl. I’d never love her.
Natalie jumps up and sits by my side. “What’s wrong?” Her leg presses against mine, and our skin, damp and warm, touches. I blink my eyes and focus.
“Vicki’s missing.” I hit dial. “I have to talk to my dad.”
***
“She might be heading down to South Beach,” my dad replies to my questions. “I don’t think she’s run away because she left too much stuff behind. We called a security agency to check the airports and hospitals. Just let me know if she contacts you.”
“I’ll drive over to MIA to check.”
“Thanks, Troy. You’re a good son.”
I pause. “Thanks, Dad.”
Natalie looks at me; her face is in a serious frown. I stare at her without speaking, and it hits me. She is actually starting to care for me. I can’t recall a girl that’s given a damn about me before.
“I have to go look for my sister.” I pause. “The short story is my mother has arranged a marriage pact between Vicki and Connor Bouchard. She may have run away because of it.”
“I’ll go with you,” she says, ready to stand up and go. “I’ll help you look.”
I place a hand on her knee to keep her from standing and shake my head. “I’ll take care of my sister. If you want to help, you’ll stay here and ace this party. Go mingle and get to know the other half. We’re going to need you later to topple over the monster we all created.”
Natalie bites her lip and straightens her back. “Okay” She hugs me and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Good luck.”
I watch as Natalie sashays her way into the thick of the crowd, wishing that I could stay.
***
I regret not renting a car. I can afford it, but I wasn’t expecting to leave the hotel until after the bridal shower. I know no one in Miami, and the only person I’m interested in is staying in the hotel.
I take a rental car to the airport and tell the driver to wait. I search the boards for flights from Newark, Kennedy, and LaGuardia. I see one coming in from LaGuardia and head to the gate. TSA won’t let me pass without a ticket, and before I can find the right person to ask, I see Lucas walking toward me from the gate.
He has his suit bag slung over his shoulder, and looks like he hasn’t slept for a decade. His eyes have dark circles, and his usually carefully pressed clothing looks slept in. If he’s coming from a cross-country flight, I can understand. But all flights from New York airports to Miami take under three hours.
“Lucas,” I shout, raising my hand, as the TSA agent stares me down. Are they going to frisk me because I’m still there?
Lucas is surprised to see me, which makes perfect sense since I’m shocked to see him. He hurries over to me. I don’t know why, but I give him a long hug. He holds onto me like a drowning man gasping for hope. I hold onto him a little longer before I finally pull away. My body relaxes. Maybe I need this too.
“What are you doing here?” he asks. “Did you just arrive or something?”
“Vicki’s missing.”
“No, she’s with Arielle,” he replies. “They’re taking a later flight.”
Literally, I breathe a sigh of relief. I’ve heard that corny phrase a million times before, but this is the first time I have ever truly experienced it. I grab Lucas’ bag off his bent shoulder. He is carrying enough of a burden.
“You need a ride?” I say. “I’ve got a car waiting.”
I call my dad and talk to him as we ride back to the hotel. He’s not happy. And I learn the real reason why Cora is allowed to have a party in Miami. It’s to get the older siblings out of the way while the younger ones are introduced.
“Troy, I don’t know how much of her I can handle,” Lucas sighs as he rubs his face with his hands. “Did you know she cackles? The woman actually cackles. That’s not sexy. Being manipulative is not attractive. I don’t know how you dated her.”
“You want to know the answer?” I replied, “It was to make you jealous, and it backfired. She cockteased me. Whenever we got started, she found an excuse to stop before we went too far ... Looking back on it, I’m glad it never went too far.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t see the two of you together.” Lucas closes his eyes. “I mean, you’re a dick sometimes, but that’s only surface deep.”
“Thanks, I think.”
“Sorry, I’m so tired I’m talking shit. Have you seen Natalie?”
I swallow a tight lump down my throat. “Yeah, I have.”
Lucas stares at me. “What’s going on? Did you upset her?”
“No, it’s nothing like that,” I reply quickly. “I wouldn’t do anything now to upset her.”
He opens his tired eyes and looks at me. “Why? What has changed from before?”
“I like her, Lucas, and I hope you don’t mind.”
He laughs, closing his eyes again and rubbing them with his hand. “That’s polite, and I don’t have a right to mind. Does she like you?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I watch the scenery pass by the car window—the pastel-colored buildings flanked by leaning palm trees, and past it, the ocean view in the dark.
“I don’t know,” I reply plaintively. “Right now, it’s enough that she doesn’t hate me.”
CHAPTER 9
Natalie
“Natalie, this week is going to be amazing. I feel so lucky. Thank you.” Cora touches up her lip gloss in the hotel bathroom mirror. She looks elegant in a pale green silk dress. Her signature red is on hiatus in her closet in New Jersey.
I booked one of the several restaurants in the Four Seasons for a private event. Why limit the party to one day since we’ll be here for almost a week? Today, it’s going to be a simple five-star meal created by a celebrated South Beach chef.
“Yeah, I’m feeling good too.” I touch mascara to the ends of my lashes.
We are dressed up tonight for dinner, leaving our jeans and flip-flops in our rooms. The day is to be spent on the beach after a walk along Ocean Drive. While Beth and I gawk at shop windows, Cora, Lexi, and the other girls turn up their noses and critique every stitch of clothing. Lexi points out the dresses that are definitely machine-made, and I finally learn the difference between couture and what I wear. It’s more than just a price tag.
“I feel lucky to be marrying Nicholas.” Cora slips her lipstick in her matching beaded clutch. “Gratitude is something I take for granted, but I realize now how lucky I am to have met the right one.”
Cora smiles delicately and though she’s still a genuine snob, she’s a snob with a heart of gold. I A-line hug her very gently, barely touching her cheek with an air kiss.
“We don’t want to get too personal and wrinkle the dresses,” I tease her. “And don’t make me cry. This mascara isn’t waterproof.”
“The quality ones aren’t,” Cora sighs as she lifts a brow.
I hold the door for her, and we cross the lobby toward the restaurant. The elevator chimes before the doors open, and we pause to look. It might be the boys. I’m anxious about Troy and Vicki, but he must have been too busy to answer my text. We pause, looking as the doors slide open, and all I can
see is red as Arielle walks out of the elevator with Vicki.
Before I can stop myself, I rush over to Vicki, who looks as if she could really not give a shit about anything. Her family, well—her brother and her dad—are worried sick. Yet she’s hanging in South Beach with Arielle? What the actual fuck, little girl?
“Vicki, your brother has been looking for you.”
Vicki stares at me like I shouldn’t embarrass her in public. She shuffles her feet and then takes a step back. I wonder if she’s going to try to run away. Well, I don’t care. I reach out and try to grab her hand. I will drag her back to Troy, even if I have to do it in front of all these people.
“Excuse you.” Arielle steps between us, forcing me to take a step back. “Why are you in her business?”
I don’t know what to say. Does this mean I’m friends with Troy now? Because only a friend would meddle in his business. My face flushes, and that isn’t good. Arielle mistakes my confusion for backing down.
“This doesn’t concern you,” I snap.
“Nor you,” she replies. “Victoria is my friend. Not yours. And she’s here with me.” Her eyes go to Cora. “You can’t lure everyone away.”
“Troy is looking for his sister,” I reply. “Get over yourself. This has nothing to do with us.”
Arielle curls her lips. “Victoria knows what she’s doing.”
I can’t help but notice that every time Arielle calls Vicki by her proper name, she winces. Arielle obviously knows nothing about Troy’s sister, or at least, nothing about the person she is today.
To hear Troy tell it, the girl has changed. According to Troy, Vicki was different once, but I can’t imagine the hard girl standing in front of me as the free spirit that he remembers. It’s hard to picture Vicki picking dandelions on the lawn and laughing because the sun is shining. No, this little girl is closing off and hardening up, her armor turning into an impenetrable shell.
Arielle steps into my space again. “You want to run other people’s lives, but you haven’t even figured out your own.” She scoffs. “My husband has had his fun with you, but it’s over. Hands off, slut.”
Before I know what’s happening, I’m stumbling back a step. Arielle shoved me, and in these heels, I almost take a tumble. Cora’s steady hand keeps me from hitting the ground. If she didn’t like me a little, I would’ve been on my ass.
I hiss at Arielle. “If you loved him, you wouldn’t have tricked him.”
“I tricked him? We were engaged!” she shouts. “Before you went whoring around. You need to stop. Not every boy at Montlake wants you.” Arielle’s gaze locks on Cora. “I’d watch her, Cora. She’ll fuck your man next.”
I rush her as my anger takes over, controlling me like a puppet swinging wildly on a string. But before I can grab hold of her, Lucas appears and steps between us.
He places a hand on me and holds his other hand up toward Arielle. “Not here,” he hisses. “Not now.”
I glance over, and the hotel manager is coming out of her office while a few guests look on. They look disgusted and alarmed by our rowdy behavior, plus the things that were shouted weren’t kind. Uncle Phil warned me to stay out of trouble. Instead, I went and stirred the pot with both hands. I step back, and Arielle steps away as the manager glares in our direction, watching us and ready to pounce if there is any more trouble.
“Look, you two are going to have to bring it way down,” Lucas warns us both. “Unless you want us watched all weekend.”
He has a point. I don’t want to be the reason why Cora’s party is derailed.
Inhaling deeply, I look over at Vicki, who is watching me with wide eyes. I almost got into a brawl in a fancy hotel lobby. I meet her gaze, and her lip curls into a slight sneer.
“Vicki, your brother is worried sick about you.” My voice is calm and steady though my body is trembling from the adrenaline. “Please text him.”
She scoffs. “You aren’t my mother.” She emphasizes each word. “So mind your own business.” Vicki looks at her phone.
Is this for real? Did I just get told off by a fourteen-year-old girl? Why do I look like the bad guy? I have no response, and I want to get away. Turning my back on all of them, I pull my arm out of Lucas’ grasp.
“Lexi,” Arielle sings out. “Why are you with them?”
Lexi had slipped to the back of the group of guests entering the restaurant. She freezes and stares wide-eyed like a cat caught doing something terrible. Her bright eyes pop, creating a void as she stammers and stutters. Finally, she shuffles over to Arielle like a good pet. Arielle’s eyes scan the other girls. They’re not all on my team, and a few more defect, choosing to go with Arielle and remain in her good graces.
My posture droops. I realize that my status has been challenged, and I couldn’t keep my control. I fucked up, and once again, I have witnesses. But there’s some silver in the cloud. At least I did it all on my own from start to fucked-up finish. My gaze finds Lucas, and he takes a step forward. I shake my head slightly; it would be worse if he came to me. Lucas walks away as Arielle trails behind him with three other girls, including Lexi, in tow.
Vicki holds up her phone to me. “I texted him. Happy? You can stop looking pissed now.” And then, she takes off after them.
I watch as Lucas cast a concerned look over his shoulder. At least he’s there to keep an eye on Vicki.
I don’t have to look directly at Cora to know she’s not pleased. The waves of tension coming off her body reach me, causing the hair on my arms to rise up. Cora huffs in disgust and heads toward the restaurant, and whipped, I follow behind.
***
I’m exhausted by my effort to appear as if it’s all good, and we’re all having fun. Sitting so her back is slightly turned, Cora is practically ignoring me after my showdown with Arielle. She’d been willing to support me because I was the one who could take Arielle down. I’m the new blood with almost three captains backing me. In theory, I can win Montlake, and Arielle would have to play her dirty tricks elsewhere. But in practice, I ended up being told off by Troy’s little sister, and now, I’m lame.
Troy and I aren’t really friends. We are becoming friends. We are friendly. Now, I have to face my feelings about him. Why embarrass myself defending his little sister if he’s only an acquaintance? My thoughts wander back to the night at the homecoming party, and I shiver.
I’ve thought about it since that night. He’s asked for my forgiveness, and finally, I gave it to him. I was only convinced of his sincerity once I saw him with Vicki. He understands now—having a confused little sister to protect puts it in perspective. He’s not the same person I met in September, and maybe we should decide if we are genuinely friends.
The seat next to mine is empty, not because no one wanted to sit there but because I reserved it for Beth. I look at her name card and then look at the door. If Beth had been there, I’d have aced Arielle. I sigh. I’ll have to defend myself with my own sharp tongue.
Beth would’ve been here except she stepped out of her room in a graphic T-shirt and vintage jeans. She was proud of those jeans. The salesgirl told her they were Levi’s from the sixties. In New York, they look edgy, but in South Beach, they’re ratty. So, she excused herself and ran back into her room to change.
Beth stands at the archway of the restaurant now and hurries to our table before the uniformed hostess can assist her. The hostess presses her lips together as she takes a step toward an idle waiter. They look over, not bothering to hide their contempt; spending an afternoon serving teenage girls with voices that could break glass. I’d have blown off their censorious looks except for what happened earlier—my disgrace on display for the entertainment of the hotel occupants.
“Where have you been?” I groan as Beth takes her seat.
I can’t believe it took her almost forty minutes to change into a simple black wrap dress.
Beth is out of breath as she grabs my arm. “I saw Anthony.”
Cora turns in her seat. “The dealer?�
��
Beth smiles, realizing that she has a scoop, and that places her at the center of attention. “I’m not a hundred percent, but when he saw me, he took off down the exit stairs.”
“Why would he be here?” Cora asks me instead of Beth.
I shrug my shoulders helplessly. “How could he even afford this hotel?”
The table goes silent. The others may be thinking, but Cora, Beth, and I know the answer.
I lower my voice. “But why would she bring him here?”
“He saw her throw my ring into the pit. He’s my witness.”
“That’s not it,” replies Beth. “She’s never denied doing it. He’s up to something else.”