AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hello,” I croaked out, then cleared my throat or tried to.
My throat was dry with nerves. I wasn’t as confident as I pretended to be at the thought of talking with Collin’s former girlfriend.
“It’s Addy Footit.” Feeling awkward, I bent to speak into the box that was set at car-window height. “I’m here to see Miranda Skellin.”
“Hey, Addy,” Miranda’s voice said sweetly when I took my finger off the button. A buzz sounded and the driveway gate swung open. “I saw you guys pull up. Come up the drive. I’ll meet you at the front door.”
“Okay.”
My cheeks burned at the knowledge that Miranda had probably seen Collin kiss me. Did he know the cameras were there? If so, why would he want her to see that? It didn’t make any sense.
My thoughts were muddled as I followed the drive. The incline was steep, and there was grassy lawn on either side of me.
When I reached the top of the rise, I saw that the house was even bigger up close. Three stories tall and sprawling, it seemed to take up an entire acre of lakefront property. The water of Lake Washington glistened in the afternoon sun. It was a multimillion-dollar view, totally stunning, and confirmation I didn’t need that Miranda’s parents were loaded. I wondered why her brother had a club in Southside. Surely, there were more prime locations that he could easily afford.
“Hi, Addy.” Miranda bounded down the marble steps to greet me.
“Manners, young lady,” a woman lurking in the doorway behind her said. “You are a Skellin, not a roller-skating server working at the Stop.”
“Sorry, Mother.” Miranda made a face, tossed her ponytail behind her shoulder, and offered me her hand. “Hello, Addy.” Her dark brown eyes pleaded for me to play along with the formality.
“Hello, Miranda.” I placed my hand in hers.
“Nice of you to stop by today.” She shook my hand.
“Better,” Miranda’s mother said as she stepped onto the porch.
Mrs. Skellin wore a suit, like my new one from the consignment shop, but hers was paired with a navy silk blouse. Her dark brown eyes speculative, she sashayed toward me in high heels at a dignified pace. Her light brown hair pinned up in a complicated-looking style, she ran her gaze over me, wrinkling her nose at my secondhand Misfits T-shirt, hoodie, and frayed pair of tight jeans. She didn’t even try to hide that she found me lacking.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“I came to invite Miranda and her friends to a concert at Winston’s.” I withdrew the stack of photocopied flyers from my armpit, hoping they weren’t stained with perspiration.
Miranda’s mother snatched them from my hand before Miranda could take them. “ABCR.” She squinted at the text, then glanced up. “Who on earth is that?”
“It’s Collin’s band, Mother.” Miranda rolled her eyes. “They’re debuting at Martin’s club.”
“Your father told you not to see Collin anymore.” Her mother’s brown eyes turned icy.
“I’m not dating him.” Miranda’s expression darkened. “Addy is Collin’s girlfriend now.”
Her mother glanced my way again. “Are you from Southside?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Miranda Enya Skellin.” Her mother shook her manicured finger in her daughter’s face.
“Grace Ella Skellin,” Miranda said, staring defiantly back at her mother.
“I can’t believe you invited her,” Grace said, glancing at me with a sniff, “up to our home.”
Miranda narrowed her eyes. “It’s my home too. Martin invites whoever he wants to come here.”
“He used to, but he has his own place now. He and your father had words, remember?”
“They’re always having words,” Miranda muttered.
Feeling uncomfortable at the exchange, I started to back away.
