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It was true; she had said as much before—many times. For whatever reason, I just hadn’t been ready to hear it. To take that leap.
“Thanks, Grammy. I’ll see you Christmas morning.”
I ended the call and sank against the wall, clutching my phone to my chest.
If only Mom were here. I wondered what she would say about the way Stina had steamrolled over all of us.
I hadn’t lived for Stina. It’d been more like self-preservation, to do what Stina demanded in order to keep the status quo and get the money she’d promised me.
I’d also been civil to her because it was what my mom would have wanted. She’d always taught me to treat people with respect.
Treating people with respect, however, didn’t mean I had to take their disrespect in return. That’s where I’d been wrong for too long.
Stina didn’t care about me, but I knew that wherever Mom was, she still did. I got the sense that this victory in standing up for myself wasn’t just my own.
Mom was cheering me on, encouraging me in words similar to what Grammy Carroll had used.
That was why Grammy’s words had struck me so deeply. They were what Mom would have said if she were here.
Warmth drizzled through my entire body. Fueled by Grammy’s words, I set my mind to it and finished finalizing my gown’s design. I would go to the ball with Hawk. In doing so, I’d stand up to Stina.
But I wasn’t doing thisjustfor myself.
I was doing it for Mom.
My periphery caught on the window, the bare tree standing just outside it, and the suspicious glimpse of lime green in the parking lot below. I strode to the window and stiffened, my uncertainty rising once more.
There was only one car in Westville that color, and I was pretty sure it belonged to my wicked stepsister.
As if I needed further verification, the wordD1VAblared from the license plate.
What wasPris doing here?
I dove for my phone. After talking to Hawk and Grammy, I wasn’t about to let Pris ruin anything.
Me: Whatever you’re up to, don’t.
Pris: I don’t know what you mean.
Me: You were in my parking lot.
Pris: I was turning my car around. It just happened to be at your apartment.
I couldn’t believe that. She never came over, and with all the drama going down with her lately, the sight of her only made my hackles rise.
Me: I hope that’s all it was.
Pris: Something wrong, Ella?
Me: Like you care.
Pris: Whatever. I’ll see you at the ball.
Her responses stopped there, leaving me with all kinds of uncertainty. I stared at my phone, watching, waiting for her to set the next trap, but she sent nothing else.
I didn’t like this at all. Something was wrong.
Pris lived with her mom and my dad on the other side of Wonderland. She had no reason to be on my side of town.
