"That’s amazing! I knew you danced, but I didn’t realize you taught too."
"Yeah. I've been teaching for about a year, and I was an assistant teacher part-time back in high school. Your brother mentioned you might be interested in a lesson. Would you like to come visit the studio while you're here?"
Eliza grabs my arm. She suddenly looks much younger than an almost twenty-year-old world traveler and college student. In my mind’s eye, I can picture her as a young girl. Her dark braid hanging down her back as she practices pointing her toes inside her soft training shoes.
"Oh my gosh, I would love that more than anything.Anything! Are you serious?"
"Of course. Why don’t we go before we head home? And if you're still here when I teach my next class, I'd love for you to join me."
Eliza looks up at the sky and squeezes her hands into fists. "Yes! I would love that!"
Looping her arm through mine, she pulls me into the shoe store, where we’re immediately greeted by a saleswoman in an impeccable black outfit.
She greets Eliza and then turns to me, ready to repeat the hello, but she pauses as clear recognition flashes over her face. Her smile falters and she presses herlips together.
"Welcome," she brings herself to say. "Is there anything in particular I can help you with today?"
I don't look at Eliza. I'm not sure if Nate told her about my dad’s scandal, or if she already knows. I don't want her to be embarrassed by being in my company, and honestly, I never considered that this might be a problem. I worried about paparazzi, that thankfully haven’t been tipped off to my location today, but not this. Even though I've been living in the shadow of my father's criminal activities for months now, being out with Eliza and having access to cash for a day of shopping is so much like my normal routine that it felt like my old life.
Until right now.
"Just browsing, thank you," I say neutrally.
I move past the saleslady, but she clips after me on ridiculously high heels. Surprised, I pause and look back at her. She smiles apologetically, her fingers on her left hand working together nervously.
"Why don’t I show you to our sales rack? We have some deep discounts today.”
Eliza draws back in disgust. "I have a metal credit card that weighs three pounds and has no limit. Why would I want to go to the sale rack?"
The saleslady smiles apologetically, gives a little bow of her head and backs away.
Eliza makes an offended face. "What was that all about?"
Yep, my cheeks are burning. Do I just tell her?
"I don't know. Maybe she gets extra commission on clearing out the sale items?" I offer with a shrug.
Eliza takes my arm in hers again. "I'm sorry. I’mnever a jerk to sales staff, but I didn’t like the way she was speaking to you. She made it sound personal."
"That’s because it was." I stop and gently pull back from her. "I'm not sure if your brother mentioned it or not, but…there’s something I should probably tell you."
Eliza smiles kindly and puts her hand on my arm. "Hey. No need. I know who you are, Piper. And I know all about what you're going through. I don’t care. Okay? None of it is your fault, and you shouldn't be treated like shit because of what your dad did."
I blink, a little stunned. "Thank you."
She shrugs with a sly smile. "Besides. I know my brother handed you like five grand in cash this morning, so, you’re buying."
We browse for about an hour before each deciding on one pair of shoes. Eliza remarks how well her new heels match the Chloe bag Nate bought for her the other day. She's right. It's a beautiful set. I felt a little guilty about the pricy black ankle boots that I bought, but I didn't want Eliza to feel like she was shopping alone. Besides, she insisted that I spend some of her brother’s money.
"He wouldn't have given it to you if he didn't want you to spend it," she had whispered in my ear after I hesitated, placing the shoes on the counter to be rung up. She instinctively knew that I felt uncomfortable about the purchase. “Besides, those will go with everything. You need them.”
Now, back on the street and in the sunshine, Eliza links our arms the way she's prone to do.
"You know, my brother has always made a point of staying away from gold diggers. He's extremely selective about the women he dates. And I’m using the term ‘date’pretty generously. I can't even think of one woman he’s ‘dated’ more than one time. He seems to prefer zero intimacy."
I give her a sideways glance. Well, this is fresh gossip.
"Why do you think that is?"
