Page 65 of Trailer Trash

“Go tell Harlow you got an emergency call and leave — immediately. Tomorrow, text her. Say you want to be friends.”

“Are you serious?” he says, shaken.

I press the blade more firmly, his cheek about to bleed.

“1432 E. Westridge. Your home address. If you fuck this up, I’ll be there when you least expect it and carve you a new face.” I step away and head for the door. “Oh, and Jaxson. If you tell her I smoked weed, I’ll do more than cut you up.”

I snuff out the joint on the floor for good measure, then leave the bathroom before he can respond. As I walk back to my table, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

River: Nina’s been weird. I think she’s getting worried about the wedding. Did you talk to Mom and Dad?

River: Quit ignoring me. This is serious.

I groan, annoyed. I got my own problems. Not dumb shit like Nina wanting a celebrity-style wedding.

Me: I’ll talk to them.

Once I return to the patio, Nina has finished her entrée and sips her cosmo.

“Did it go well with Harlow’s date?” she says.

“Yes. We can go soon.”

She smiles and swirls her drink. “Why didn’t you ask your ex to go with you instead of me?”

I gawk. “Frida? She’s crazy. No way.”

She laughs mockingly. “Aren’t you the one intimidating a stranger? For a woman who isn’t yours?”

Casually, I study my fingernails. “You don’t understand a woman like Frida. She’s got issues.”

Her smile widens. “No, you got issues.”

I shrug. “Hm. Why did you cheat on my brother?”

Her expression hardens. “I made a mistake. We made a mistake.”

“Why were you in a drug house?”

“I use sometimes, okay?”

“Rich people do drugs, but not inside those places. Why were you there partying with lowlifes?”

Defensively, she crosses her arms. “River thinks I get tennis lessons at that country club. But really? I am a tennis instructor there. I make forty-two thousand dollars a year.”

“That’s what I thought,” I mutter. “What’s your drug of choice?”

She sinks into the seat and whispers, “Meth.”

I don’t flinch, but I am somewhat surprised. She doesn’t look like she uses such a powerful drug. I guess most people don’t until it’s too late.

Nina’s been weird.

River’s text. Maybe that’s what he’s noticing.

“You’re a gold digger then,” I state, not ask.

Her eyes darken. “I got drunk and high just like you. I made a bad decision. We both should pretend it never happened. Okay?”