Page 16 of Gilt

“I was listening to that,” he calls.

“You can turn it on in a minute,” I promise as we turn down my street. Dad’s car is in the driveway.

“Are you going to be okay?” Jonas asks as he pulls in.

“Yeah, why?” I lie.

“I remember your dad was pretty strict about curfew.”

I don’t like that he remembers things like that. He has no right to hold onto any memories of us. “That was a long time ago.”

“Okay. Have a good summer,” he says as Hugo opens my door.

“Have a fun time at the pawn shop.” He scoots into my seat, slamming the door in my face.

I wait for them to pull away, waving Jonas on when he hesitates. Was he always such a white knight? Hugo’s right. It’s a bit off-putting.

“That’s the second thing you’ve agreed with him on today,” I say aloud. It might be time to get my head checked.

On the off chance Dad is actually awake, the last thing I need is for him to spot two boys bringing me home. When I finally get up the nerve to go inside, he’s snoring on the couch with an empty bottle of Jack on the floor.

Saved by the booze.

I don’t have time to feel bad for myself or clean up his mess, so I grab a blanket and toss it over him. Heading to my room, I strip down, trying not to think about last night. But undressing brings visions of Jameson flashing through my mind. I push the thoughts aside, plug in my phone and turn on the shower. There’s no use. I’m going to be late.

The water feels good, but it can’t wash away the memory of his hands on me. I turn the faucet off with a groan. My neck is stiff from sleeping awkwardly last night, and the last thing I want to do is go to brunch with my mom. But since being dutiful ensures that my tuition gets paid, I rummage through my closet until I find something suitably boring for such an occasion. Stepping into the yellow sundress, my phone begins to vibrate with a series of incoming messages. I grab a few bobby pins from the dresser and twist my wet hair up. It will have to do.

I don’t have time to check the texts before Josie’s ringtone begins to play. I lunge for it, hitting accept as I flop onto my bed.

“Where the hell were you?” I demand. “I looked for you everywhere.”

“Me?” she shrieks. “I heard Monroe kicked you out. I spent half the night wandering through the casino, looking for you.”

Two ships passing in the night. Sighing, I cradle my phone to my ear and unscrew my mascara wand. “I texted you. I fell asleep out by the pool.”

Now’s not the time to tell her about Jameson. Not while it’s still raw that he left me there like that.

“My phone died,” she says quickly, “but that’s not what’s important. Turn on the news.”

“The news?” I repeat.

“Emma!” Her tone is rich with warning, so I flip open my laptop.

“I’m online. What am I looking for?” I ask, still trying to do my make-up. Who says girls can’t multi-task?

“Google West Casino,” she demands.

A pit opens in my stomach as I key in the words and click on the streaming news link. Neither of us speaks as a reporter’s voice comes over my speakers.

We’re at the scene of a developing story. Authorities have confirmed the discovery of a body in the penthouse of West Casino and Resort. The penthouse is the private residence of mogul Nathaniel West and his family. There’s been no word yet on the identity of the victim, but homicide units are at the scene.

“What the hell is going on?” I whisper.

“Who do you think it is?” Josie asks.

I don’t know, and that’s what scares me.

CHAPTER SEVEN