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After making sure I was okay, Xavier left me to make a quick run to the pool house. I straightened my back and turned to scan the sea of faces when that recognizable smell hit me again. My skin prickled with awareness. I knew he was nearby, I didn't know where, but I could feel him watching me. Before I could take another step, I recoiled at the sound of my name being called out.
Drawing in a confident breath, I turned around.
"Yes, Mom?" Mommie Dearest was more like it, but I wouldn't push too far today.
"Ana," she said in a honeyed voice that churned my stomach. She gave me a condescending smile as she tilted her head. Cupping my arm, she stepped close to my face. "Make me look like a fool in front of your father again, wear something like that scrap of white trash fabric you call a dress, and you will regret it. You are a Rossi. You come from money and class. Act like it." Her nails bit into the underside of my arm and I flinched. "If you don't, I'll take away the one thing you love most." Blood drained from my face and her nails dug deeper into the back of my arm. I tried not to make it obvious, but it hurt and my face contorted into a pinch of pain. Mom glared. Any harder and she would break the skin.
"Mom," I whispered a plea. My heart was pounding a mile a minute. She gave me a toothy grin and stepped closer to pat my cheek with a tenderness aimed for a baby.
"Do you like the life I give you? Being able to do gymnastics and live on your own with a credit card you don't pay for?" Her eyes hardened. "Then you'll do as I say."
She let go and walked away without a care in the world. I held my arm where she dug her fingers into my flesh and felt the half-moon imprints she left behind. Steadying my breathing, I needed a moment to myself, but I'd already left my friends alone longer than I anticipated and needed to find them.
As I made my way toward the backyard, my steps slowed, and I cupped the back of my neck. I skimmed the guests, faces of entitlement and wealth, surrounded in that citrus and cinnamon fusion I associated Kova with. I didn't see him, but I had a notion he saw me.
Shaking it off, a black-tie waiter wearing white gloves ambled toward me carrying a tray of champagne flutes. I plucked one off and kept walking, adding a little sway to my hips. I downed the bubbly and placed it on a counter before I stepped outside, allowing the crisp air to cool my cheeks.
Scanning the crowd, I found my friends and watched them from the veranda. They were laughing and smiling, having a good time. My heart was lighter as I took in the moment.
I walked across the pool deck filled with twinkling holiday lights, passing friends of my parents until I reached the circle. All eyes were on me.
"Everything okay?" Hayden asked.
"Are you all right?" Avery asked at the same time.
I gave a careless shrug. "Oh, you know. Typical Joy having a coronary."
Avery frowned. "She flipped out over the dress, didn't she?"
"Flipped out is an understatement. She was a raging lunatic. Luckily my dad and brother both sided with me and backed me up." I glanced at Holly and Hayden and smiled. "Sorry about that, guys. I don't want to talk about it anymore, it’s finished. Let's just have fun and enjoy the night."
"We're here for you," Holly offered with a gentle smile, and then added, "Let's make this the best New Year's ever!"
"Yes! Let's!"
The band began playing a light tune in the background. They were calling up my family one by one to the stage. I groaned inwardly. I didn't want to go up there and pretend to be the perfect family, especially after what just happened.
"You best get moving. We'll be here."
I rolled my eyes at my best friend. "Do I have to? Can you step in for me?"
"And stand next to Dragon Lady and not kill her? No way, Jose."
I turned to Holly and Hayden with an apologetic expression. "Sorry, guys. Duty calls. I'll be right back…again. This should be it for the night, after that, I'm all yours!"
Carefully, I made my way to the stage on four-inch toothpicks with three glasses of champagne streaming through my blood and loosening me up. I smiled, feeling good. Now that was a drink I could get on board with, unlike that disgusting vodka. I shuddered at the thought. Not that I had time to drink or anything, but it was delicious and went down easy, which wasn't a good thing.
Xavier held out a hand and guided me up the steps. One would never guess he'd been drinking and smoking from the way he held himself, but stand two inches from his face and look into his eyes and the evidence was plain as day. He must've filled up in the guest house after he left Dad’s office.
I stood between him and Dad, with Mom on the other side, thankfully. With the microphone in hand, Dad spoke to the crowd like a well-versed politician. He thanked everyone and meandered on about something so boring in the real-estate world that I lost interest. Xavier became fidgety next to me. I stood poised and graceful, exhaling as I browsed the crowd of regulars. Roughly one hundred people were dressed in dark attire or glittery colors, except one person who caught my attention.
Katja.
She was wearing a virginal white cocktail dress that accented her curves. She was all wide hips, narrow waist, and heavy breasts, which were about to spill over. The dress stuck to her like glue and I was instantly filled with envy when I noticed a flat hand sitting low on her pelvis from behind.
I tried to
balance my nerves as I studied her. Huge, full lips, the kind women in Hollywood paid for. A straight and sharp nose, high cheek bones, sparkling eyes, and tousled waves—Katja looked fresh off a runway.
