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Frowning, she said, “I don’t know what’s gotten into your mother. And that first-name nonsense is another thing I never understood. I never knew her well. But I will say that maybe this is a blessing in disguise.” I let out a humorless laugh, and she smiled. “If you’d like to talk about…everything, I am here.”
I folded my legs as I sat at the bottom of my bed. “Maybe later. I kinda feel…weird about my situation. Not that I am not grateful to you and Uncle Anton.” I also didn’t like anyone undermining Cindy’s parenting skills, but I wasn’t in a position to tell her that.
Aunt Deborah nodded and smirked. “But it’s a real bitch to feel indebted to people. To have to feel grateful all the time? Isn’t it?” She took off her blazer and revealed fit arms and a very perky bust in a sleeveless top. I remembered her being much thicker, and I could tell that she worked out a lot now. Maybe had some work done on her body too. She studied me with her pale blue eyes. “The only thing you owe Anton and I is to take care of yourself.” She released a soft sigh. “Anton and I haven’t always been where we are in our lives right now. Someone gave us a chance, invested in us when we were small fish, swimming with the sharks. We haven’t forgotten how fortunate we are. Now, you’re lucky he even hired you. Didn’t force you to be a beach bum.”
“I think he’s amenable to what I want—to an extent.”
She stood up and nodded.
Someone knocked on the door. “Come in,” Aunt Deborah said.
Cassidy walked in with her hair wrapped up in a towel, a light robe, and cute slippers.
Aunt Deborah’s face straightened. “Did you put your stuff away?”
“Yes, Mother. I took a bath by myself too,” she said saucily. “I wanted to see if Beth wanted to go out tonight.”
“That sounds like a great idea, Cassie.” Aunt Deborah walked towards the door but kept her focus on her daughter.
“I am twenty-two. Not reckless,” she said. She shifted her gaze in my direction. “Besides, how old are you, twenty?”
“Eighteen,” I corrected her.
“Same difference,” Cassidy said with a smirk.
“What’s the dress code like?” I asked.
“You can wear a pair of jeans. A nice top and shoes. That’s what I’ll be wearing.”
“Don’t come back too late.” Aunt Deborah raised her finger at Cassidy.
“We’re just going to be at the Paloma bar,” Cassidy said. “Besides, we’ll have Pierce there to police us.”
***
Chase
My forehead pricked with sweat as I stepped out of the laundry room for a break. Nancy had kept me company for a little while until Mrs. Pruitt called for her. Nancy hadn’t mentioned Beth when I brought Mrs. Pruitt’s shopping bags to the front of her room, or when she and I were in the laundry room. My phone vibrated.
“What’s good, Pierce?”
“Everything’s fine over here. Better since Mom and Dad are out for the night. Joel and Rylan are gonna be at the bar. Around eleven-thirty, we’re gonna have a little party at my penthouse.”
“When have you ever had a little party?”
“Tonight it’ll be real lax. Rylan and I already told Joel that we’re just gonna chill and not have a bunch of people over. ”
“Okay. I’ll be there.”
“You won’t be disappointed.”
***
Rylan and Joel were with five girls from the larger group I had seen them with on the beach this afternoon. I sat down at the table they were occupying —the biggest one in the bar/restaurant at the Paloma.
“What would you like?” Bri, one of the regular waitresses, asked me.
“Club soda with lime.”
