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14
Archer
Iam not looking forward to this. We have another committee meeting tonight. Instead of gathering at the library as we usually do, we've been invited by Serafina to a remote corner of the island to meet. Although, invited is the polite way of phrasing it. Insisted is more like it. I told Lena I’d pick her up, and Ben and Julian were bringing Octavia out with them.
I’ve been in a funk since the moment my phone dinged with the change of location for our meeting tonight. These nights always turn into fun get-togethers with friends. We joke and give each other shit, but the reason I most appreciate them is because Lena relaxes and enjoys herself. That happens a lot more these days than it did when we were younger, but it’s still not often enough.
With Serafina weaseling her way into our meetings, there’s no way they’ll be as enjoyable as usual. Serafina is totally hijacking our vibe. I’m blaming that, and her command that we come to her, as the reasons for my bad attitude. Since I learned of the change in location, I’ve been unnaturally irritated, feeling like my clothing is full of rough tags that keep scraping at my skin.
“Do you have any idea why we have to go all the way to the corner of the island for our meeting tonight?” Lena grumbles beside me, looking about as pleased as I am about the change in location.
“Because Serafina’s a bossy bitch who has to be in charge of everything?” I raise a brow as I look at Lena, taking my eyes off the beaten down trail. The path to this house isn’t paved, but there are trails that locals use often enough with their ATVs that I can navigate without issue. Still, the occasional twig scrapes against the side of the vehicle.
“Sounds accurate.”
My phone pings with a sequence of messages. I sigh as I pull it out of my pocket, finding a dozen messages from my mother.
“Your other secret girlfriend.” Lena’s cheeks turn a bright red the second the words are out of her mouth, and she clamps her lips shut. I smirk at her, letting her know I’m not phased, even though my throat might have closed up a little at that word. I do us both a favor and pretend she didn’t say that.
“My mother. She won’t stop about this damn party they’re having this weekend.”
“Not interested in attending?”
Lena knows my parents, particularly what my mom is like. She’s not friendly, not caring, or maternal in any way. I try to spend as little time with them as humanly possible. Sometimes it’s unavoidable. My mother firmly believes that because she gave birth to me, I owe her. It’s such a fucked-up way of thinking. As if I had any say in deciding to be born. Yet, she thinks I should be at her beck and call, regardless of the fact that she’s never treated me with anything more than coldness and disdain. I’m only interesting and useful when there’s a benefit to her.
“Is she trying to schmooze someone? What is it that she needs your presence there for?”
Lena’s familiar with most of my history, including many of the shitty things my mother did to me over the years. Not all of them, because after a point, it felt redundant to keep complaining about the psychological bullshit she likes to pull. She knows more than most.
“Apparently there’s some big wig she’s trying to impress. She wants me to find him some property on the island.”
My mother works for a marketing firm and is always on the lookout for her next big client. She often invites them out to my parents’ house here on the island. She works in New York and comes back every other weekend, or whenever they throw a big party. I’d prefer she stay in New York all the time and leave Wild Haven altogether, but so far, she hasn’t cut ties with our little community.
“That sounds miserable.”
“You have no idea. Beyond the constant barrage of how much of a disappointment I am to my parents, there will be all the grabby hands.”
Lena angles her head to look over at me, a frown on her face. “Explain.”
I chuckle at her no-nonsense command for information. Placing my hand on her knee, I sneak a finger under the hem of her skirt. I relish the warmth of her skin soaking into mine and eat up the little gasp she releases when I touch her.
“Their parties are fucking meat markets. Three-fourths of the bastards show up to hook up with someone other than their spouse.”
The horrified look on Lena’s face only makes me laugh harder.
“I know way too many people who go to your parents’ parties. I’m never going to be able to look at them again without thinking of them swinging and doing couples mix and match. God, do you?” Lena’s words peter out into nothing, and her pale skin looks a little green.
“Christ, no.” I screw up my face and exaggerate a shudder. “I just have to prepare myself for the invitations.” I’m dreading the moment one of my father’s golf buddies tries to grab my ass.
“So, you’re going to go?”
“Fuck, I guess.” I blow out a long breath. “I haven’t been for a while, and usually she’ll back off for a bit after I attend one of her miserable parties.”
“Do you need a shield?”
My gaze leaves the trail longer than is safe. “Are you offering?”
“Unless bringing a date means you’re looking to swap. I’m definitely not down with that.”
