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“Everyone else is wrapping themselves in caution tape or picking palm fronds off the lawn. My outfit will be original.”
“What were you thinking?”
“Oh my goodness, it’s going to be so cute. A dress out of candy wrappers with matching crown. We’re about the same size, so you’ll be my mannequin.”
“I’ve never been to an ABC party,” I said lightly. “People come up with some amazing outfits.”
“It’s going to be insane.” Katie threw out her hands. “The first party of the year always is. It’s like a challenge to all the parties to come that they’d better top it.”
“Does everyone come out? I mean, are the parties open to everyone?”
“Nah. Dreg parties, yeah, but not Royal parties. Though the Dregs always try to crash.”
“You know, you don’t have to call us Dregs. It’s just the two of us. No one around to witness you bucking the social order.”
Katie threw her head back laughing. “What? You think I have a secret soft side? Aw, that’s so cute. Sorry, Lu-Lu, but you’re such a Dreg, it’d be wrong to call you anything else. Look at you dropping everything to be my shop window dummy just because I told you to.”
“I mean this sincerely: fuck you.” I got back a laugh in response. “And I’m only helping you because you are going to buck the social order and get me an invite.”
“Actually, I’m not.”
“Actually, you are.”
Katie’s brow crawled up her forehead. “Why would I do that?”
“Because I want to see them, Katie. I want to look into the faces of the people who watched, ignored, laughed, and tore down my sister.” The smirk melted off her face. “It’s only right I meet the people responsible.”
She gave me a long, unreadable look. “No.”
“No?” I repeated.
“I’m not getting you into the party.”
Anger flared hot and corrosive, burning in my chest. “You said you liked Winter. You claimed you gave a shit!”
“I did— I do! But last year and this summer wasn’t just a nightmare for her. I’m not comparing our situations,” she rushed when I sprang forward. “I know it’s not the same, but freshman year sucked for me. I barely hung out with any of my friends. I had to lie to everyone because Mom didn’t want them to know what she was going through.
“Then Winter... died, and this dark cloud hung over the whole summer. It felt wrong to party and go to the beach like nothing happened,” she said. “Maybe it makes me all the things you’re calling me in your head right now, but I’m tired of being sad. So, no. I’m not going to let you crash the party and cause a whole drama that wrecks the night.”
“Because heaven forfend that the princes and princesses take one night off from their champagne and caviar lives,” I said in a high-pitched, snobbish voice. “The death of one lowly serf should never get in the way of a good time! Is that it, Katie?!”
She punched the seat. “No. I won’t let you do it because then they’ll come after you!” Her roar blew me back. “You’ll start off a war that you won’t win and I won’t forgive myself if something happens to you too, you selfish asshole! Can I just have one damn day of not worrying someone close to me is going to die? Can I have one night to enjoy college like a regular student? Is that too much to ask?”
We glared at each other, chests heaving.
“You call me a selfish asshole,” I said in a low, calmer tone, “but there were a lot of I statements in the following questions.”
She flipped me off, turning shiny eyes out the window. I almost cracked a smile. I almost understood her.
I was watching my mother be slowly crushed under grief, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Katie wanted a break from pain and helplessness, and if there was anyone who could understand that, it should be me... but I had no sympathy to give while she stood between me, Owen Thasher, and the names on my list. Even if deep down it twinged something in my chest that in her own way, she was trying to protect me.
“I get it, Katie.” I pushed my anger and that twinge down. “It’s putting you in a tough spot and you’ve got your own stuff to worry about. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Despite my words, her eyes narrowed. “Don’t ask anyone else either. I’m serious, Luna. You don’t want a war.”
“I’m not sure I have a choice.” I dropped my head on the leather. “People recognize Luna Sinclair as the sister of Winter Sinclair-Bowden. They’re already laughing and pointing as I walk by.”
She cursed. “Okay, well then, stick to Victor. Your engagement is official now, and even though you’re a Dreg, no one has the balls to mess with a Royal’s fiancée right in front of him. You’re lucky you bagged a Wilson. That’ll be what saves you as long as you don’t make the situation worse. Lie low—let everyone see you’re not here to stir shit up.”
