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Moments later, she returned in a change of clothes, and wiped up the liquid that’d fallen to the floor. I held in my smile. She was a little obsessive over cleanliness, always had been.
“Want to talk about it more?” She eyed me curiously.
“Nope, just wanted to tell you. Keep you in the loop.”
“But you don’t always tell me everything,” Lizzie declared. She knew me and sensed more than I was comfortable sharing.
My dad and Lizzie came to the conclusion that being iced out of the tight friendship I’d once shared with Texas, Hollis and Preston was the reason for my change in behaviour, and the move. I didn’t correct them. It was easier that way.
Shrugging my shoulders, I dismissed her words. An emotion crossed her face as my chest clenched tightly, I didn’t want to hurt her. But, just no.
I grabbed her hand, clinging tightly to her as a lifeline. “I’m sorry.” I licked my lips. “I don’t want to dampen the mood, that’s all. I love you, you know that. Right?”
Blinking a few times to clear the sheen in her eyes.“Yeah, I do. I’m always here for you.”
“Okay.” I clapped my hands together and grabbed my phone from my bag on the table, wiggling it at her. “Let’s call our sisters. Delaney said she’s having a sleepover with Lena tonight. So naturally, we have to video call and see what those two are up to.”
I smirked as the call connected, loving the miniature versions of us who would no doubt cause issues in the future with their fiery attitudes. We spent the rest of the evening flicking through light hearted movies, enjoying our time together once more. I loved Lizzie something wicked. She wasn’t my sister from birth, but the sister I chose. And she chose me. The one who understood me and kept me sane. Always.
While we watched the movie, Lizzie’s phone vibrated and lit up with a message that prompted a small smile to curl her lips. I tried to sneak a peek at the screen, but she slammed it to her chest, hiding it.
“Who’s got you feeling like that?” I inquired, knowing that look when I saw it.
She placed her palm over her heart.Oh boy.I winced internally. She was a romantic with notions of a happily ever after and a perfect world. She always caught feelings deeply, chasing the love she wanted to find.
“We’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks.”And you’re in love already?I stayed silent, letting her continue. “He wants to keep it quiet, because of issues that may arise.”
“And you’re okay with that?” I asked sceptically.
“For now,” she confirmed. “The sex is out of this world and he treats me incredibly.” Her eyes widened.
The whole thing seemed odd. “I want to meet him.” See who the hell was hiding my best friend from sight, and what his intentions were.
Her mouth quirked into what I could only describe as sly. “You will.”
I swallowed, sometimes I wished I could thank her out loud for standing by me over the years when times were tough. Especially to thank her for making a smile light my face when the last thing I wanted to do was laugh.
She’d always unknowingly found me in the dark and led me back to the light.
We fell asleep a while later with no other words spoken between us, just gripping our hands together like we’d done growing up. The meaning was loud and clear,always here for you.
Chapter9
Milla
Mayor Adrian West’s house—or mansion—was located in Upper East Bay, where the sea was vibrant blue, and the grainy cream sand filtered through your feet beautifully. The rich swept you up into their orbit, where they’d compliment you to your face and as your back was turned would spout half-truths, rumours and lies. Because they could.
They reeled people in hook, line and sinker, then dropped them just as rapidly when their net worth deteriorated, or they made waves not approved of within the high society crowds.
Approaching the mansion in our driver’s car, I peered out the window, hoping for some sort of universal intervention to get me out of this godforsaken evening. I hated these parties, the ones our parents insisted on planning and making everyone attend. It was a big ‘fuck you,I can do one better,’ but the Mayor definitely got his one up today, throwing the evening’s entertainment in the ridiculously sized house. I mean, really... there was only Mayor West, his wife and their son Adam, who lived here. Anyone would think they were trying to prove a point, but I guessed they were.
The Mayor threw his weight around the state. He had influence and that meant people in his pocket too. People pandered to him; everyone knew the rich were the more corrupt. They just hid it better.
Their fake smiles and pure white teeth hid their well-rehearsed lies, and most people went along with it to make life easier for themselves. I honestly didn’t blame them. Why go against the grain when you had everything to lose and nothing to gain? It was never enough to do the right thing and pave your own way. Not in this world. Everybody was out for themselves and to stomp over someone else to get there was encouraged.
I took the driver’s hand to exit the car, and I stood silently, taking a moment for myself. My black silk dress sat above my ankles, my heels added a few inches to my height. Not that I was small, I was fairly average height wise. Now I was closer to the guy’s height... okay, so I had a good few more inches still off.Stop fucking thinking about those assholes.
I sighed to myself before realising this was not the time to be having a ridiculously petty inner dialogue, where one side firmly fought with the other over my choices in life. It was about time to plaster a smile on my face and greet the high society of East Bay.Oh, the joy.
