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Maybe he’ll send me a text message when he lands in Corsica. Can you even fly there directly? Do you have to go via France? My knowledge of geography is good, but I’ve never traveled abroad, so I don’t know how it works. I make a mental note to look it up.
A fresh pang of guilt hits my conscience. My stomach twists. I lied to my dad. It’s a line I’ve never crossed, and it makes me loathe myself. I hate the feeling, but what choice did I have?
When Dad called, I’ve never heard him so angry. He never loses his cool, especially not with me. I told him Angelo had delivered the rest of my gift and that was all. He asked if Angelo had initiated any contact, and I said no without blinking. If I’d told the truth, Dad would’ve confiscated my phone, and I couldn’t let that happen. I’ll die if I don’t hear from him.
Urgh. Why must Dad be so difficult? It’s obvious he doesn’t trust Angelo with me. He made that clear when he said Angelo is never to set foot in our house again. When I asked Dad why he disliked him so much, he gave me the same answer as last night, that he’s a bad person and no good for me.
A knock falls on the door, pulling me from my thoughts. Mattie enters without waiting for my reply.
She comes over and sits on the edge of the bed. “Mom said you’re grounded.”
“I can’t believe she ran straight to the phone and called Dad.” I push the pillow over my face and utter a scream before throwing it against the wall. “I’m so mad at her.”
Pirate jerks awake at the sudden movement, his big yellow eyes alert and wild as he looks around.
“Sorry, Pirate,” I mumble, stroking his fur.
He settles with a purr and curls up in a ball again.
“Don’t blame Mom,” Mattie says. “She did what she thought was right. Dad obviously agrees.”
Mattie’s words stir a sense of betrayal in me. “Hey, whose side are you on?”
“Everyone told you to stay away from that boy. It’s for the best.” She gets to her feet. “Do you want to look at wedding brochures with us? Jared and I are getting some ideas for the venue.”
I’d rather swallow needles. “Why don’t you just elope and have an island wedding?”
“I want a big wedding with all the frills. If it’s the most I’m getting out of the deal, I may as well go the whole nine yards.”
Mindful not to disturb Pirate again, I sit up carefully. “How can you be so accepting of everything? How can you sacrifice getting a degree and having a career for Jared?”
She shrugs and turns for the door. “I love him.” Calling from over her shoulder, she adds, “We’re in the informal lounge if you change your mind.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, but she’s already closed the door.
In exactly ten minutes, Mom is going to barge in here and tell me to be a good sister by showing an interest in Mattie’s wedding. It’s not that I’m uninterested. I just don’t want to pore over glossy magazines and browse cake decorations for hours. What can be more boring?
I quickly strip out of the red dress and pull on my bikini, a pair of shorts, and a boyfriend shirt that I knot in the front. After making sure Pirate has food and water, I close the door behind me and run barefoot downstairs.
Mom is talking to Doris in the kitchen, giving her dinner instructions.
“I’m going to Colin’s,” I say as I scoot past the door, not giving Mom a chance to object. Not that I expect her to, seeing how hard she’s trying to push Colin and me into each other’s arms.
“Be home by five,” Mom calls after me. “Your father won’t be later than six.”
That’s new. Usually, on Fridays, he has drinks after work with his clients. It’s a company tradition. As he never gets home until after midnight, we have our Friday night dinners without him. I hope he’s not making an exception in coming home early to lecture me again. Keeping a straight face while lying to Dad is neither easy nor pleasant.
After letting myself out through the pedestrian gate, I walk the two hundred meters to Colin’s house and ring the intercom at the gate. Our gardens touch on the eastern side, but their mansion doesn’t have a sea-facing view.
When the gate clicks open, I jog down the paved driveway to the front. The house is modern with angular lines and lots of glass. I like the design and the sparse, contemporary furniture much better than our imposing, palatial structure with its stiff and formal sofas.
Colin opens the front door, wearing a pair of Bermuda swimming shorts and holding a maxi bag of potato crisps in one hand. His ridiculously perfect abs and hairless chest didn’t retain an ounce of the baby fat that gives his cheeks their chubby appearance. Besides his blond-hair-and-blue-eyed look, his well-proportioned pecs, biceps, and washboard stomach are some of the biggest reasons why the girls in my school are chasing so hard after him. Other reasons include his family’s money, his good grades, his promising future, and his faultless manners. Oh, and did I mention that he’s the town’s rugby star?
