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“How’s your hangover?”
“Not too bad. I had to take pills.”
He shoots me a sidelong glance. “The others were asking about you at the restaurant.”
I check in the rearview mirror to make sure that Ryan is keeping up. “What did you tell them?”
“That you enjoyed your party a little too much and needed to sleep it off.”
“Thanks.”
“It won’t hurt to make an effort, you know.”
I brake too hard, the momentum jerking our bodies forward. I take my foot off the pedal and try again, getting the force of stepping down right on the third try. “Sorry. Ryan was right. Damn, the brakes are sensitive. This is a very different drive compared to my mom’s Audi.” At the exit, I turn toward George. “An effort with what?”
“To make friends with the other girls in your class. They’re trying.”
I scoff. “They’re not. You don’t know how things are. And you’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am. That’s why I’m telling you, Bella. Why are you isolating yourself like this?”
Keeping within the speed limit, I accelerate. “I’m not.”
“You never hang out with anyone but me.”
I grin, going for humor. “Because I like you. I thought you’d be glad.”
“You’re not even attempting to meet someone. How many guys in my class have hit on you? You pretend not to notice. It’s your birthday, but you don’t dance with the single dudes. You don’t give any of the guys a chance to get near you. You have this air of being unobtainable that puts men off before they can make a move. It’s like you’re keeping everyone at a distance. If you only behaved that way with guys because you’re not interested in dating, I’d understand, but like I said, you’re not going to the trouble of getting to know the other girls. Friendship takes investment, Bella. It’s as if you just don’t give a damn. You don’t even make it to your own fucking birthday brunch.”
I slam a hand on the wheel. “Why are you giving me such a hard time about this? So what if I’m not a social person? Everyone isn’t like you.”
His voice rises in volume. “The fuck how like me?”
“Perfect,” I shout, regretting it the minute the word left my mouth.
“Jeez.” He turns away from me, staring out of his window. “Fucking thanks a lot.”
“For crying out loud, Colin. What’s gotten into you? Can you just give it a rest?”
“Maybe what’s gotten into me is Angelo,” he grumbles under his breath.
I utter a sound of frustration. “I have enough to deal with as it is. Do you mind not adding to it?”
“He’s got a hold on you.” He twists in his seat, continuing with renewed anger. “He told you he wouldn’t miss one of your birthdays. You said he wasn’t going to show, and he did. The guy gave you a fucking Ferrari for your birthday. He flew all the way from Corsica to be here, happening to know where you were throwing your party. Don’t you find that strange?”
“He’s doing business with my dad. My dad could’ve mentioned something to someone.” I shrug. “George is small. You know how people talk. It’s not difficult to find out details like that here.”
“Fine. Say he picked up something via the grapevine. It’s still nuts. The guy is clearly obsessed with you. Do you now see why you need a restraining order?”
My driving is almost aggressive in the way I take the bends. From the way the car grips the road, it’s clear that it was made for speed. Ryan has fallen behind. His BMW is no longer visible in the rearview mirror. I slow down and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself.
I can’t confess why going to the police isn’t an option. My dad’s business is still on the line. Besides, a restraining order will make no difference to a man like Angelo. I don’t know how to explain that to Colin who lives his life by the letter of the law. I don’t know how to convey the darkness in Angelo in words. I can’t tell Colin about the mark of shame I carry on my body or that I can’t ask my brother or my dad for money to have it removed. I’ll have to get surgery when I can work and save up the cash. I can’t tell him that the car is nothing but payment for last night. Why else would Angelo give me a car?
I’m losing my enthusiasm for birthdays. Angelo gave me defiance for my sixteenth birthday, allowing me to keep Pirate. The betrayal for my seventeenth was sealed with a sweet kiss. He paid for my v-card on my eighteenth with a Ferrari.
In George, I head toward the east side of town and turn into the car park of the church where a bazaar is being held in the adjoining hall every weekend to raise money for the homeless shelter.
