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Her smile falters. “Oh, darn. Well, I suppose it’s still good. The flowers are beautiful, just like my little niece.”
She walks toward me and gives me a hug. “Are you staying in tonight?”
“Yes.”
* * *
Trying to get my mind off Jericho by getting to the dance studio at one this morning was not my wisest idea.
Gina and I watched films and binged on junk food until she went to bed after midnight. I unfortunately couldn’t do the same.
Since dancing is like food for my soul, I went to the studio and practiced my audition piece until it was time to head to the café.
That plan would have been fine if I wasn’t already exhausted. Now I’m at school and so exhausted I feel like I’m going to pass out.
I don’t know how I’m going to get through the day. Thankfully, I have the night off from the club tonight, so after school, I can go straight home and sleep.
Until then, I have to make it through the rest of the day.
It’s only lunchtime now, and I’ve already had quite the day. I ran into Mrs. Aspen talking about me to her group of bitches who are all married to billionaires and notable men. Those women are in their late thirties and forties, but they could give the Plastics inMean Girlsa run for their money.
I can usually handle them, but today they got to me. Now I’m on my way to meet Eden in the park for lunch like I promised I would, but I’m not in the mood to talk or even to see my best friend. That’s saying a lot because I’m always able to talk to her.
Jericho put me in a foul mood I can’t shake. I couldn’t even keep the flowers he sent in my room because the sight them kept reminding me of what happened between us. And his rejection.
I placed them in the living room so Gina could enjoy them since she liked them so much.
I spot Eden sitting on a picnic blanket by the duck pond. Since she had a free period, she grabbed us sandwiches from a deli we love in New Jersey and pastries from the bakery in town.
When she sees me, she waves. I wave back and quicken my pace.
I reach her, and my mouth waters at the sight of the delicious spread of food she’s laid out for us.
“Behold our feast.” She waves her hand over the food. “Isn’t this the best way to start Monday?”
I smile at her, liking the lightness in her mood. “I agree. Thanks for getting this for us.”
“No worries. I thought we could do with something different.”
I set my bag down and sit cross-legged opposite her. “It was a good call.”
“I also thought that some good food might make you more open to tell me about your weekend. You do realize you’ve hardly told me anything, right?” She leans forward and beams at me with inquisitive eyes.
I bite back a groan. This is the conversation I was trying to avoid.
“There’s nothing more to talk about. I told you everything.”Everything that made my story legit.
“There’s seriously nothing more to tell? You never even told me how the wedding went, or if he wanted to see you again.”
“He understood it was just an arrangement for the two days, and the wedding was fine.” Now I feel bad for lying. “I’m more excited about the money I got. I paid the arrears.”
Her face brightens, and I hope she’ll go with the subtle subject change.
“Praise God. You have no idea how happy that’s made me. And you really think you’ll be out of Club Edge in three months?”
I nod and smile with hope. “Yes, maybe before. I have some leave I can take in the last month to cut my time down by maybe a week or two.” That’s providing I don’t take any unscheduled days off.
She claps her hands with delight. “That makes me even happier. I was thinking that maybe we could go on a girls’ trip after. Somewhere like Palm Springs or somewhere we can get some sea and sun.”
