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“Why do you think she said that?” I ask. “It’s such a strange thing to say about someone you’ve never met.”
Did she get an impression of me like I did of her? Is that why she hates me?
Dace reaches toward me and places his hand over mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze when he says, “That’s what mothers do.”
I lean back in my seat, determined to push it out of my mind. Staring blankly out my window as the truck bounces down the dirt road before pulling onto Paloma’s street that’s crowded with cars, one in particular I can’t help but notice.
Barely allowing Dace enough time to park before I’m leaping from the truck and racing through the courtyard. Heart firmly wedged in my throat, as I bolt through the door, terrified by the thought of what I might find, only to see Jennika sitting at the kitchen table with Marliz right beside her. The two of them surrounded by a group of girls I recognize from school—all of them waiting their turn at a professional Hollywood makeover.
?
?Daire.” Jennika’s gaze slews toward me as she applies mascara to Lita’s top lashes. “I’ve been looking for you.” Then seeing Dace right beside me, she adds, “And why am I not surprised to find you together? You guys look terrible by the way. Where the hell have you been?”
I dismiss the question with a wave of my hand, my eyes frantically scanning the room, searching for Xotichl and relieved to find her curled up on the couch next to Auden—flashing me two thumbs up the second she senses me. Jacy and Crickett are there too, laughing and talking with some of Cade’s guy friends—all of them lounging on the woven rugs and chairs, no one seeming to notice that Cade Richter is missing.
My attention returning to Jennika, taking note of her disapproving glare, and knowing it’s time for us to hash through this mess and find a way to compromise.
“We need to talk.” She pushes away from the table, her expression turned grim.
Her flight interrupted by Lita, face only half-finished, who cries, “But you’re gonna finish me first though, right?”
Jennika shakes her head and motions for Marliz to take over. “I think she can take it from here,” she says, nodding for me to follow her into Paloma’s office.
Dace looks uncertain, but I drag him along. The two of us united before an angry Jennika, when he says, “You can blame me. I take full responsibility.” Which is probably one of the worst things he could’ve said. It’s an honorable attempt, but definitely not the best way to get on her good side, and when I see her sarcastic expression, I can’t help but cringe. “She was worried about Paloma,” he continues, desperate to make things right. “So I took her to the reservation to see her, and it must’ve worked because Paloma is better.”
Jennika smirks, her focus on me when she says, “So, I guess that settles it then.” She pushes away from the sink, as though it’s been decided that easily. Motioning for me to follow, and when I don’t, when I remain right beside Dace, she says, “We had a deal, Daire. Now that Paloma is better, it’s time to say good-bye to your friends and go back to L.A.”
I stand rooted in place. My eyes grazing over the herbs, the drum, the piles of books on the shelves—this is my home, I’m not going anywhere. Not when Paloma still has more to teach me. Not before I find a way to evict those Richters from the Lowerworld—not before I stop Cade in his insane quest for power—and maybe not even then.
Jennika places her hands on her hips, her voice rising in anger when she says, “Daire!” She glances between me and Dace, as though silently asking if I really want to do this in front of him. And while I’d really prefer not to, now that it’s started, I don’t feel like I have much of a choice.
“I’m not leaving,” I say, noting the look of outrage clearly displayed on her face. “I know you think it’s crazy, but I like it here, and I don’t want to leave. It’s as simple as that.”
Dace squeezes my hand, his palm warm and sure. But when my gaze meets his, it’s clear he’s way out of his comfort zone, so I tell him to wait in the den.
Barely making it halfway down the ramp before Jennika says, “He’s gonna have an awfully long wait, ’cause you’re coming with me.”
I sigh long and deep. Stare down at my feet. Arguing won’t get me anywhere. If I want to be heard, I’ll have to tread softly. Careful to keep my voice tempered, I say, “Jennika, what do you have against this place?”
She scowls, sweeps her arm wide, saying, “Isn’t it obvious? I want better for you than some dump of a town and a cute boy with no future.” She places her hand on her hip, clenches her jaw, and I struggle to remind myself that she truly means well, only wants the best for me, even though she’s not always sure what that is.
“But what if I like it here?” I lift my shoulders, fiddle with the torn hem of my jacket. “What if this dump of a town feels like home? What if I’m not even looking to that cute boy to provide my future—what if I’m perfectly capable of providing my own? What if I just want to see what it’s like to have a real home, a real family, real friends, and yeah, even a boyfriend? And what if this place can provide a sincere shot at all of those things—would you really deny me? Would you really insist on taking me to L.A. just because it feels better to you?” I suck in my breath, confident I lodged a good case, though Jennika’s not easily swayed.
“You can have all those things in L.A.! And trust me, it’s a much better, much nicer environment than this place could ever be. You just need to give it a chance, that’s all.”
“Or maybe you need to give me a chance,” I say, my words silencing her. “Why can’t you just give me this? One year of high school. If I blow it, fail, start getting in trouble, you’ll have every right to yank me, and there’ll be nothing I can do about it. But first, why can’t you just give me a chance to see how I do?”
“Because you’re not Paloma’s responsibility, you’re my responsibility!” she cries.
“But you can visit anytime—it’s not like it’s far. One year, Jennika. Please. Give it a chance. Give me a chance to see how I fare.”
She sighs, casts a glance all around. Focusing on the general vicinity of the den when she says, “You be careful with him. And don’t say I didn’t warn you, ’cause I did—more than once.”
I nod. Shoulders sinking with relief, knowing that’s Jennika’s way of giving in.
“Thank you,” I say, taking her by surprise when I rush toward her and hug her tightly to me. Pulling away and blinking back tears, finally realizing just how much I’ll miss her, no matter how much she annoys me sometimes.
The thought causing me to realize something else—how much Jennika probably misses me. I’m all she’s got. For sixteen years we’ve been a team. She’s purposely avoided getting close to anyone else. Even with Harlan, she’s careful to keep a safe distance. And while I know it frustrates him, he chooses to accept her on her limited terms. But as much as she tries to avoid it, there’s no doubt Jennika needs a home just as much as I do. She needs friends—a life outside of work. She needs all the things I now have for myself—only in L.A., not here.
