“Wow, that’s great.” Mission accomplished. “And now the press can stop hammering you about meeting your campaign promises.”
He steps in front of me, staring down, dismay on his brow. “So, I take it from all this bait-and-switch that you did see the ruckus. Nice try though.”
Shoot.
“Define ruckus—because if you mean Hunter Kelly and his band of merry preppies marking their territory, then fine, yes, I saw. But boys will be boys, right?”
He chuckles, saying, “Good,” looking pleased. Of course he does, because there’s nothing more appealing to a walking legacy than misogyny. My father is a good man, but elitists will be elitists.
“But if you mean anything else, then sorry, Senator, I know about as much as you.” I hook a thumb over my shoulder. “As much as I’m enjoying this inquisition, I seriously have to jet.”
He’s already waving me off. “All right, smart-ass. Get lost. But stay out of trouble. I will not tolerate poor press.”
“Okay,” I answer, only half-heartedly rolling my eyes, but he gives me that look. The one that says he’s serious.
I nod, knowing he means what he says.
“Okay, Dad.” When he narrows his eyes at me, I smile, adding, “I promise,” and crisscross a finger over my heart.
Aubrey swings her jet-black hair over her shoulder. “Dude. Piper smoked everyone. I’m so proud.”
I smile, agreeing, “She did amazing. I don’t even know why she was worried.”
The smell of chlorine infiltrates my nose as we stand in the walkway between the bleachers and the pool, waiting for her to dry off and get dressed.
Aubrey looks around the pool, rolling her eyes as she spots Chloe before turning her attention back to me.
“Do you think she’s cuter than me?”
“No. Not at all. She’s cute. You’re gorgeous. There’s no comparison, Aubs.”
It’s a good pep talk, but I’m also not lying. Aubrey’s beautiful, armed with delicate features, an aristocratic nose, and soulful brown eyes—all bestowed on her by her Brazilian and Japanese descent. Sometimes I’m jealous of how effortless her beauty seems.
Too bad for her she doesn’t feel the way she looks—superior.
“Hey,” she says, mischief in her eyes, “there’s a party tonight. And it’s at Hunter’s. Tag’s throwing it. Now that he’s on probation from Yale, he has too much free time on his hands. Yay us.”
My head’s already shaking as I sidestep water droplets launched off a swim cap as some girl removes it. Tag is a notorious douchebag slash former god at St. Simeon. He’s also Hunter’s older brother.
“A Tag party is out of our league, Aubrey. Like, way out.”
She grabs my elbow, hauling me over to the bleachers to sit, whispering, “Sutton. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Tag’s parties are legendary.”
“No way. First off, the senator would never let me go. In case you’ve forgotten, he’d be saying no because everyone remembers what happened at Tag’s parties. Sex, drugs, and more drugs. Again I say—out of our league.”
“Oh my God.” Her voice rises. “Can you please think outside of the box and stop being such a perfect daughter. I swear, if I left our social existence up to you and Piper, we’d be fucking doomed.”
A throat clearing makes us sit up straighter. Aubrey gives a tight smile, looking over my shoulder.
“Sorry, Sister.”
Three nuns in full habit, cloth sweeping the wet ground, pass by. Their glares issue a silent judgment, no doubt having just heard Aubrey’s foul mouth. But she doesn’t care, giggling as they walk out of earshot.
I smile but narrow my eyes at her.
She waves me off.
“Come on, Sutton. We don’t have to do meth, dude. And as for your ’rents, tell the senator you’re sleeping over at my place. My parents are gone for the weekend, and our new housesitter will cover so long as I line her pockets. Piper can say the same. Nobody will know. You promised.”
God, I did. I promised to make our party life happen, but I was tipsy after we’d snuck vodka shots back to Piper’s room during our sleepover.
One day I’m positive Aubrey will become an evil genius, masterminding the world like her PR exec mother. But today, she’s just a pain in the ass.
“This is a terrible idea. And, might I add, how every unsolved murder begins. Girl lies to parents. Girl goes to a party, only to never be seen again.”
She slaps her hand on my leg. “First off, shave your legs. Second, that shit only happens in like the Bahamas.”
That makes me laugh as she continues.
“Third, we need a social life, you little weirdo. And you need to go and fucking—” she shoots her head over her shoulder to make sure the sisters are still gone, opting to whisper anyway. “—and fucking play tonsil hockey with Hunter. There’s no man left behind, Sutton. It’s your turn to pop that cherry. And with the hottest guy at fucking Burr. We decided.”
I blow out air, making my lips flap.
“Who says Hunter wants to even do that with me?”
Her grin is evil because she knows she’s got me on board. Of course she does.
“I say. Hunter’s fucking DNA says. Man up—we’re getting you laid tonight. He’s absolutely perfect, and you know he collects virginities the way that nerdy-ass dude you liked freshman year collected Pokémon cards.”
I’m frowning, trying to hold back my smile as Piper slides up next to me, staring down.
“So? Are we partying tonight and watching Sut ho out with Hunter?”
My mouth pops open as I look between them, unsurprised but still shocked. I groan unconvincingly because they roll their eyes.
“One of these days, I’m getting new friends. Mark my words, bitches.”
I stand at the same time Aubrey does, and Piper links her arm through mine.
“Lies. You’d die without us. Plus, we love you too much to let you go. Now, let’s talk strategy.”
5
Sutton
“I can’t believe you two talked me into this. If we get caught, I am fully blaming you. Fully. I’ll say you drugged me and brought me here.”
“Noted.” Piper smiles, brushing my hair over my shoulders. “Now, remember the plan. We get drinks. Mingle. Ignore Hunter, and then talk to whatever boy is the closest to him.”
Suddenly, panic sets in, and I scrunch my nose.
“And we know this will work because?”
She puts her hands on my bare shoulders. I was feeling brave earlier when I chose to wear a strapless top and high-waisted jeans. But now I feel exposed.
Aubrey looks over her shoulder as she pushes the front door open, letting all the noise spill out.
“Boys are like dogs, Sutton—they hate it when someone else plays with their toys. That’s how we know it’ll work. Trust us. Plus, you look like a fucking goddess.”
My face shoots to Piper’s, who’s grinning, her lips folded between her teeth.
“Fantastic. I’m a beautiful chew toy,” I mutter, but Piper looks thoughtful.