Page 69 of Pin-up Girl

I gave Sylvie a what the fuck look.

“Grandma wants me to keep looking,” she said.

Since when did Sylvie not make the final decision about everything in her life? And how was what should have been a slam dunk of a fun girl’s night out going downhill so quickly?

We all placed our votes on the red velvet, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one who downvoted it on every line.

“You probably have all of these in a specific order, but can we do devil’s food cake next?” I asked. Everyone here loved chocolate, and it was Sylvie’s favorite. That should bring the conversation back on track and make things fun again.

“I…” Risa frowned. “There’s no devil’s food cake. Peter said…”

“I asked him to.” Sylvie’s voice was too sharp. Too bright. “I was busy, so I had him call and update tonight’s cake order.”

When we were kids, any time there was devil’s food cake in the house, Sylvie would sneak as much as she could. She always got it all over herself, and never managed to hide what she’d been up to. Even just a few months ago, her social media was filled with pictures of the bakery she’d found in Seattle that had the best ever cake. Devil’s food cake.

This wasn’t right.

Evie was helping Elaina collect and stack our plates, into what was becoming a crumb-laden sculpture. Alys swiped her hand across Evie’s path, knocking uneaten red velvet into my lap, and sending red crumbs and cream cheese frosting everywhere.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Alys looked horrified.

Sylvie growled.

Evie grabbed the fallen plate, swallowing a grin.

Ravyn and Elaina didn’t look surprised. They saw the same not-accidental move I had, from Alys.

I scowled at my lap. “I know you didn’t want to try the cake, but really, Alys?” I had to work to push any irritation into my voice.

“I’m so sorry. Fuck fuck fuck.” Alys grabbed a wad of napkins and smeared the frosting, making it look worse. “I ruined your shirt. Let me help you clean it up.”

“Good idea.” I grabbed her wrist, and we headed toward the bathroom. The instant we were inside, I closed the door, and turned on the water full blast. We each wetted paper napkins and dabbed away frosting and cake that hadn’t done any damage at all to my clothes.

“What’s going on with Sylvie?” Alys asked.

I knew I wasn’t imagining the weird behavior, but it was still confirmation hearing that others were seeing it too. “I wish I knew. She just keeps telling me she’s fine and this is what she wants.”

“So her fiancé is an asshole?”

“Did you hear that from someone?” I asked.

“From Sylvie. Just now.” Alys took my paper towel, wadded it up with hers, and threw both away.

I kept the water running, and grabbed a few more sheets of paper to dry my top and capris. “If she doesn’t want to talk, if she keeps telling me she’s fine, what else am I supposed to do?”

Before Alys and I dated, then became friends, she was in a bad relationship with a guy who Peter reminded me of. Don nearly destroyed her, but she’d been healing. Maddox and Onyx helped a lot.

“Nothing you can do but be there when she’s ready.” Alys didn’t look happy saying the words.

That was what I was afraid of. “Help me keep things out there from deteriorating?”

“I’d rather push her toward realizing she’s engaged to a narcissist control freak who doesn’t give a shit about her unless she’s worshiping him.” Alys may be projecting from her own experiences, but that didn’t mean she was wrong.

It also didn’t mean her plan would do us any good.

“I know.” She sighed. “If she’s not ready to accept it… Fine, I’ll help you, if you promise to keep nudging her.”

“You already know I will.”

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