Page 25 of Drifting

He has no idea the can of worms he just opened. I sit back down and make myself comfortable. We might be here for a while.

As expected, Hannah recoils at the suggestion, her eyes wide as she stares at her father.

Why do I get a feeling she’d rather be dead than introduce me to anyone? I don’t care, though. I don’t need her or her friends.

“Daddy, you can’t ask me to do that! She’s a second-class citizen. She’s all beat up. I can’t bring her to a party. I’ll lose all my status. You know how hard I worked to get where I am. If I walk in with that”—she waves a hand at me—“I can kiss head cheerleader goodbye next year. Cheer’s my life. Don’t make me take her.” She faces away from her father and glances at me.“Eww.”

She shudders as she stomps to the door.

“Oh, shut up, Hannah, your life wouldn’t be over. I’ll take her,” Peter 2.0 says.

“See, Daddy? Nick’s going to take her. He doesn’t care about status.” She flips her hair over her shoulder.

A blush creeps up Peter’s face. “I don’t care who takes her but make sure someone does. Dinner will be ready in five minutes, and you all will attend. Patty worked hard on this.”

He walks back into the house, muttering something about gray hair and kids.

Nick shakes his head and sits across from me. “Don’t let her bother you. She’s a bitch to everyone, even her own family.”

“Nothing new.” I put my hand out. “I’m Shelby.”

“Nick. Welcome to the madhouse.” He chuckles and shakes my hand.

I give an easy laugh in return. “Gee, thanks.”

He nods to where his dad stood. “Don’t let my dad force you to go tonight. Are you even able to walk yet? If you do want to go, I’ll take you and even introduce you to my friends.”

“Um...” I bite my bottom lip, not sure what to do.

Seeing the outside world would be nice, and Nick seems like a nice guy. Nothing’s setting off my alarm bells.

“I can introduce you to a couple of people I know.” He gives me a half-smile. “And I can almost guarantee one of my friends will be doing something crazy or half-cocked.”

I laugh. “I got cleared to walk three days ago, and other than to go to the doctors, all I’ve seen is this house. I’d love to get out for a while. If it’s really okay with you?”

“No problem.” He stands and offers me a hand up. “We better go clean up for dinner.”

I smile warmly. “Sounds good.”

The closer I get to my room, the more I can hear Peter yelling at Hannah about what she said to me.

“You better get used to Shelby, because she’s not going anywhere!”

In true spoiled fashion, she throws a hissy fit. “I’m never going to be friends with that trailer trash. She’s just like her mom!”

I don’t stick around to hear Peter’s response. If the people Hannah hangs out with act like she does, then there’s no rush to meet them. I don’t need assholes for friends.

Since I showered this morning, I decide to just change my clothes. Wanting something I’m comfortable in, I search my closet, and my hand stops on my black, overall shorts. Perfect. I don’t need to worry about my cast with these. Dropping my jean shorts, I pull the overalls on over my bikini top leaving one buckle unsnapped and hanging.

When I walk into the dining room, Patty points to the seat beside her. Pete and Nick sit at either end of the table, and Hannah sits on the opposite side from us, all by herself.

Dinner conversation consists of being filled in on what happened on their vacation after Patty and Peter left. Hannah yips and gripes about this person and that person. If dinner doesn’t end soon, I might get hostile.

When we’re finally done, Hannah runs to her room without clearing a single plate.

Nick stands and takes my plate with his to the kitchen.

Is Hannah adopted? She’s so different from Peter and Nick. I remind myself not to get involved. I’m only here for a year.

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