Page 159 of Sin Bin

Still seething with frustration, Meadow washed her hands at the sink and put in her contact lenses, aware of Jess standing by the door watching her. As she moved to stalk past her, Jess stopped her with a hand on her arm.

Her hazel eyes probed Meadow’s for a long moment. “What are you hiding from?”

Meadow stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“You use your glasses as a crutch. Almost like a disguise.” Jess’s eyes narrowed with speculation. “What—or who—are you hiding from?”

Meadow’s throat ran dry. Jess’s perceptiveness was totally unexpected—and wholly unnerving.

“I’m not hiding from anything. I wear glasses because I’m nearsighted. Deal with it.” She yanked her arm away and stormed out the door.

“Wait.” Jess came after her, grabbing her shoulder to turn her around.

“Now what?” Meadow snapped.

“Please don’t be mad at me. Nadia and I recently went through a rough patch in our friendship, and I’m trying really hard to get back into her good graces. I know she doesn’t believe me, but I am truly sorry for breaking your glasses. Do I think you look better without them? Hell yes. But I wouldn’t have broken them on purpose.” Her eyes softened with vulnerability. “The thing is, I don’t have any sisters. I grew up with three brothers who were always picking on me or babying me. Unfortunately, some of their bad habits rubbed off on me. I have a foul mouth and a nasty temper, and sometimes I can be a bully. But I’m having a really great time on this trip. You and the girls are amazing—even Scarlett, the only chick I’ve ever been scared of. That bitch is crazy,” she confided in a stage whisper.

Meadow couldn’t help laughing. “She grew up with brothers, has a red belt in taekwondo and is the only girl in a rock band. So, yeah, she’s definitely intimidating.”

“Very.” Jess smiled softly. “Nadia’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met, and you remind me a lot of her. I hope we can be friends when we get back home.”

Meadow pursed her lips, contemplating Jess. She didn’t know whether or not she could be trusted. But she’d put herself out there, and she sounded sincere enough to be given the benefit of the doubt.

Meadow returned her smile. “I don’t have any sisters either, and it’s never been easy for me to make friends. You’re kind of a wildcard, and your public outbursts make me want to die of embarrassment. But you’re uninhibited in a way that I envy, and I respect that you always speak your mind. So, yeah, we can be friends.” She paused. “But keep your hands off my property or we’re gonna have a problem.”

Jess laughed and hugged her tight.

When everyone was ready, they stood around oohing and aahing over one another. Their retro hairstyles and glitzy evening gowns evoked old Hollywood glamour. Preening and giggling, they took several group selfies around the suite.

Reid, Viggo, Dubinski and Nelson showed up half an hour later. Every last one of them looked dashingly handsome and debonair in their black tuxedoes. They whistled appreciatively and showered the girls with compliments. Reid and Viggo, of course, couldn’t keep their hands off Nadia and Scarlett.

Once the greetings were out of the way, Meadow looked around and asked the obvious question: “Where’s the birthday boy?”

The guys exchanged uncomfortable glances.

“He’s still getting dressed,” Viggo hedged.

Meadow’s heart sank. “He’s not coming, is he?”

More guilty looks went around the group.

“He didn’t say he wasn’t coming.” Reid hesitated. “But that’s a possibility.”

Viggo grimaced. “We all know how much he hates this day. He usually keeps to himself, and everyone just gives him his space.”

Meadow was deflated. “I understand.”

Bianca rubbed her back consolingly. “Come to the party with us.”

“Yeah,” Dubinski seconded, giving her a leering perusal. “It’d be a shame to waste that dress.”

Jess shot him a dirty look, which made him laugh.

He was six-two and handsome with short blond hair and pale gray eyes. In a rare mean-girl moment yesterday, Bianca had dubbed him “the poor man’s Viggo Sandström.” Though Meadow had laughingly chided her, she agreed that Dubinski couldn’t hold a candle to Viggo’s otherworldly beauty. Few men could.

“I’m just saying,” Dubs reiterated to Meadow. “You look great. You should totally come to the party.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to leave Logan behind. I’ll wait for him in case he changes his mind and shows up.”

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