Page 67 of Absorbed

“We’ll behave,” Tiffany assured him, then winked conspiratorially at Stacey.

“Yeah,” Stacey nodded. “We’ll be playing board games and eating popcorn all night in our jammies. Right, Mark?”

Bob shook his head and rolled his eyes.

“Speak for yourself,” Chad said. “I’m not opening tomorrow.”

“No, but I still need you here—alive and awake—for night swim,” Bob reminded him. “Stacey, you’re supposed to be here at eight, along with Desiree and Jessie.”

“I’ll be here with bells on!” Stacey blinked repeatedly, pointing her fingers into the corners of her smile.

“Don’t worry,” Mark told him. “I’ll keep my eye on ’em.” He clapped Bob on the shoulder, then followed the other guards out the lobby door, holding it open for Bob.

“That’s exactly what worries me,” Bob said, turning off the lights. Once the doors were locked and Bob was heading toward the parking lot, he called out to the guards one last time. “Please don’t do anything stupid.”

Chad waved a shaka out the window of his Chevelle, then peeled out of his parking spot.

Stacey followed Tiffany to Desiree’s house, and they parked in tandem behind Melissa’s Mercedes. Stacey took her pack of cigarettes and lighter from the glove compartment and added them to her duffle bag before climbing out of the car. She looked up at the house on the hill and her mouth dropped open. Desiree’s house was at least twice the size of Stacey’s dad’s house, ten times the size of her mom’s. Stacey hesitated at the mailbox before climbing her way up the three hundred-foot driveway.

“Desiree lives here?” she asked Tiffany. “It looks like a Massachusetts private school!”

“Come on…” Tiffany chuckled, taking Stacey by the elbow. “Her parents are really nice. You’ll love them.”

The long driveway was shaded by huge oak and pine trees. More trees were scattered around the brick house, their trunks glowing with the light of the sun inching its way closer to the horizon behind them. White roses, and ivy climbed the three-story walls. Giant white columns flanked the front porch. Double-wide shiny black doors were guarded by a three-foot golden fox statue. His stare was menacing as Tiffany reached over his head to push the doorbell.

Desiree pulled open the large front door. “Yeah! You came!” She gave Tiffany a hug, then wrapped her arms around Stacey. “Come in.”

Despite the shaded yard and heavy brick outside, the inside of the house was bright white with gold accents and the white marble floor was studded by small black mosaic tiles. Stacey was afraid her filthy shoes might scuff it. The large, oval foyer was surrounded by a winding staircase reminiscent of old Hollywood.

“Leave your shoes in that basket. Otherwise, Belvedere will eat them.” Desiree pointed to a large basket on an antiquearmchair in the corner. “Or you can bring them up to my room. I never let him in there.”

Tiffany and Stacey slipped off their sandals.

“Belvedere?” Stacey asked, dropping the shoes into the basket.

“Our dog. He’s…” Desiree was cut off by a giant white labrador galloping into the room as if on cue.

“Woof.” Belvedere’s booming bark echoed across the tile. His tongue lolled out the side of his mouth.

Stacey bent down on one knee to greet him. Belvedere sniffed her, his drool spilling onto her leg as she scratched behind his ears. “You’re such a sweet boy.”

“Dad, call Belvedere!” Desiree yelled over her shoulder. “He’s being all gross and slobbery.”

There was a whistle from the far end of the house, and the dog gave Stacey one final lick before he trotted away.

“Come on. Melissa’s up in my room”

Having to choose between playing with Belvedere and going upstairs to see Melissa, Stacey would have preferred to be slobbered on by the dog. But she followed Desiree and Tiffany up the white-carpeted stairs, eyeing a giant crystal chandelier that cast sparkles on the surrounding walls.This place is fancier than a hotel.

Desiree’s room was at the end of the second-floor hallway.

“Look who came!” Desiree announced as they walked through the door.

“Hey,” Melissa said without looking up. She was seated on a large pink velvet bench in front of the picture window, her legs stretched in front of her and a magazine propped on her knees. A rerun of theReal World San Franciscowas muted on the TV, and Sheryl Crow was playing through oversized speakers.

Desiree’s room was practically as big as Stacey’s entire house. There was a walk-in closet overflowing with clothes and thevanity was covered with perfumes and compacts of blushes and shadows. The attached bathroom had marble floors and a clawfoot tub separate from the shower.Why does one girl need all this?

On a large rug at the foot of the bed sat a pile of magazines, ripped apart, cut up, and surrounded by snacks. Tiffany picked up a bag of Cheetos and an Allure magazine, then squished onto the bench by Melissa’s feet.

---