Page 141 of Cruel Legacy

It was Moira’s idea to do it this way, and I love it. She also picked out the cut out maxi dress with the criss-cross halter neckline. My stomach is bare, and the slit goes all the way to my left hip. I have Clint strapped on my right thigh. I feel powerful and sexy in this dress.

I don’t plan on getting all dolled up like this all the time, but Moira has a good eye and if I had to dress up; between her and LJ, I wouldn’t make a total fool of myself.

LJ gives me a quick tour of the foyer, stairs, and second floor as she takes me up to her room to drop her bag off.

I left my stuff in my room at Moira’s. She was actually happy that I left dirty clothes behind. I guess it makes the room feel used. I haven’t been up there since the weekend I moved here. I go to dinner, and sometime I visit Cora in the kitchen.

That’s all the use I have for the place, except now there’s also a closet with my stuff from the storage unit that I need to go through.

That house is a building where people I’m related to live. They pay my tuition; I have access to more money than I can do anything with, even though I don’t touch their accounts, and they aren’t completely unbearable, but that’s their home. Not mine. I have no connection to it. I guess that’s why I haven’t even considered staying here when the semester is over.

We spend time in LJ’s room, which is only slightly bigger than mine, without the sitting room attached to it. Hers has a balcony with a set of stairs that leads right down to their pool. “I’ll trade you.”

“What?” She sips from the champagne glass she’s holding. This she can do. Champagne and wine. Anything harder and she’s sputtering and spitting. Although she’s better than when we first met. If it tastes like punch without a hint of alcohol, she slams them back. Jello shots are her favorite treat.

“I’ll trade you the sitting room you’re crazy about, for the balcony that goes to the pool.”

“Girl, are you nuts? You practically have an entire floor to yourself. Why would you trade?”

“Because your balcony goes to the pool.” She has a point. I am on the floor alone, and I even have my own game room, office, library combo.

There’s a door in the sitting room that wraps around the wall on the other side of the stairs. LJ and I had fun exploring it together when Moira pointed it out. She was apologetic, assuring me it was an oversight that Mercer forgot to mention it.

The tea cup with the lipstick I saw on the table makes me think it wasn’t an oversight but hoarding the knowledge. Somebody in that house is using the space. I don’t blame them. It’s so comfy, I could spend hours in there reading, or studying or napping. It’s got a little chaise lounge and a reading chair just for that purpose.

“A nursery.”

I zoned out on what LJ was saying. “Huh?”

“I said the office space, it’s so cozy the way it’s set up, and how it’s situated in the room. It would’ve been the perfect spot for a nursery. I wish they would’ve found you sooner. You could’ve been visiting here as a kid and I would’ve always had a friend.”

“I don’t live in what if’s. You know that. I’m here now. We’re friends now, and I’m glad about it.”

She puts her glass down and throws her arms around me. “LJ…”

“Shush. Deal with it.”

I hug her back, because I do have to deal with it. I meant every word. I’m glad LJ and I are friends. She’s sweet and funny and has a huge heart. “How tipsy are you?”

“A good amount. Have to be, to get through tonight.”

“Enough to make some reckless decisions with a hot guy?”

She giggles, pulling back from our embrace. “I wish, but trust me, none of the people here are going to be thinking about being reckless. It’s a party, but it’s an excuse to network, and talk shit about other people’s businesses while trying to boost your own. It’s gonna be a complete bore, which is why I invited you to suffer along with me.”

I link my arm through hers, and walk her towards the door.

“Boring, you say? We’ll just have to see about that.”

Chapter60

Thea

Boring doesn’t even begin to cover the mood in this place. The parents in attendance and their offspring are all playing different versions of the same game.

The sons look like they’re prepped on what to say to cast their parents in the best light, and the daughters of a certain age have this way of laughing. A combination of sweet and flirtatious, that have the sons making fools of themselves to hear it again.

LJ’s mother dragged her away from me a few minutes ago. She’s in the corner with her parents chatting up someone who’s supposed to be transferring to Canyon Falls next semester. I think her parents volunteered her to show him around.

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