Page 82 of Darling Beasts

“Is Gabby here?” Raj asked, casting his eyes about the room.

Talia scowled. “Not yet,” she said—neutrally, she hoped—and stepped aside to let a pack of volunteers slide past. “Mindy had a crazy theory...” Suddenly Talia felt the weight of someoneelse’s stare. She turned to see one of the volunteers studying her chain mail dress with great intensity. Talia had wanted to make a statement tonight, and congratulations, job well done. “Anyway,” she said, exhaling, braiding her arms across her waist. “Mindy suggestedyoumight know where my sister is.”

“I haven’t the faintest,” Raj said, brow furrowed. Finally he looked at Talia, trulylookedat her for the first time. She could practically see his train of thought screech to a halt.

“Yes, it’s true, I’m a tad overdressed!” Talia squeaked. “Guess I was trying to get noticed. Ha!”Oh, God.She wanted to die.

“Uh. Yeah. You’re noticed,” Raj said, his eyes roaming up and down her body. “Wow. You look incredible.”

Talia smiled as goose bumps ran along her skin. For a moment, Raj couldn’t take his eyes off the dress, as if he was attempting to see all the way through it, to the almost nothing she wore underneath. No bra. Merely a very small flesh-colored thong.

“You’re the only person who could pull that off,” he said, and instead of die she thought she might melt. Talia was fine with her looks. Some or possibly many people considered her pretty even though her mouth was too wide, her nose too pointy, her features too sharp. Ozzie said she didn’t eat enough so actually it wasn’t sharp butgauntbut anyway fuck him. The point was, she couldn’t remember anyone looking at her like this.

“Come on,” she said, taking Raj’s hand. “We both need another drink.”

“I just started on this one—”

“We’ll say hi to a few folks, punch the clock, and get the hell out of here. I don’t want to be at this party any longer than necessary.”

Chapter Fifty-Four

Gabby

After throwing on the only dress I owned, I trudged over to the ballroom, shoulders hiked up to my ears, in anticipation of that horrible yodel. No website on earth was able to tell me how many milligrams of Xanax were required to knock out a cassowary. Ivan was a damned hero, agreeing to keep watch.

The party was underway when I arrived and I looked around, wondering who I was supposed to hang out with. Having established myself as the world’s worst sister, Montana and Bea were out. My tardiness would no doubt result in the silent treatment from Talia, which was fine on account of the Raj situation. Dad was off-limits, too, since I planned to leave the campaign in a matter of days, and was hiding a cassowary on the property.

Stomach churning, I ventured farther into the room.Okay, universe, what new horror are you bringing tonight?It had to be something—that cassowary was very intense—and honestly, dos Santos could get bent with his “suppression” theory. Raj was secretly sleeping with my sister and not a stink badger to be found. Lucky for the stink badgers, in light of Raj’s tendency toward murder.

I bellied up to the bar. “Whatever’s good,” I said, leaving the bartender thoroughly befuddled. As he poured me a glass of white wine, I got thefeelingof Talia hovering nearby. I checked and caught in my periphery a glimpse of my sister boppingaround in...chain mail? Meanwhile, in my long flowing dress and thick pair of tights, I looked like I’d escaped a librarian speed dating event.

“Hello, Gabrielle,” Mindy said, popping up out of nowhere like a gopher (or snake) from a hole. “Nice of you to make it.”

“Yeah, sorry, I had some personal bus—”

She was already on her way to someone else. “Congratulations on getting your cast off!” she called over her shoulder.

I checked my phone. Nothing from Ivan, which was the best possible news. As I slid it into the pocket of my sweater, someone latched on to my arm and spun me around. And there Talia stood in her slinky, extremely reflective dress.

“Caught ya!” she said. “You’re not ignoring me anymore!”

“Are you drunk?” I blurted.

She giggled and pinched her fingers together. “Teensy bit. I got an early start.”

“Hey, Gabby,” Raj said, appearing behind my sister. He wore a zesty floral print and smelled like he’d doused himself with half a bottle of his dad’s cologne. “Cool outfit.”

“Thanks,” I muttered. “Well, I have to go. Have fun, everyone.”

“You can’t leave yet!” Talia reached for me but missed, stumbling forward, catching herself on a high-top table. Raj rushed to her side. “I’m okay, I’m okay...” she said, flapping a hand, brushing him off. “Gabby. Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong? Am I in trouble?” She peered up at me, batting her watery blue eyes.

“Why would you be in trouble?” I asked archly, I hoped. “Do you feel guilty for some reason?”

Talia checked Raj, who shrugged haplessly. She flipped her attentions back to me. “I’ve barely seen you in weeks.”

“You’re the one who’s been working in the main house.”

“Because I had to plan this stupid party. Not stupid.” She covered her mouth, but not before a burp slipped out. “Fuckinglitparty. You had the office almost all to yourself, but whenever I stepped foot in there, you’d leave to quote-unquote ‘work from the library.’”

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