Page 43 of A Game of Ruck
To remind myself that this is fake.
Only, as I exit the stall, I’m startled by a voice I didn’t expect.
“Oh my God!Annabeth!”
I jump slightly and find Jasmine—sweet, youngest-cousin Jasmine—leaning against the marble counter with wide eyes and a guilty expression.
“Oh.Hi, Jas.”I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, heart still thudding.
She rushes over, voice low.“Look, I just want to say I’m sorry.Lisa can be, well, just so shitty sometimes.I honestly thought she asked you to be a bridesmaid.That’s what she told me.”
“It’s okay,” I say automatically.“I didn’t expect to be asked.”
Jasmine frowns.“Yeah, but yourmansure has your back.That speech?The kiss?Holy crap.I don’t think David would ever stand up for Lisa like that.Ever.And believe me Bridezilla knows it, too.That’s the real reason she didn’t want you in her wedding party, I bet.And David has been looking at you and Luca all night.”
I blink.“Wait, what?”
She glances toward the door, lowers her voice even more.“OMG!Like you can’t tell?Lisa’s jealous of you.Always has been.I know it sounds insane, but it’s true.”
That does sound insane.
“Why would Lisa be jealous of me?”I ask.“She’s always been the prettiest.The most praised.The golden one.I just wanted her to be nice to me.”
“She’s jealous because Tio Miguel—her dad—doesn’t even notice her.And your dad?”Jasmine shrugs.“He treats you like you matter.Even if he’s busy sometimes, it’s clear he cares.You matter in his world.She’s never had that.”
My throat tightens.
“And as for looks?Luca was right.You’ve always been prettier than the rest of us.With your skin, and that hair, and your smile?I’ve always thought so.But you were never flashy about it.Never a show-off.”
“But I’m fat?—”
“Annabeth, you’renotfat.You have tits for days, and that ass?Lisa couldn’t get her plastic surgeon to recreate it for her no matter how much money she threw at him.You’re gorgeous, cuz.For real.”
My mouth opens, but I can’t make words come out.
“Anyway,” she says, nudging my arm with a warm smile, “I’m glad you have someone in your corner now.That’s awesome.You deserve it.”
Then she’s gone, leaving me stunned in a room full of mirrors that suddenly reflect a girl I don’t entirely recognize.
Because the thing is—do I really have someone in my corner?
Or is this just part of the game?
Is he just really good at playing pretend?
Luca Warden kisses me like hemeansit.
The way he looks at me sometimes?It’s like I’m responsible for hanging the stars.
And when he holds my hand?It’s like something sacred.
But this is all fake.Right?
Just part of the ruse.
So why does it feel more real than anything I’ve ever known?
I take a good look in the mirror before I exit the restroom, and for the first time in,well, maybe forever, I think I actually seeme.
