"That sounds… good, actually. Thank you."
"I know hearing it from me means nothing because up here." She taps the side of my head. "Is full of your own opinions, but you're beautiful, Letty. And I know you don't want to hear it, but Luca, Leon, those idiots out there, they all see it too."
I smile at her. "Thank you."
"Anytime, sweetie. Now, shall we party?" she asks, refilling both our drinks and passing mine over.
"Hell, yeah. I am ready to dance the night away."
"Amen to that. And maybe an athlete who knows what to do with his… stick." She chugs down her drink. "Makeup, then we leave."
She walks over to the door. "Vi, you got your shit together yet?"
"Yeah, I'll be right there, boss."
"Okay. Sit," she demands, pointing to her desk chair and lifting her massive makeup box from the bathroom.
"Do your worst."
"Oh, girl. I fully intend to." She winks and sets to work.
11
Letty
It's almost two hours later when we finally walk up to Luca and Leon's house.
"Holy crap, this place is insane," I mutter, swaying a little on my feet as we pass groups of students loitering around the front yard.
The huge colonial-style house looms over us. It's got more windows than I can count after the number of margaritas I've consumed already tonight.
It's seriously impressive.
"Rumor has it that Daddy Dunn pays for it," one of the boys says from behind me.
"Of course he does." Just hearing Mr. Dunn's name being mentioned leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. He might be my best friend's dad, but man, I hate him.
He's a pretentious, opinionated, belittling asshole. I've no idea why Maddie stayed with him as long as she did. I think people assumed it was his money and fame, but I don't think it was. She wasn't that kind of fame-hungry wife. She’s… really sweet. A great mom. I guess she had to be to make up for their forceful, pushy and demanding father.
Although I was gutted for the twins that their family had broken up, but I can't lie, I was relieved for Maddie's sake when I heard that he'd left and was living in New York.
I should have reached out to Luca and Leon when it happened, but I couldn't. I could barely look after myself at that time, having compassion and concern for them as well really would have pushed me over the edge.
"Well, whoever owns it, I'm grateful we have somewhere to party," Violet announces, marching forward and entering the house as if she owns it.
"Looks like we're going in," Ella laughs beside me as we follow Vi inside.
The house is packed as we make our way through to the kitchen to find drinks.
West and Brax end up getting dragged off by other members of the team and although I've been assured time and time again that he's not going to be here, I find myself looking around for Kane.
I've been told once before that he wouldn't be at a party and look how that ended, with me getting royally fucked in a muddy puddle.
A shudder rushes down my spine as I allow my brain to remember just for five seconds how fucking good that puddle was. Then, I lock it down tight.
Ella makes me a mixer drink before passing the Solo cup over. Her eyes lock on someone over my shoulder and for a second, my heart drops thinking that it's him, but then a wide smile spreads across her face and excitement twinkles in her eyes and I know exactly who is approaching. Well, technically there are two options but I'm happy with either.
"Scarlett Hunter, you are fucking banging," Luca announces loudly to the whole room as Ella's smile gets wider.