Page 8 of Invisible String
“Was our teacher—past tense now. He heard you. That wink meant he wants your boobs in his face.”
“I was joking, and it literally went tits up.” I roll my eyes at her. “Besides, he’s older.” She loops her arm in mine, and we walk to my car.
“The older, the better. He’s experienced, I assume.”
“Not happening.”
“Are you ready to start our summer?” Lana asks. “Are you heading to your parents’ house after we pack?”
Pressing the key fob, I unlock the car. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Home.
Isn’t that the place you want to go? Your safe space? It’s been nothing like that lately. Christmas break was a nightmare. My parents were once the couple everyone dreamed of being. My dad treated my mom like the queen that she is. During spring break, my parents hardly talked. My mom’s face sagged with sadness. All due to what happened. At Christmas dinner, shit hit the fan when Mom walked in on my dad and his secretary, Rebecca, kissing in his home office. They were supposed to be discussing a case. My mom snarled and slammed the door open.“I knew it!” she screamed at him. “You’ve been having an affair with her!”
My heart broke for my mom.
“I don’t think I want to go home. Every time I call, it’s like they’re in the middle of an argument,” I confess to Lana.
She huffs, messing with the radio. “Your dad’s cool, but an asshole all at the same time. For being an attorney, you would think he’d sign the divorce papers your mom served him with.”
I groan, turning the blinkers on. “Dad wants to restore their marriage, but Mom can’t get over it. At least that’s what Bethany has been saying.”
My little sister has been keeping me updated. I don’t blame Mom. And Justin, my brother, is not living at home.
“You can stay at my place. Come with us to Paris.”
It wouldn’t be a bad idea, but the thought of being on a three-week trip with Lana’s annoying brothers has my blood pressure skyrocketing.
“I’ll have to think about it.”
She slips her sandals off and throws her sweaty feet on the dashboard. “If you don’t come with me or go home, are you planning on staying on campus?”
“My plans were to call home and see what Bethany and Justin say because I don’t want to go home to their damn drama. I’m so pissed at Dad.”
When I park in my assigned spot, the car jerks back.
“Have I told you that you’re a horrible driver?”
“Yes, you repeat it to me, but then again, you never want to drive.”
“I like to be chauffeured around. I need a man who will give me that princess treatment without my life depending on it,” she mumbles.
“I’m not your man. Now get out of my damn car.”
She snorts. “We both need a man. We should hit the party everyone’s talking about tonight. Then, we can hit the road back to Carson City tomorrow morning. Maybe we can find a hookup.”
I’m twenty-one, with very minimal experience when it comes to the opposite sex. I’ve had a short-term boyfriend who lasted six months. That’s about it, only one.
As soon as I slam the door to the car, Lana races to the apartment to unlock it. “You know, maybe that’s a good idea. I could unwind from the long day of exams.”
Lana wags her brows. “I figured you’d say that. I ordered us some dresses.”
Sure enough, she has a large box sitting on her bed. We both work at the student center. Although our parents are both wealthy and pay for our tuition and spending money, we like to earn our own paycheck.
When eight o’clock rolls around, I step out of my bedroom. The blue dress Lana bought fits me like skin; it works perfectly for my curves. My long brown hair passes my bra strap. The Prada high heels I’m rocking make me look taller than I am.
“Holy smokes, Rainey, you’re hot.” Lana whistles, setting a glass of orange juice on the counter. I give her a spin that nearly causes me to lose my balance. Her head throttles back with laughter. “And clumsy as hell.”
