Page 13 of Masked in Deception
“Well, I survived, and look at me now, a whole-ass college graduate. And not just any college,Hahvard, dahling,” I joke, using the affected waspy accent we heard once during the admissions process and found so funny that I don’t think Jack has said the word Harvard normally since.
My joking tone dies as I realize he’s taken my suggestion seriously and is indeedlookingat me. Jack has been the member of our family who has alwaysseenme, but I’ve had a sense in the past few years that there have been times he’slooked, too. I wonder what he sees as his eyes rake across me, sitting in my tree with my champagne and snacks. I think I look polished tonight, wearing a pale pink silk-draped top I made with my favorite jeans. My hair is in my favorite voluminous curls, the side closest to him pulled back with a crystal clip he gave me for Valentine’s Day last year. Earrings from a set he gave me a few years ago complete my relatively simple look, and I wish, not for the first time, that I could read his mind.
When he finally finishes his perusal, I’m surprised to see tears not only forming in his eyes but also streaking down his face. He takes a moment and sniffles before grasping my hand and pressing a long kiss to my knuckles. “Youarea whole-ass collegegraduate, Princess. I’m so damn proud of you. The past four years have been so tough. You’ve lost your dad, had to deal with my sorry ass. I don’t know what any of us would do without you, Margot. You’re the glue that holds us all together.”
He’s still holding my hand, and I realize what I should have already known. Jack’s approval probably means the most to me of anyone in the world. Now I’m crying, and we’re still holding hands and blubbering like a couple of losers in a tree.
“Jack, you know I’m proud of you too, right?” I sniffle, wiping my eyes on the sleeve of his dress shirt and making him playfully shove me off. “Your club is doing well, and you’re so healthy now, running and working out and drinking your nasty green smoothies.”
“Hey! Those smoothies are delicious, and you know it. I put apples and pineapples in them, not just spinach!”
Laughing, I punch at his shoulder, feeling even more muscle than the last time I saw him, which doesn’t seem possible. “The taste is all spinach, andyouknow it.”
I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh. “Seriously, Jack. I’m so proud of you. You’re adulting goals these days. I need to get on your level when I move to New York, or I’ll never be able to keep up with classes.”
My reminder that I’m moving in a few short weeks sobers the mood as we both enjoy a few moments of silence before we hear my mom calling my name from the house.
Jack turns his head to kiss the top of mine. “You’ll take the city by storm. I’m gonna miss the hell out of you, though. You have to text me more. I can’t keep finding out about your accolades and escapades only from the group chat.”
I laugh, the mood sufficiently lightened as we make our way down the tree. “I promise to text more. You’ll get so sick of my life updates that you’ll mute me.”
“No chance. Now I want a pinky promise on that.” He reaches up and puts his hands around my waist to help me to the ground, gripping my pinky with his. His gaze catches on my mouth, and he smirks, reaching to wipe the corner of my lip. “You somehow manage to always have chocolate on your lips, even now.”
“As long as you’re always there to wipe it off for me, Jackie.”
“Whatever you want, Princess.”
Chapter seventeen
30 years old
Blanche guides Margot and me into her house as we bellow our team’s fight song at the top of our lungs, still reveling in the victory.
“Yes, yes, the football team is very good this year,” Blanche says in reference to Ledger’s, Henry’s, and my alma mater.
We used to attend games all the time, but over the past several years, making even one a season has seemed like a stretch. The Sinclairs are pretty much royalty at the university. If Henry being the best quarterback to ever come through the school wasn’t enough, they could almost bankroll the program with the donations they send every year.
Margot heads straight for the minibar as soon as we get in the house and holds up a bottle of tequila. “Who wants to celebrate?”
Without waiting for an answer, she pours three shots and hands them out. We all clink the glasses together and take the shots, cheering to the big win tonight. Surprisingly, Blanche isthe first to finish hers and slam it down on the counter, followed by Margot, then me.
“Alright, that’s enough of that for me tonight. I’m going to head to bed,” Blanche says before turning to walk out of the den. She’s almost out of the room before turning back around and fixing us both with one of her famous Mama B stares. “Are you two going to be alright?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say as Margot rolls her eyes.
She squints as she stares us down a moment longer before saying good night and leaving.
Finally alone, Margot fills us both another shot and holds one out for me. “You’ll stay with me, won't you, Jackie?” She may be a little tipsy, but she knows exactly what she’s doing when she bats her big eyes at me. “Pleasseee.”
This is probably a terrible idea. I try my best to keep my thoughts platonic, but it’s not like I’m oblivious to the way my body reacts to her. The truth of the matter is that I’m just incapable of turning her down. If the princess wants it, she gets it, and that’s how it’s always been.
“Margot, you know I can’t drive home if I take any more of those shots.” We both know that's a horrible excuse. I’ve had a room in every Sinclair house since they took me in twenty-five years ago.
Her eyes are already gleaming with triumph. “You can just stay here tonight! Come on, you have to stay so we can discuss the fact that Ledger has agirlfriend! Seriously, is the world about to end? Have you ever known him to date at all?”
She’s not wrong about that. Ledger’s obsession with Sloane took me by surprise just as much as anyone. He had some short relationships in high school, but once we started college, he never saw the same woman twice. Neither of us did.
With a sigh of defeat, I take the shot of tequila from her hand and swallow it down in one gulp. Margot squeals with excitement before doing the same with her own.
