Page 31 of Promise Me Nothing
I laugh, a small one, just barely a breath that comes out of my nose, but it’s still a much needed break from the tension that filled me a second ago.
“You’re my sister, and I’m glad you’re here with me.” He squeezes my arms. “What other people think doesn’t matter.”
I glance around the lobby, watching people chit chat in little groups while others head into the main dining room. I let out another long breath, then look back at Lucas.
“I’m okay. I’ll come find you once I take this piece of shit off.”
Lucas smiles. “Awesome.”
Then he turns and heads inside the main dining room.
I head towards the women’s bathroom in the corner, hoping to make my way in and out as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, that just isn’t in the plans.
“Are you here with Lucas Pearson?”
I turn my head and spot a tall, lanky brunette heading my way. What is it with everyone around here being so damn beautiful? It’s really annoying.
But I smile and nod my head, continuing my movements towards the bathroom. If she wants to talk to me, she can do it through a toilet stall.
“I didn’t realize he was dating someone,” she says. “I mean, someone other than Remmy.”
There’s a barb in her words that gives me pause, and I turn to look at her more closely, wondering what kind of point she’s trying to make.
But then I realize that it doesn’t matter what point she’s making. I really shouldn’t care.
“We’re not dating,” I tell her, placing my hand on the door to the restroom and pushing through.
I almost want to laugh when I see it. Of course, the bathroom looks like something you’d see in a Kardashian house. A huge open space with carpet and couches and big mirrors. At least a half dozen women are staring at themselves, making adjustments to their makeup. It’s like the high school girls’ bathroom, but for adults.
I don’t realize the brunette has followed me in until I hear her speak from behind me, her words sharp and loud.
“So you’re just fucking him, then?”
At that my back shoots straight and I turn to look at her. She stands with her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.
“Excuse me?” I feel like I can’t have heard her correctly.
Like, who says that? What world does she live in where it’s okay to say something like that?
“There’s a pretty long line of people who are waiting for a shot at Lucas Pearson,” she says. “I don’t know who you are, but I’d consider yourself lucky for even being on his arm tonight. Just don’t forget that you’re as expendable as the rest of them.”
A burst of uncomfortable laughter comes barreling out of my mouth. It’s something slightly hysterical, since I literallycannot fucking believeshe just said that.
“I can’t even… I don’t even know how to respond to that,” I finally say, just gaping at her as she continues to give me elevator eyes.
Finally, I spin away and head towards the individual bathrooms, but not before catching side-eye from a few of the women lined up at the mirrors.
Once I make it into a stall, I take a second to brace against the door. I stare at the floor as I try to process what she just said.
What abitch.
I mean, seriously. Whosaysshit like that? I thought I’d watched enoughGossip GirlandThe O.C.to prepare myself for the cattiness of rich people, but holy cow was I wrong.
Finally, I push it aside and slip off my shoes and make quick work of yanking off the stupid nylons that were clearly a mistake to put on in the first place. Then I step back into the high heels that are just barely a size too small, wincing only slightly, and head back to the main bathroom area.
Dropping the nylons in the trash, I don’t even glance at anyone else before I return to the lobby. I don’t know who those women are, but I feel like it’s in my best interest to avoid them if they’re going to talk to me like that. Cattiness isn’t attractive.
