Page 45 of Promise Me Nothing
“They own everything in town, which is why shit is so expensive,” Loren groans. “Double lots and pools and gyms.”
I bite my cheek, thinking of Lucas’ house.
“And that’s just the people sitting over there,” Eleanor adds. “You should see the rest of them.”
Instinctively, I know.
I know that Lucas and Paige are a part of this group that my fellow servers despise so much.
And in what can only be described as an act of God, the moment I come to this realization, I see Paige walk through the front door.
She looks just as beautiful and happy as she did the last time I saw her, strolling into the room with a big smile on her face. I see her eyes connect with that booth and she raises a hand in the air to wave at them.
And then, like it’s slow motion, her head pans across the bar, scanning, her eyes connecting with mine, passing, and then darting back.
Her smile grows.
I smile back.
I might not be the best at confronting assholes like the ones at my own table, but Idoknow that, regardless of who I’m friends with, I try to be nice to everyone.
As far as I know, Paige is the same way. Hopefully the people at this table can get over themselves and realize that at some point.
“Oh my God, is she actually coming over here?” Denise hisses at no one in particular.
Eleanor puts her phone down immediately and adjusts herself in her seat. “Do I look okay?” she asks, fixing her hair.
Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes as I realize that everything Denise, Loren and Eleanor just told me, everything the rest of our group listened in on with wide ears and big eyes, was a bunch of bullshit.
Sure, it might have been true. There might be a girl who lives of her parents’ money and a guy who bangs tourists and another girl who wants social media to pay for her life.
But the people in this group right here who are talking about them like they’re the scourges of society? They’re fucking jealous. They’re outraged because it doesn’t feel fair.
Well I have a few opinions on life and what is fucking fair, and I can promise it has nothing to do with what the ‘Hermosa elite’ do with their time and money.
“Oh my gosh, Hannah!” Paige exclaims as she reaches our table. “This is awesome. I didn’t know you’d be here.” Then she glances around, her smile remaining. “Hey everyone. Eleanor, your hair looks awesome today. Did you cut it?”
Eleanor looks like she just fell in love when she runs a hand through her hair. “Oh. Uhm. Yeah. Last week.”
“I’ve always thought a bob was a great look on you. Remember that time you put blue highlights in?” Paige says, giggling, and Eleanor joins her. “I was so jealous. My momneverwould have let me do that.”
Eleanor shrugs, her hand playing with the ends of her hair. “It was just wash out stuff you can get at the store. You should totally try it out.”
“Maybe,” Paige says. “If I do, I’ll ask you what brand you got. I’m always worried the color will bleed and ruin the rest of my hair.”
“Just let me know,” Eleanor says, nodding.
“Hannah, Lucas is going to be here soon if you want to come join us,” Paige says, giving me a smile and then glancing around to the group again. “But no pressure if you’re making new friends.”
I nod, giving Paige my own smile.
“Thanks. I’ll probably swing by to say hi when Lucas gets here.”
“Sounds good. Bye everyone!”
And then she whisks off, moving confidently across the floor and over to the booth where her friends are waiting.
There’s a pregnant pause and I can feel everyone’s energy shifting, moving in my direction. Something that’s confirmed when I glance around and see every set of eyes at our table trained on me.
