Page 129 of Summoned
I glance over my shoulder. “I think I just spotted an old classmate…”
Leaving their group, I head straight for Evelin—a girl I knew in high school. I still remember her once stubbing out her cigarette on the nerdy girl’s elbow for giving her the wrong answers on the English test.
“Evelin, darling, it’s so good to see you!” I gush. “I was this close to going home and hitting play on a Netflix documentary. At least something might actually happen there.”
“Haha, hey, babe!” She hugs me with two air kisses, careful not to touch me. “What’s with that face? Still stunning as ever!Looks like the rumors aren’t true after all…”
Fuck.
My knees buckle in an instant.It doesn’t matter, I tell myself.None of it does. Only Gaetano.
In the past, I would’ve launched into explanations, wrapping the truth in carefully crafted lies. Now, I ignore her comment and give her dress a once-over. “Gorgeous. Though honestly, you’d think you’d gotten the date wrong. This one looks more fitting for tomorrow night.”
The last part grabs her attention. “Tomorrow night?” she asks, a shadow of alarm in her eyes. Evelin’s the daughter of a major underworld figure—she’son every guest list. Being shut out of anything probably sends her into cardiac distress.
I lower my voice and slip the invitation into her palm as if revealing a secret. “Private event. At the Hyatt. Ultra-luxe. The guest list is tight.”
She taps the side of her nose with a manicured finger. “Oh, yes, of course. I was thinking of skipping it… Well, ifyou’regoing…”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. People will be talking about it for months.” I leave the invitation in her palm “In case you’ve lost yours…”
As the night goes on, the stiffness melts from my shoulders, and my performance improves. Faces shift before me, but I only see Gaetano, framed by shadows.
Two hours later, I’m about to leave when—
“I can’t believe you showed up without even texting first! Are you really Nicole, or asyntheticreplica?” Boyana emerges, spreading her arms in a theatrical gesture. Shit. It’s not like I wasn’t prepared for this encounter. I just hoped to avoid it.
“Hey, Bo. I decided to come last minute,” I say with a fake smile.
She pulls me into a shoulder hug and plants quick air kisses on my cheeks. “You haven’t picked up your phone in days, haven’t answered my messages. I thought you weremad at me or something. And I have news…”
My jaw tightens as I remember her words during Gaetano’s second trial. They were figments of my imagination, but theymighthave been real. If I start to sink, Boyana will be the first to throw water on my head to speed up my drowning. Not out of cruelty, just instinct. She knows how to survive in our world. No different from what I’ve been doing for years.
“I’ve been swamped with my father’s projects,” I say.
“Is everything okay over there? I hope those ugly rumors from the twins aren’t true…” Her voice thins on the last part, and the glint in her eyes tells me she’s hoping theyare.
Suddenly, that dark sensation rises in my throat. I’m choking on this conversation, on the fake smiles and rehearsed excuses.
I say, “You do know Misha and Marie talk behind your back, right? Just like they talk about me. Just like they talk about everyone. Who do you think told me you threw up all over yourself after Suzanna’s party?”
Boyana’s eyebrows arch. “Some guy saw us!”
“No. It was Misha. She held your hair while you puked, then yapped about it to anyone who would listen. And who do you think spread the rumor that you had a nose job in Istanbul because it looked like a beak?”
She glances down at her nose, going a little cross-eyed. “It was a minor correction—doctor-prescribed. I hit it on the fridge door and broke it!”
I frown. “Seriously? Who the hell breaks their nose on a fridge door? If you’re going to lie, do it right.” Her jaw drops, but I’m not done. “By the way, remember Branimir? The guy you liked at my birthday party? I ran into him later that night. We talked. Then, went out a few times. We even made out in his car once. I wish I could say I’m sorry, I know how much you liked him, but I’m not. The only thing Iregret is wasting a few evenings in his ego-scented bullshit.”
A rigid expression settles on her face, as though she’s not quite grasping my words.
“Oh, come on,” I say. “Trust me, he wasn’t worth it.”
“I… slept with him. Last week. I was out with the twins, and we bumped into him. And he still hasn’t called me back…”
That makes me pause for a moment. “Let me guess. Sitting at the bar, casual drink in hand… Mr. Lawyer unwinding after work?”
She nods, and I almost laugh. Branimir. Just another player. But then I catch the disappointment in Boyana’s eyes. Something unexpected stirs in my chest. This is the girl I once screamed with from the limo window on prom night. Despite everything, she’s chasing her slice of happiness in this messed-up life; same as the rest of us.
