Page 69 of Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
“You know,” Eric said while waving his fork, “I’m a good cook. No one ever asks me to cook, though. Why is she always being laid into because we have help?”
Julian threw up his hands. “I didn’t lay into her. I said I didn’t want vegan aspects, so I thanked Alatheia because I didn’t have to eat them tonight. Take a breath and tone it down a notch, or I’m taking her back to New York tonight and screw the party.”
Dina interrupted, her tone smooth, “Speaking of the party, what is the theme this year?”
Rosalind smiled gratefully before saying, “Under the stars.”
Barrett looked at Phoenix. “Didn’t we already do under the stars? Like five years ago?”
“When dealing with this kind of thing, it is best not to have too long of a memory.” Kit grinned at Barrett.
Rosalind lifted her fork and pointed it at them. “That wasReach for the Stars. This will be themed about the actual stars, not successes and goals.”
I tuned out the rest of their party planning, disinterested in the whole affair. Instead of worrying about what to say next, I glanced around at my companions, trying to get a read on their moods. Jeremy remained very quiet at dinner, and Barrett, too. Phoenix completely tuned out, his eyes almost glazed over with boredom. The adults sometimes spoke to Julian, who was cordial with everyone. It seemed like everyone at the table had a hidden agenda except for Dina, who was treated like royalty by her family. They clearly adored her. My lips curled in a smile, because I had to admit I was a pretty big fan of her myself.
I also loved it for her on a level she might not understand. I had read about where she had been when she was my age.Alone. Scared. Something happened with the Lents—I didn’t know yet what—but she wrote that she could never see them again, despite her uncle, the glass genius and an abuser at home.
When the final course—ice cream sundaes—had been cleared, everyone rose to their feet. Kit walked over and squeezed Rosalind to his side. I might not be able to translate what they meant between them, but I saw something unspoken passed between them. When their gazes shifted to us, I wondered what it might have been.
“Don’t get in trouble.” Stephen smiled at the four boys. “You want to make a good impression on your friend, hide your hellraiser side until you’re sure she likes you.”
I could almost see the awkwardness in the room like a physical presence, but finally, Rosalind spoke. “It was so nice to meet you, Alatheia. We’ll be glad to have you here this summer. I promise not to drag you into any more family meals.”
Because she didn’t want to force me or because she didn’t want me there?Maybe both.
Maybe they couldn’t talk freely in front of me or they didn’t like strangers around.
Barrett took my hand and tugged me from the room in a hurry. “Sorry about my family,” he muttered, not bothering to say goodbye to them.
“They were very nice to me.” I put on a smile but was afraid it didn’t reach my eyes.I’m doing my best here, this is new territory for me.
“No,” he shook his head, his lips thin with tension. “They weren’t. If you think that was nice, then I’m even more sorry about the life you have had to live so far.”
Phoenix rushed past us, giving my hair a gentle affectionate tug. “Come on. We’re having a bonfire. We’re here, have to be here, so let’s have a massive bonfire. I’m putting out the word. I’ll put it together, too.”
Jeremy shook his head. “He says that, but you know that I’ll end up putting it together.”
We stepped outside as the wind picked up, bringing the lovely beach smell all around me again. “Barrett, I really don’t want you to worry. They were nice to me. I promise. Something about me puts most people off, but I’m working on it. I plan to be happier or something, so that I am not so …”
“Stop.” He tugged me to him, nuzzling at my neck until I sighed. “There is nothing about you that puts anyone off. Not one thing. My family is weird, so busy guarding their own secrets that they can’t even see they lost something. This party? It’s so no one talks about us, so we meet the status quo. They don’t actually want to have this party. They don’t want to entertain all of Water Mill and part of South ampton. So let’s have a bonfire and just forget about my parents and my family and all of it. Let’s just be us for a while. I like us, especially with you. They’ll just have to get over whatever issues they’re having because Granny loves you and we are …”
Julian laughed. “Finish that sentence. I dare you. Be the first.”
“Come on, enough,” Phoenix yelled. “If we have to be here, then let’s make it wild. Oh shit, I forgot my favorite lighter.”
We passed his granny’s house and the path sloped down toward the beach. I let go of Barrett’s hand. “I’ll go get it for you. Where did you leave it?”
He bounced from foot-to-foot. “In my room. Go up the stairs, last door on the left, on my desk. Don’t touch my computer. Just devving out some combat mechanics for a game I’m working on, no big deal, but it could get messed up.”
He iswhat?I stared at him, surprised. “I didn’t know you devved games.”
“Yeah … I’m a drug addict and I’m fucked up. The kid who got kidnapped. The one who might destroy all the family secrets. I can board like a pro. I can make games. I am also kind of good at a lot of various shit.”
Barrett hit him in the shoulder. “No one thinks you are going to blow up the family secrets.”
“You should. I might.” Despite his words, he grinned when he said it.
I jogged back toward the house to find his lighter. Easy enough to backtrack our path, so I made it halfway up the stairs before I heard the voices coming from the room where we had met before dinner. I might have had the best intentions, but I slowed when I overheard part of the conversation.
