Page 21 of Ruin
“Wow. Your place is nice,” I say, forgetting my need to barely speak for a moment.
“Thanks. I love it,” she replies with a smile, as Imogen walks out of the bathroom. “I brought our reluctant guest.”
Imogen laughs and gives me a little wave. “It’s best to just go along with whatever Annika wants. You know it’s going to be her way, whether you give in or not.”
“Yeah, I’m working that out,” I reply, surprising myself again.
After she showed me around the mansion earlier, I grew more comfortable with her. There’s something about her that draws me in, which I’m finding a little confusing still. I also kind of feel it with Annika as well, but I just put that down to the fact that Annika is basically a siren, calling people to her with her sexual wiles.
Either way, I feel at ease around the two women, which I’m not used to. It’s been a long time since I’ve had girlfriends. Not since primary school, really. But Imogen and Annika don’t seem like the mean girls I went to high school with.
“Oh good, you’ve worked it out quick. This one took a while to come around.” Annika jabs her thumb in Imogen’s direction. “She’s almost as stubborn as Sebastian.”
I smirk. “No one is that stubborn.”
They both laugh, and Annika goes to grab three wine glasses from the kitchen.
Despite my initial boldness, I find it easier to watch the two of them chat together than continue to take part in the conversation. It’s obvious from observing them that they are close friends, sharing inside jokes and talking about people they both know.
“We’ll have to organise a family dinner next Monday night. The club is closed on Mondays,” Annika tells me as we settle into the lounge area with our drinks.
“Oh, I don’t know that I’ll be up for that…” I reply.
“You’ll have met everyone by then, and you can’t stay hidden away in Sebastian’s suite forever,” Annika continues.
Imogen gives me a sympathetic smile. “Best to go along with her, remember?”
“Exactly. And I’m always right.” Annika grins.
There’s nothing pretentious about either of them, and I can feel myself relaxing further.
“Fine,” I reply with a sigh, and Annika claps her hands together in triumph.
“Good, that’s settled. Now, tell us your story, Lily St Clair slash Sinclair. Cause we’re nosy bitches, and I need to know all about your relationship with the DeLuca men,” Annika says.
I freeze, not even slightly sure where to start.
Imogen comes to my rescue. “It’s okay, Lily.” She fixes Annika with a slightly stern expression. “Annika, you need to ease people in before you force them to give up their secrets.”
There’s something about the sympathetic look Imogen shoots me afterwards that makes me wonder if Sebastian has told her why I’m here.
“Yeah, but how is she going to become our best friend if she doesn’t open up?” Annika asks.
“You really are like an over-excited puppy sometimes, you know that?” Imogen sounds exasperated even as she smiles.
“That’s why you love me.”
“Yeah, you’re right. But you gotta ease people into your awesomeness.” Imogen pats Annika’s leg.
“Fine. Just give us the highlights then, Lily.” Annika gives an exaggerated sigh when Imogen shakes her head again. “Please?”
I give them both a small smile. “I met Daniel when we went to school together and kind of just forced them both to let me hang out with them.”
Annika raises an eyebrow. “I can’t imagine that was much of a hardship for them. And you don’t really seem like the type to force your presence on anyone. That’s more like something I’d do.”
How do I explain I was once like her, happy and carefree, until I fell into Joseph’s web?
“I guess things change,” I reply, not wanting to go into more detail. “But yeah, I’ve known them for a long time.”
