Page 101 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

“Shut the hell up. He loves you; you love him. He wants to marry you; you want to marry him. You want to be together. So be together. Simple. There will always be problems. It’s just how the world works. You’ll figure it out. If you keep waiting until you’re ready, well, you’ll be waiting forever. No one’s ever really ready.” She paused. I heard her draw a deep breath before continuing in a pained, quiet voice. “It’s a different story if he doesn’t want to fight for you.”

“Kar…”

“Gah.” I imagined her waving her hand in front of her face, dismissing her thoughts. “Are you impressed with all these amazing quotes I’m spouting at you? Damn, I even impress myself sometimes.” She laughed, but it sounded feigned.

It was Cameron again, but I knew if she wanted to discuss it, she would. So I let it go.

“What the hell are you doing in there?” she demanded. “Knitting another beanie? Come out and let me see the dress!”

“You need to zip me up.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just get your ass out here.” I opened the door, and Kara whistled. “Damn, you look hot.” She stared at me wide-eyed, giving me two thumbs up. “If I were a guy, I would totally do you,” she added, zipping me up.

“Well, well, well. That’s quite a dress, Veronica.”

I froze, my gaze whipping to the source of that familiar mocking voice.

“Can you afford it?” Beatrice-Rose derided.

She stood near the dress racks in front of us, a clerk beside her. I noticed that even in her expensive clothes and makeup, she looked pale and gaunt, as if she had lost weight.

I knew from what Caleb had told me that she wasn’t well. I took a deep breath, trying hard to conjure up patience and sympathy for her.

Before I could think of something to say, Kara interjected. “I think we need an exorcist, Ver. I’m feeling an evil spirit in the vicinity.”

“Don’t be crass, Kara,” Beatrice-Rose sneered.

Kara cupped her ear. “Did you hear something?”

Beatrice-Rose ignored her and turned to me. “Make sure you don’t embarrass Caleb at the party. There will be a lot of important people in attendance. Or maybe just don’t show up. You know you’ll look cheap in whatever you wear anyway.”

Patience and sympathy could go to hell.

Maybe I was a bad person for this, because no matter how hard I tried to understand her, I couldn’t help the retort that came out.

“Why would I do that,” I said calmly, “when Caleb told me I’m the only one he wants to show up at his party?”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “You must be really good in bed if Caleb’s willing to introduce you at his party. You know he’s going to leave you sooner or later. He gets bored pretty quickly.”

There was a gleam of malevolence in her eyes as she smiled.

“Did you know,” she started, “that Caleb loves it when I kiss his stomach?”

I suddenly felt sick.

“Or,” she continued, smiling widely, “when I lick down—”

“Hey, bitch. How are the hair extensions? You have to buy the good ones, girl, or your bald spot will show,” Kara interrupted.

There was a horrified expression on Beatrice-Rose’s face as she shifted her eyes to Kara.

“I don’t have a fucking bald spot!” Beatrice-Rose shrieked, loud enough that the clerk inched away from us and a few of the customers glanced warily in our direction.

“It’s all right. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Kara continued in a comforting tone, like she was speaking to a small child. “The first step to getting over your hang-up is acceptance.”

“You fucking bitch!”

Beatrice-Rose’s face had turned red, her hands balled into fists. She was breathing hard, her eyes glowing with hatred. It reminded me of a rabid dog about to attack. I took a step forward to protect Kara.

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