DJ just shook her head.
“Because that’s what Eliza was really mad about. She was going on about how she didn’t get to dance on center stage and hog all the attention. She didn’t say it quite like that, but we all knew what she meant.”
“I can just imagine.”
“But good old Harry just kept placating her and pouring drinks into her. Before long, she was snookered.”
“Lovely.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
“So you brought Casey and Kriti back? Did the other guys all stay at the hotel?”
Taylor laughed. “Like Eliza spent the night with four guys?”
“Not seriously?” DJ blinked.
“No. At least I don’t think so.” Taylor suddenly frowned.
“Anyway, that better not be the case.” She shook her head like she was trying to piece it together. “No. For one thing, I think Seth planned to leave too. At least that’s what he said.”
“Was he okay with you leaving?”
“Are you kidding?” She laughed. “But that’s his problem. If I think it’s time to go, it’s time to go.”
DJ gave her a thumbs-up.
“And, come to think of it, Josh was heading out too.” Taylor yawned and switched off her bedside lamp. “And that’s all she wrote.”
They said good night, but DJ suddenly imagined Eliza intoxicated and alone in the hotel suite with four guys. Then she told herself that it was probably only two guys. Still, it was messed up. Despite her other harsh feelings, DJ felt a little sorry for Eliza. Why would she put herself in that situation? Why would she allow herself to be that vulnerable? That helpless? Because she was too drunk to know the difference? Duh. And just the idea of this made DJ feel slightly sick. So she prayed for Eliza. Of all six girls at Carter House, she might’ve been more in need of prayer than anyone.
Finals week dragged on . . . and on and on. When it was finally over, a lot of kids were gathered at McHenry’s Coffee House, saying their winter-break farewells.
Conner and DJ were at a corner table, exchanging Christmas cards, which they weren’t supposed to open until Christmas. “We can only do cards,” DJ had told him earlier in the week, after they’d overheard others talking about the expensive gifts they were getting for each other. DJ suspected that Eliza would receive diamonds from Harry (in an effort to make up for last weekend, which had been totally glossed over — naturally).
“I wish I could stay longer,” Conner said, glancing at his watch. “But we’re doing a red-eye flight, and I still have some packing to do.”
“I understand.” DJ smiled. “Although I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
She laughed. “Yeah, you’ll be having the time of your life on those slopes and — ”
“We won’t be on the slopes the whole time,” he reminded her. “Don’t forget we have to visit Aunt Ginger.”
She smiled. “Yes, Aunt Ginger . . . the woman with a cleaning fetish. Well, that should be fun.”
“You walk into her house, and all you can smell is bleach and disinfectant,” he said. “I swear you think you’ve just entered a crime scene that someone has already scrubbed down.”
“Maybe that’s it,” DJ said slyly. “Maybe Aunt Ginger is really a serial killer just covering up her tracks.”
“I will miss you!” Conner leaned over the table, DJ leaned to meet him, and they kissed. Then Conner slowly stood and said good-bye before he pressed his way through the crowded coffee house.
“There goes Prince Charming,” said Taylor as she carried her coffee over and sat next to DJ. “Where’s he off to?”
“Montana.” DJ sighed as she watched him going out the door.
“Skiing?”
DJ nodded. “And solving murder mysteries.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.” DJ brought herself back to reality. “Where’s Seth?”
“He had to go to some family Christmas party.”
“And he didn’t ask you?”
“I need to go home and pack. My flight’s an early one. Hey, speaking of that, how about a ride to the airport?”
DJ frowned. “How early?”
Taylor shook her head. “That’s okay. It’s really early. I’ll just call a cab.”
“No, I’m sorry,” said DJ quickly. “What time?”
“I’ll need to leave the house by six.”
DJ shrugged. “That’s not so bad.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. And about the time I get back, it’ll be time to take Rhiannon to the train station.”
“What are you, the Carter House cab?”
“Grandmother already offered to take Eliza and Casey. Their flights leave about the same time.”
“And then it’ll be just little old you . . . alone with your grandmother.”
DJ nodded with a flat expression. Okay, she wasn’t about to admit that she was looking forward to being alone. Not so she could be alone with Grandmother. She simply wanted to enjoy being alone. Not sharing a bathroom. Not hearing Taylor snore. Not putting up with Princess Eliza. Not listening to Casey pick fights. DJ just wanted to be alone. And, although she wouldn’t let on to anyone, it was going to be delightful. Luxurious. Relaxing. Like a much-needed vacation from noise, chaos, and clutter. She couldn’t wait!
8
LESS THAN A WEEK INTO WINTER BREAK, DJ didn’t think she could survive Christmas. It wasn’t Christmas as much as it was rattling around by herself in the big empty house. Just one day after the other girls vacated, the quietness had started to get to DJ. She couldn’t even believe it at first. She told herself it was probably kind of like culture shock. She just needed to get used to it. But days later, she was seriously lonely. She missed her roommates. And it was hard to admit, if only to herself, but she missed Taylor most of all. How weird was that?
“Desiree?” called Grandmother as she knocked on the bedroom door.
“Come in.” DJ looked up from where she was sitting in the window seat, checking email on her laptop. Haley had just gotten back to her. She claimed that she’d been too busy to answer before, but said that it was no big deal if Conner and DJ were going out again. DJ wasn’t convinced.
DJ closed her laptop as Grandmother entered the bedroom. DJ didn’t usually take that much interest in her Grandmother’s appearance or mannerisms, but today she watched with hungry interest as Grandmother tossed a tail of her pale blue scarf over one shoulder. DJ’s nose took in the smell of Grandmother’s expensive perfume. And she even glanced down at Grandmother’s sleek platinum pumps. It wasn’t that DJ was into fashion — especially old-lady fashion — she suspected she was simply missing her friends.
“The general has invited us to join him for dinner again tonight, Desiree. He just called to say that some old friends dropped by with a crate of the most lovely lobsters, and they need help eating them.”
DJ frowned slightly. Not that she didn’t enjoy the general’s company — at times. But this would be the third time since Christmas break that she’d have spent an evening with him and Grandmother. It was getting old already.
“I think I’ll pass,” she said quietly. “Thanks anyway.”
Grandmother nodded and actually seemed relieved. Perhaps she too was getting weary of her tagalong granddaughter — the third wheel. “All right. I’ll tell Clara to fix you some — ”
“No,” DJ said quickly. “Don’t make Clara stick around for me tonight. I’ll forage something for myself.” No way did DJ want to be responsible for Clara grumping around the kitchen when she could’ve had the night off. It just wasn’t worth it.
“Well, okay then.” Grandmother patted her sleek silver hair and smiled. “If you’re sure . . .”
“I’m sure. And do thank the general for me.” DJ held up a book that she’d started a couple of days ago. “I’d like to finish this tonight anyway.”
Grandmother reached for the door. “Have a good evening then.”
/> “You too.”
DJ looked back at her email box, wishing that something new had popped up, but it was just the same. And why not? Other people had things to do, places to go, and people to see. She was the only one without a life. Maybe she should have gone to visit her dad and stepmom and twin half sisters. Dad had even called to invite her again just a few days ago.
“Sally and Callie are just starting to talk,” he’d told her cheerfully. “It’ll be the first Christmas to know what’s going on.” Like DJ cared. Okay, she knew that sounded all wrong — it wasn’t as if she hated the little girls. But perhaps she did envy them a bit — and maybe even more now that it was Christmas and she was lonely. But her intuitions were stronger than ever that if she gave in, her stepmom would assume that DJ was a built-in babysitter. Not.
DJ shoved her computer aside and picked up her book, trying to focus on the words, but her mind was not into it. Home alone on a Friday night, reading a book — how pathetic. Still, she was determined not to feel sorry for herself. And, really, she was happy that her friends each had something pretty cool to do for Christmas break.
Eliza was probably having fun in Kentucky right now, and before long she’d be off to France to join her parents at their restored vineyard estate. And even though Kriti wasn’t that far away in New York City with her family, she had “a couple dozen relatives” coming to visit from Delhi. DJ couldn’t imagine having that many relatives, but at the moment, it sounded wonderful. And Casey was home in sunny Southern California, where her parents were enormously relieved to see that she was looking and acting more like her old self again. She’d emailed DJ to say how they had credited Grandmother for this amazing transformation. DJ wondered what they would’ve thought if they could’ve seen Casey at the Winter Ball, dressed like Madonna and covered from head to toe in her boyfriend’s vomit. Even Rhiannon had been excited about Christmas break. It turned out that her mom did get released from her drug rehab program. And she was going to be out for a full week — released to the “custody” of the elderly aunt in Maine. Hopefully Rhiannon’s mom wouldn’t fall off the wagon.
“Please, pray for her, DJ,” Rhiannon had asked when DJ had dropped her at the train station last week. Naturally, DJ had been praying.
DJ was jarred back to reality by the jingling of her cell phone. She wished it would be Conner, but doubted it since she knew cell phone service was sketchy where he was staying. To her surprise it was Taylor.
“Hey, girlfriend,” said Taylor cheerfully.
“Hey, Taylor! It’s so good to hear your voice!” Of course, DJ instantly regretted this gushy-sounding response. She didn’t want Taylor to know how much she missed her — or just how lonely she really was right now. Not cool.
“What’s up?”
“Not much. Where are you?” The last DJ had heard, they’d been in New Mexico, but that was a few days ago.
“We’re on our way to Las Vegas, baby.” Taylor laughed. “We just left Phoenix about an hour ago.”
“How’s the weather down there?” asked DJ.
“Sunny . . . warm . . . just about perfect.”
“Sounds lovely. It’s been cold and wet and windy here.
You’d think it could at least snow.”
“Ugh, that sounds nasty. Too bad for you, Deej.” Then Taylor chuckled in the low-pitched way that she sometimes used when planning mischief. “I’ll think of you while I’m lounging out by the pool, sipping a frosty margarita.”
“Your mom doesn’t mind you drinking?” DJ was actually curious as to how Eva Perez felt about her daughter’s wild habits. Maybe she didn’t care.
“Oh, it’ll be a virgin margarita, of course.”
“Of course.”
“The hotel has like six pools.”
“How long are you staying there?” asked DJ wistfully — or to be honest it was probably enviously. Had Taylor called just to rub it in, to remind DJ that her life was probably the most boring one on the planet?
“My mom’s booked there until New Year’s. She’s performing in one of those megahotels — you know the kind that has everything you could possibly want all under one roof. Well, I guess it’s not exactly one roof, but you know what I mean. I just checked it out online, and it’s got the best designer shops and restaurants and a really great spa.”
“Cool.”
“Totally. And, trust me, anything will be an improvement over this stuffy old bus. The bathroom in here is about the size of a bathmat. I can’t wait to get out and stretch my legs. Sin City, here I come!”
“Sounds like fun.” DJ sighed. Okay, maybe the Sin City part didn’t sound like fun. But the pools and sunshine and spa sounded a lot better than being stuck in Crescent Cove, Connecticut — with about half the town’s population evacuated for more adventurous locations.
“Hey, why don’t you join me down here, Deej?”
DJ laughed with sarcasm. “Yeah, right.”
“Seriously,” said Taylor. “I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind, and we’re supposed to have a big suite with two separate bedrooms. You could room with me if you want.”
“Really?” DJ was amazed at this generous offer. “Are you serious?”
“Totally. In fact, my mom would probably love it if you came down,” said Taylor. “Just this morning she said she feels guilty that I’m on my own so much. Not that she can help it. She performs every night, then has to rest in the mornings. And then she has rehearsals almost every afternoon.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“I think it is. Anyway, I’m sure she’d like you to come, DJ. She’d probably think you’re a good influence on me.”
“She thinks you need a good influence?”
“That’s practically what she said the other day — she caught me flirting with a guy at the gas station.”
“A guy at the gas station?” DJ shook her head. “That sounds a little desperate.”
“What can I say? He was totally hot. Seriously, he looked just like Usher.”
DJ laughed.
“So how about it?” persisted Taylor.
“I don’t know . . . I mean if I actually did come, would it be to babysit you and keep you out of trouble?”
Taylor laughed loudly. “Yeah, like that’s going to happen. Get real, DJ. Do you honestly think you could keep me out of trouble?”
DJ considered this. Being with Taylor in a place like Las Vegas could be a serious challenge at best. And yet . . . the idea of getting away to someplace warm and doing something fun. Well, it was tempting. And maybe Taylor’s mom was right . . . maybe Taylor did need a good influence. Maybe DJ would be doing a good deed. Or not.
“Ask your grandmother,” urged Taylor. “Tell her that I begged you. Tell her that I’m lonely and need my roommate.”
DJ couldn’t believe she was actually considering it. “This is crazy.”
“Crazy good,” said Taylor. “Come on, I need you down here with me. It’s not fun dressing up and strutting around all by myself. Come on, DJ.”
“My grandmother will never agree to it.”
“Go ask her!” commanded Taylor. “Right now.”
“What about your mom?”
“I’ll check with her too. But, honestly, she’ll probably be thrilled. And if it’ll help, I can have her call Mrs. Carter for you.”
“Okay, I guess it can’t hurt to try.” But even as she said this, DJ wondered if the idea was totally nuts.
“Call me right back, okay?”
“My grandmother might be gone by now. She’s having dinner at the general’s tonight and — ”
“Quit talking and start moving!” Then Taylor hung up.
DJ braced herself as she walked down the hall toward Grandmother’s suite. Grandmother was probably gone anyway. And if she was still here, surely she’d never agree to anything like this. It was outrageous! Two seventeen-year-old girls practically unsupervised in Sin City. Even Grandmother could see the potential problems with that little setup. Still, for Taylo
r’s sake, DJ knew she had to ask. Then she’d call Taylor and act disappointed that Grandmother had denied her request, saying that she’d given it her best shot.
DJ paused at Grandmother’s door. She could hear her voice chattering away with an excited edge to it, probably talking to some big-shot fashion friend on the phone. So DJ waited, but as she stood there, she shot up a quick prayer, asking God to intervene and to direct her grandmother’s answer in regard to Vegas, which convinced DJ that the answer would most likely be a big fat no. It took a couple of minutes for Grandmother to finally get off the phone. Then DJ knocked and waited until Grandmother opened the door with a big smile.
“I need to ask you — ”
“Oh, Desiree,” gushed Grandmother. “I’m so deliriously happy. That’s the most wonderful news!”
DJ was confused now. “Did Taylor’s mom already call you?”
Grandmother blinked, then shook her head. “No. That was my designer friend from New York. Remember how Dylan was so impressed with you girls at the Founder’s Day Fashion Show? Well, other than that little fiasco between Eliza and Taylor, which actually turned out to be a rather smart publicity stunt — at least that’s what Dylan thought it was. Anyway, he has invited all you girls to come to New York for Fashion Week the end of January. The Carter House girls will be modeling his new fall line.”
“A fall line in January?”
“Well, of course. It’s always shown in late January or early February, Desiree.”
“Of course.”
“That gives the buyers a chance to plan for the fall season, which actually begins in early summer.”
DJ tried to wrap her head around those conflicting seasons. “Right . . .”
“But what’s this about Taylor’s mother?” Grandmother frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“No. Nothing’s wrong. But Taylor just called — you know she’s touring with her mom during the holidays.”
“Oh, yes. How is our beautiful Taylor?”
“Lonely.”
Grandmother’s brow creased ever so slightly. Her recent Botox injections must be doing their magic. “Taylor’s lonely?”
Lost in Las Vegas Page 6
