by Nora Cobb
“God, I needed that.” She sighs.
“You’re really that upset about getting married?” I ask. “I thought you loved Mancuso.”
“I do love Nicholas,” she replies earnestly, “but Arielle and Lucas are a train wreck. And it’s not fun to watch them fight. I thought she was going to pop a vein in the side of her head the last time she was screaming at him.”
“Yeah, those fights are not pretty.” Beth looks at me furtively, but she doesn’t say much else.
I haven’t witnessed it yet, but I’ve heard that Arielle became physical, striking Lucas’ back as he walked away. He wouldn’t dare hit a woman. He’d knock Arielle out just by tapping his finger against her forehead. He can’t retaliate in that way, and she takes advantage of it.
“It won’t be the same for you, Cora,” I speak to her gently. “Marriage is a business plan at Montlake. You’re seeing the result of an arranged marriage that kids at Montlake are expected to enter, but not for you and Mancuso. You chose one another.”
Cora nods. “Yes, he did pick me, and eventually, I couldn’t get enough of him.”
I continue. “My parents’ marriage was based on love, not building alliances. They met in school—well college, to be exact.
My parents met at a campus party at the student union. They were there with their blind dates, but Dad knew Mom was the one when she squeezed pass him to the bar, with her chestnut-brown hair and hazel eyes, and a laugh that made you want to join in whether you got the joke or not. Dad just knew, and when he saw her the following week, walking across campus, he chased after her. My father said it was love at first sight, but my mother said it took her three more days to decide. But when it happened, it happened.”
Softly, Cora hiccups and then takes a sip of water. “They sound like they were wonderful people—kind of like their daughter.”
I freeze for a moment, thinking about how much they were in love. “They were. And the way Mancuso looks at you is the same way my dad used to look at my mother. And she loved him a lot.”
Beth passes Cora a clean napkin, and Cora blows her nose. The sound she makes is no louder than a sigh. “God, she’s such a girl,” whispers Beth. “She even cries pretty.”
“Thank you, Natalie,” says Cora. “It’s really sweet of you to share that.” Cora pauses. “I’d like to ask you for a favor.”
I nod my head, waiting for the other shoe to fall.
“I’d like you to be my maid of honor.” Cora smiles radiantly, and I laugh like I’m being tickled. Soon, Beth is laughing too.
“Oh my, April Fool’s,” I gasp. “Nice one, Cora.”
“It’s not a joke.” She looks insulted. “I can ask you again tomorrow if you don’t believe me.”
I stop laughing so I can stare at her. “Why me?”
“I’m not asking Arielle after she threw my promise ring into the pit. And Lexi barely speaks to me after I gave Arielle grief over it. Lexi is a company girl.” Cora looks at Beth. “She wishes she was as cool as you.”
“Don’t we all,” replies Beth smugly.
“And I thought about asking you Beth,” continues Cora, “but Natalie, I was sort of shitty to you when I shouldn’t have been, so I want to make it up to you.”
I’m a bit stunned. “Does it matter that much? I’m not ungrateful that you asked. I’m flattered, but you won’t see me after a few months, not ever again.”
It’s silent at the table as we all fidget. After all, it’s April first, and Arielle may be laughing at us right now for being gullible. Cora puts on lip gloss while Beth finishes her iced tea. I cross my arms and bounce my foot. Cora has to have a better explanation than righting a wrong.
“Okay,” Cora sighs. “You’re friends with three captains, and chances are you’ll end up with one of them after graduation. Married, I mean. It’s all about alliances, and right now, you’re a better bet than Arielle.” Cora sighs again. “Also, you’re not scary-bitch crazy.”
I smile, because that explanation makes more sense to me. “So, I guess I cannot tell anyone.”
“Oh absolutely not.” Cora squeals. “I mean, you can tell people in our secret circle.”
“Fucking cool,” Beth grins and nudges my arm. “You hear that, Nat? We’re in a secret circle.”
“I want a bridal shower,” says Cora.
I gawk at her with my mouth wide open. Fifteen minutes ago, the girl was crying over her engagement, and now, she wants a party.
“A destination party,” she continues. “Not a party in your rec room.”
“Careful, Cora,” I lift an eyebrow.
“Oh, you know what I mean.” Cora flutters her hands. “I think you are so sweet, but you’re so ...” She screws up her nose. “Middle class. It’s not you. It’s your upbringing.”
“Okay, ouch. You don’t think I know how to throw a party?”
Cora’s eyes scan the room from the old pleather booths, to the linoleum countertops, to the middle-aged waitress standing by the register. “The waitress knows your name, Natalie,” Cora whispers. “If that doesn’t scream middle class, I don’t know what does.”
“Okay, fair point. Cora, please never keep anything from me,” I reply, getting the message loud and clear. “So I may need a little guidance, that’s all.”
“Won’t people figure it out at the party,” asks Beth, “if Natalie is your girl?”
“That’s why we have to go away,” replies Cora. “Spring break is not that far away.”
Exactly three weeks. Unlike public schools, Montlake has a late spring break in April instead of March. It’s enough time to plan, but I need some help. But who can I trust? I can trust the boys, but who knows where it will end up.
“South Beach could be fun,” I suggest casually. “I’m sick of the cold.”
“That sounds fun. We could all get away. I know a hotel, so all you have to do is plan the party. Are you sure you can do it?” Cora gives me a sharp look, but I nod my head.
“Great,” She looks at her phone. “Oh, Nicholas is asking where I am.” She scoots to the end of the seat. “I better go.”
We watch Cora walk to the front of the diner. She pauses a moment and hands the waitress a tip. The older woman pats Cora’s shoulder, and it looks as if she’s asking if she’s okay. Cora smiles kindly and waves goodbye before leaving.
“Well, she recovered fast,” Beth says.
“Do I trust her?” I ask.
“Maybe. I mean, at least we’ll get a trip to Florida and a cool party. Are you hiring male strippers?”
“Beth.” I scowl. “It’s supposed to be classy.” I look around to see if anyone heard that.
“Hey,” she replies defensively. “You two are spoken for. It’s my turn to have some fun.”
***
The tunes are playing, and the sun has just set. I drive along in my Audi, singing off-key and heading for home. It’s peaceful in the car, and it’s a whole different feeling than what I dealt with even a month or two ago. My phone chimes, and I wait for the next red light to check it. It’s Lucas, and I drive past my turn, heading for the woods. I don’t see his car or Jacob’s. But I see Lucas, leaning against a tree smoking. I’m concerned. He’s never smoked this much before, but he’s never been this wrung out before either. I pull up, tap the horn, and Lucas jumps in.
“Hey,” I smile. “Where’s your car?”
“I took an Uber from the circle. I just don’t trust Arielle. The guy looked at me like I was nuts when I told him to leave me back on the main road.”
I touch his hand, and it’s cold. “I’m glad to see you.”
He kisses my cheek softly. “I’m always glad to see you.”
“Guess what?”
What?” he asks.
“Cora asked me to be her secret maid of honor.”
He sits back in the seat and shakes his head. “Never saw that coming.”
“But it’s good, right?” I ask. “She wants a destination bridal shower. And I suggested South B
each.”
He pulls me toward him. “What a coincidence. I’m going to South Beach for Arielle’s honeymoon.”
“You are?” I giggle, moving closer. “I’ll be there too.”
I move in closer, tilting my chin up, and parting my lips, encouraging him to kiss me. And Lucas does. His mouth presses against mine as his hand strokes my cheek. I sigh as we break apart.
“I miss you,” I whisper.
“I miss you too,” he replies tenderly. “But we’ll get out of this mess. Arielle’s too proud and she’ll make a mistake.”
I reach up and tangle my fingertips in his light brown hair. It’s silky to the touch, and I stroke my fingers through it until Lucas pulls me in for another kiss. My mouth parts as he kisses me harder this time. And that wonderful feeling of floating descends over my body. I sigh, gasping for air as I cling to him. I want him again, but it would be a mistake to do anything now, in a place so public. Not when we could be watched.
The woods are darker since I pulled up, and I can’t see the moon above, or even the road I drove down. He presses against me, but I jump when I hear a twig snap close by. Lucas pulls back, holding onto me. He looks into the darkness, but anything or anybody could be out there.
Lucas steps out of the car before I can stop him. “Who’s there?” he demands.
I shout as a face appears in the darkness illuminated by a single light. The face grins at us and laughs like a maniac, and gradually, my eyes adjust to the darkness. It’s Jacob.
Lucas swears. “You are such an ass.”
Jacob snaps a branch under his Timberlands. “You said you needed a ride.”
“Not yet.” Lucas eyes the dark road. “How’d you get here?”
Jacob walks over to the car, and shuts off the flashlight. “I parked my car by the reservoir and walked over. Your make-out noises guided me to you.”
Lucas laughs. “Impossible.”
I lower the window and Jacob leans in toward me for a kiss. “Besides, why should you get all the fun?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Is that what I am, a source of entertainment for you two?”
“It’s never dull while you’re around.” Jacob kisses me again. I step out of the car, and he grabs me tight around the waist. He leans back, pulling my body against his hard muscles. I feel a tingle start as Jacob runs his hands over my jeans, grabbing my bottom. His tongue swirls around mine, and I moan, feeling his breath on my lips. I feel primal with him, aroused when he touches me. I want him to tame me and make me scream. Panting, I break away, and feel Lucas’ hand on the back of my waist.
“We better go,” he says to Jacob while he holds onto me. “I just wanted a good-night kiss.”
“I know.” Jacob moves away as Lucas pulls me into his arms.
My lips are swollen and warm as Lucas presses his lips to mine. Now I understand that the boys are sincere. They won’t compete against each other for my heart because of the strong bond they have with each other. I feel such a sense of gratitude to be loved so fully by them that tears stream down my face. I hug Lucas close, and my body responds to him in a different way. I feel that incredible high from being loved and my mind takes flight again. My body molds against his as we kiss good night.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I love you both.”
“We love you too,” says Lucas. “You’re the reason why I won’t give up.”
CHAPTER 6
Natalie
“Pretty cool?” I ask my uncle.
It’s Monday after school, and Uncle Phil and I stand at the fence looking down into the pit of what will become the Page Visual Communications Center. Uncle Phil met with Cromwell to discuss the actual use of the building. He wasn’t going to let Cromwell slip in some offices or designate a classroom for another subject. Intended use was discussed at the start, but Uncle Phil wanted assurances that the building will only be used for the arts and no other subjects.
I enjoyed watching Uncle Phil make Principal Cromwell squirm in his leather high-back armchair. The weasel. Cromwell is civil toward me, but it’s apparent that my presence makes him uncomfortable. He offers to walk us over to the building site, but I think Uncle Phil has had enough of Cromwell’s bureaucratic non-speech and just wants to leave him in his office.
We barely talk as we walk across the campus, but Uncle Phil’s tight lips morph into a smile when he sees his name on the sign announcing the project.
“Did you ever think you’d see your name on a building?” I ask.
“To be honest, no.” He replies. “It wasn’t on my bucket list. But now that it is, I’m feeling pretty important. Will you come to the dedication ceremony?”
“Of course.” I look at him to see if he is kidding. “I will most definitely be there. I’ll even wear red, so everyone will see me.”
“It’s the school color, Nat, along with gray.”
I lean into Uncle Phil, nudging him with my elbow. “You know what I mean. I’m surprised you had to come in for a meeting. Were they up to something?”
Uncle Phil starts to walk around the perimeter of the fence as if he’s looking for something in the pit. I follow his gaze and look down at the massive hole in the soil—layers of brown topsoil followed by thick red clay. A puddle of murky water sits at the bottom, and I think about the days I used to hide here just trying to keep from going insane.
“The Blackwaters wanted to add to the funding of the building,” Uncle Phil reveals. “But they wanted it for computer science. Cromwell was considering their donation to make the building larger and for multi-use. So I had to shut him down.”
I twist my face into a scowl. I can’t believe it. Arielle’s trying to take something else important away from me. This building is my uncle’s legacy. It may have started out for other reasons, reasons that I will never forget, but it’s a tribute to him and our family.
“How dare she?” I explode. “That cunning little tramp.”
Uncle Phil tilts an eyebrow in my direction. “Still having troubles at school?”
I swallow down a lump in my throat. Cromwell welcomed me back to Montlake with open arms and his pockets filled with my uncle’s money. And every day, I’ve sworn to my uncle that things are better. That I’m happy and learning, and he has no reason to worry. One little outburst, and now, he knows I’m covering up.
“It’s competitive here,” I shrug my shoulders. “That’s all.”
Uncle Phil chuckles, and then shakes his head. “Natalie, I’m not sure about Miami.”
Oh fuck. I have to go to South Beach. Maybe I wouldn’t have cared a month ago, but things have changed. My life at Montlake has changed. I still hate the place, but now, my status is rising to the top of the list. It’s an ego boost to have people who scorned me greet me like I’m the reason they love life. It’s shallow, I know, but I was down for so long that I forgot how it felt to be up again. Let me enjoy it for a while longer, and then later, I’ll be humble and levelheaded.
“I already promised.” My voice squeaks like a begging five-year-old. “I can’t back out, or it will suck.”
Uncle Phil frowns. “Natalie, I need you to stay out of trouble this time. I can’t afford another building.”
I grab his arm and hold on tight. “I will be a saint.”
Uncle Phil throws back his head and laughs. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and places a kiss on the crown of my head. “You can go, but if anything goes wrong you tell me that day, not after shit hits the fan, okay?”
I smile sweetly. “You got a deal, buddy.”
***
We have no free time until Thursday night, and Cora is freaking out. Beth comes along to Cora’s house to help me plan the bridal shower. Cora has already made arrangements with the hotel, and she has already booked a block of rooms, the ballroom, and private use of an on-site restaurant.
“How did you do that in less than three weeks before spring break?” asks Beth.
Cora stares at Beth like she hasn’t a clue and couldn’t find o
ne with GPS. “I just called,” replies a calm Cora.
“Beth, haven’t you ever had a last-minute cancelation?” I ask.
Beth looks at Cora as if every cancelation in the past was her fault. “Oh boy, there is rich,” Beth points to us, “And then there is rich.” Beth looks at a smiling Cora. Cora tosses her red hair and sits down beside us on the couch.
Since my transformation from middle-class to loaded, I’ve been in a lot of remarkable mansions. Still, Cora’s makes them look like shabby shacks. A man in a gray suit answered the door and he looked too old to be Cora’s father, unless her mom had a thing for fossils. Maybe he was her grandfather. Beth and I introduced ourselves, and we shook his hand. Thank God we didn’t call him Mr. Bouchard, because he was the butler.
