Page 44 of Be With Me
Frustration pulsed at my temples. “Or maybe if he knew your fiancé was actively ignoring you, he’d change his mind about this whole damn wedding.”
What they were doing to Fabi was awful, and I didn’t care if “that’s just how things were done” in their world. This whole situation was barbaric. She was being handed off to a criminal and expected to smile through it.
Given that their own mother’s marriage had been a nightmare, I couldn’t understand how her brother could do this to her.
“That’s not gonna happen,” Fabi said, defeated. “I always knew I’d have to get married to someone I didn’t choose for myself, so I’m not expecting fireworks, you know? Honestly, I was prepared for apathy. But it seems like he hates me. Or maybe he’s just disgusted by me.”
“There’s no way,” Nina said. “He doesn’t know you yet, which is why he doesn’t understand you’re a damn catch.”
“Well, he doesn’t seem to have any interest in getting to know me,” Fabi said. “Maybe the best I can hope for is that he’ll just ignore me once we’re married. I mean, one day, he’ll expect kids, but it’s not like that day has to be anytime soon.”
I clenched my jaw. “And what if that’s not what happens?”
Fabi stared out toward the ocean. “I’ll just have to figure it out.” I watched her float to the edge of the pool and set her empty wineglass on the patio. “Guys, let’s just go. I want to have a good time tonight. I want to dance. I want to drink.” She hauled herself out of the pool, looking a little buzzed already. “I just want to forget he exists for one night.”
I bit my lip.
Maybe if Fabi spent tonight like a normal person, she’d realize what she was giving up. Maybe she’d put up more of a fight.
But then again, I understood family loyalty. I understood duty. God, better than anyone.
Still, what I was doing for my dad’s campaign was temporary. It would end.
For Fabi, this was the rest of her life.
Zo twisted the cap back onto her nail polish and tossed it onto the coffee table. “It’s settled. We’re going out.
I dragged my palms down my thighs. “I didn’t even bring anything to wear.”
Zo smirked. “Come on. I’ve got plenty of things you can borrow.”
CHAPTER13
MIA
It was just after eleven when we arrived at the party.
A security guard greeted us at the door and handed each of us a small black sticker. "Put this over your camera. No pictures allowed. If anyone catches you breaking the rule, you're out."
I didn’t know how the other girls felt about that, but I was relieved. The last thing I needed was photographic evidence of me looking likethison someone’s phone.
I tugged my black cardigan tighter around me as we made our way inside. The party was already in full swing. Music pounded through the space so hard that the glassware in the cabinets behind the massive bar rattled with every beat.
“Isn’t this great?” Zo shouted over the noise.
I was a little tipsy, but not tipsy enough to feel comfortable in the outfit I was wearing.
Zo had an affinity for going out in barely there clothing, which was how I'd ended up in a slinky, metallic-pink slip dress with slits up both sides and a cowl neck that barely clung to my chest. I wasn’t used to wearing so little, and my instinct was to keep the cardigan wrapped tightly around me like armor.
Zo wasn’t having it.
She grabbed my hands and pulled me toward her. “Okay, Mia, it’s showtime. Take it off.”
I shook my head. “I really don’t know about this.”
“Come on.” She gave my arm a dramatic shake. “No one’s gonna recognize you anyway. Not under all that glitter.”
She was probably right.
