Thankfully, Mr. M had nodded off in his chair.
Weldon cracked up. “Could this family be any more dysfunctional? My apparently engaged brother still has it for you. I can see it in his eyes. Meanwhile, my father has it for you, too, but only because he always had it for your mother, who’s now dead, except he thinks you’re her. And me? I’m just drunk and watching it all go down, while I’m sure my mother is rolling around in her grave.”
Well, ain’t that the truth.***I went home quickly to change before returning to the house to pick up Weldon for the show.
The more time that passed, the more I regretted saying yes to this. It was a stupid decision made out of jealousy and spite.
When I arrived to meet Weldon, Gavin answered the door. He looked no happier about this than he had earlier.
“Hello,” I said.
He didn’t say anything, just swallowed as he took me in.
I wore a black dress that might have been overkill for a musical. But it definitely showed off my legs. And yes, I wanted Gavin to eat his heart out a little.
“Are you mad because I’m going with Weldon to the show?”
Gavin clenched his jaw. “You know he’s trying to fuck with me. You went right along with it.”
“I guess I went along with it because you answered on my behalf. It’s been an emotionally draining few days. I almost canceled on him, but then I figured, why not go and enjoy the show? Try to get my mind off of things.”
He stared at me for a few seconds. “You know what? You’re right. I don’t have a right to be mad about this. I just can’t seem to help it. Old habits die hard, I guess.”
“You don’t have to worry. I know I don’t owe you an explanation, but I would never date your brother, Gavin.”
Despite the current state of affairs, I knew I was the one who’d hurt him a decade ago. I couldn’t stand the thought of him thinking I would do that again.
Paige entered the room, interrupting our conversation. I straightened my posture as she got closer.
She looked me over and noticed my purse. “You look nice, Raven. Is that vintage? A Fendi?”
I looked down at it. “No. It’s like a…Wendi.”
“A what?”
“A fake. I’ve got better uses for a thousand dollars.”
Her cheeks tinged pink. “Ah.”
Gavin laughed under his breath.
Paige tried to be polite. “Oh, well…it’s...nice.”
I looked down at the purse myself. “Actually, my mother was sick before she died, and when she knew she probably wouldn’t make it, we decided to take a trip to New York City. Neither of us had left the state of Florida before that, and she’d always wanted to go to Manhattan. We spent a week there. I got this purse on Canal Street. It’s old, but it reminds me of better times, so I still carry it in memory of her.”
Gavin looked a little misty-eyed when I glanced over at him.
“That’s beautiful.” Paige smiled. “And I’m sorry about your mother.”
“Thank you.”
Just then, Weldon came downstairs dressed in a…tux? Is he nuts? His long hair was tied in a ponytail.
He clapped his hands together when he saw me. “There she is, looking stunning as ever. Ready to go, lovely?”
“You’re wearing a tux? Here I was thinking I was overdressed.”
He spun around proudly. “Found it in Dad’s closet.”
“Why don’t you lay off the booze for a couple of hours, James Bond. Try to enjoy the show,” Gavin said.
“Oh…but watching it buzzed will be so much more fun.” He chuckled. “Kidding. I’m unfortunately pretty sober right now.”
I caught a glimpse into the dining room, where the table had been set for two—wine glasses, cloth napkins perfectly folded atop the plates. A needy feeling in my throat threatened to choke me. I would’ve given anything to have dinner with Gavin tonight, would’ve given anything to trade places with Paige. Would’ve given anything to trade lives.***When we pulled up at the Kravis Center, something was off. Instead of School of Rock, the digital sign advertised an opera.
“Are you sure you got the night right?”
Weldon smiled. “Yeah…um…about that…School of Rock…yeah…”
“What, Weldon?”
“I made it up.”
My eyes widened. “There is no musical?”
He started to laugh.
I wanted to smack him. “Why would you do that?” I yelled.
He rubbed his eyes. “I was just trying to fuck with my brother. I never expected you to accept my offer to go out. Then when you did, I just rolled with it.”
I rested my head against the seat. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Eh, lighten up. Let’s go find a bar on Clematis, get some grub. We can still have a good time.”
“The last place I should be taking you is a damn bar.”
“Either I’ll be drinking alone tonight or in the company of someone who can keep an eye on me. Which is it going to be?”