“What are you doing, Madison?” Doesn’t she have freshmen to harass?
If she’s surprised to see me in the girls’ restroom, she doesn’t acknowledge it. Passing me as she reaches for a handful of paper towels instead.
“Some idiot touched my bag with their greasy fingers,” she explains. Dabbing at the barely their smudge. “This is high-quality leather, not something from a yard sale.”
After she’s done with that, she moves on to washing her hands. Madison’s attention zeroes back in on me through the reflection in the mirror.
“The question is, what are you doing here, Cole? I don’t remember ever seeing a vagina any of themanytimes we’ve fucked.” Her smile is as knowing as it is bitchy.
Rory’s lip twitches, not enough that Madison would notice, but I do.
I scrub a hand down my face. This chick needs a muzzle.
“Are you done?”
“I dunno. Should we be?” Her tone mocking, but I hear the hint of curiosity there too. Bravely shooting her desperate shot.
“Get out!”
“Fine,” she says, tossing the paper she’s dried her hands with. Amused as she is unaffected. “Not like I won’t see your bestie and Rory later anyway.”
“What are you talking about?” Rory asks, beating me to the question. Joining the world again.
“See you later tonight.” Madison’s voice a breathless cackle as she walks past.
I stare at the swinging of the door as an empty pit of nothing settles in my stomach.
This can’t be good.
fourteen
Rory
“ToldyouI’dseeyou later,” Madison says, following behind her parents into the dining room.
The secret smirk she shoots me while taking her seat not any more attractive than when she’d arrived.
Everyone is here except for Lorna, which hasn’t been unusual since I’ve been back. I have no idea if that’s Abram’s doing, but she’s hardly been around.
The devil may care what she’s up to, but I don’t.
Our little spat over my book in the conservatory may be minor compared to everything else since, but I haven’t forgotten.
In the few times we have been around each other, it’s never been alone or for more than a few minutes. She’d been as cold as usual. She’s either a stupendous actress, or the alcohol mixed with a fractured nose deluded her memory.
Besides, Alma told me herself that a customer had left it behind. No way it’s the same one. It’s too much of a coincidence.
Lorna shows up fifteen minutes late. Looking at her now, you’d never know she’s still in recovery. The gauze she’s been wearing every day since her nose job was nowhere in sight.
I have no idea if she’s allowed to take it off or not. The ugly that is her face between the doctor and her.
The time though,isunusual. Usually, she’s the perfect host when we have dinners with colleagues of Abram’s. Bossing the staff around like the domesticated little housewife she is.
Guess the thick coats of makeup used to conceal the dark bruises under her eyes took longer than expected to cover.
She takes her seat, apologizing. “Sorry, everyone, wardrobe mishap.”
I snort into my glass.More like face mishap.