“Don’t worry about Gage,” she purrs. “I have a special way of taking care of him.”
She’s screwing him,Chloe is quick to point out.
I huff at the thought, my eyes never leaving Rory’s.
“Like that stupid sister of yours took care of him?” I ask with a ripe boldness. “Rory, the little slut, slept with my husband. I want revenge, Messenger. I want to nail that witch to a celestial wall and teach her a lesson.”
Her eyes flash like white flames.
Dude,Chloe grunts.I’ll admit, that was a spot-on impersonation, and the exact words I would have uttered, but I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to say them. I get that you’re angry, but the world is already burning. Why dump gasoline onto the flames?
Why not,I counter.
Rory lifts her chin a notch. “Don’t worry, Chloe. I’ll take care of my stupid sister.” Her eyes slit to nothing. “But I would caution you against speaking out against her. She is my family, and you are not. Don’t let me hear you utter another wicked word about her, or I will cut out your tongue and shove it down your throat.”
Great,Chloe growls.Remember what I said about not making any enemies? I’ll deal with Rory on my own, Skyla. For now, I need you to get back on her good side. Aren’t you supposed to be watching her like a hawk? She’s got control over your brats and your people. Play nice and figure out how the hell to get back in that shell of yours. It’s getting crowded in here. You’ve already overstayed your welcome.
I’m about to respond to the both of them when Bree skips into the room. Her freshly dyed blonde hair is neatly curled, and her face is made up perfectly with a prom-worthy amount of cosmetics.
“Oh, Bree”—I run over and wrap my arms around her tight—“I’ve missed you. I need you. My God everything is upside down.”
Messenger, Chloe snaps.Get a freaking grip.
“Chloe?” She pulls back with a laugh caught in her throat. “A couple weeks without Gage and you’re falling apart?” She lands a crisp slap over my cheek and it stings like shit.
Emily bops in after her with baby Ella dangling from her boob. Emily’s dark curly hair is knotted up in a bun, and her lily-white skin glows with an inhuman incandescence.
“Hilarious,” she says without the proper affect to go with it. “Can I give it a go?” She steps in and smacks me across the face as well. “I feel better already.”
“Come here.” Bree links arms with Em and me and drags us back to Rory. “All right. It looks like all of my friends are out of sorts.” She bumps her hip to Rory’s and Rory glowers at her as if she was about to grab a knife and cut her. “But not to worry because I’ve decided to bump up your bachelorette party, Skyla.”
“A party?” Rory’s entire face lights up.
“That’s right.” Bree’s blonde curls bounce around her neck. “You’re not just getting hitched to anyone—you’re getting hitched to Logan Freaking Oliver. Everyone knows he’s the love of your life—the forbidden one, the great tragic love story that almost never was. It’s almost as if fate moved heaven and earth—”
“Don’t forget time,” I say. “Fate altered time as well.”
Bree nods. “That’s right. And if that doesn’t scream penis straws and male strip clubs, I don’t know what does.”
Chloe pretends to gag.Tell Bree, been there, done that. Let’s do something really creative.
“I agree,” I say before clearing my throat. “Been there, done that. Let’s do something really creative.”
She looks at me, dumbfounded. “Like what?”
“Like what?” I meant to say it to Chloe, but it slips out of my mouth.
Emily sighs. “Like light driving?”
“No.” Rory looks affronted by the idea. “And no to the vulgarity. I want to have a real party right here at the house with balloons, a frosted cake, a punch bowl, and with all of my friends gathered around to celebrate me.”
Bree and Em look blankly at her as if she sprouted another head.
Chloe bursts out laughing.I bet she wants a pony, too.
“Would you like a pony to go with it?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Oh yes!” Her entire face lights up.
