“Oh, ask Seb if he is coming to the charity ball? It’s less than a month away.”
“I know.” She’d sent me plenty of emails with subtle reminders about the damn annual gala, I couldn’t forget if I tried. “Seb and Marlee will be there.” I said, grinning at my mate who shot me a look which told me this was news to him.
Heck, I needed moral support and I knew myfiancéewould too.
“Oh, honey, that’s great. What about those footballers? Can we get some of them to be there? We are looking to raise a lot of money this year. It’s a great cause.” She moved into a spiel about the three charities they’d selected to donate the funds tothis year, again stuff I already knew from the emails. What she didn’t explicitly state was how she only threw these balls because of the prestige it afforded her and the publicity it brought for Dad’s company. My parents were never winning any awards for altruism, no matter what bullshit they tried to spruik.
“I think one or two of them, not sure.” Seb pointed to the coffee machine and I nodded. One thing I could always count on when I came over was a damn good coffee.
“Oh, that’s great. Tell them to come with full wallets,” she laughed, and I pulled the phone back from my ear, the wine induced trill not conducive to my ears on so little sleep.
“I gotta go, Mum,” I said, tired of the conversation.
“Okay, darling, don’t forget dinner next Thursday for your father’s birthday. I’ve booked that restaurant he loves in town.” I swallowed my sigh. I’d intentionally ignored that email as soon as I saw the subject line. I despised having dinner with them and their friends, spending most of the time defending my vocational decisions and the rest wishing it was over.
“Yep, we’ll be there.” I said, with an eyeroll at Seb.
“Oh.” Mum’s faux shock was as transparent as the cheap wine she pretended not to like. The little pause and audible intake of breath - she knew exactly what she was doing. Always had. And that was the thing about her. She was as predictable as the day is long, playing innocent like it was a game she invented. But underneath it all, she was as calculating as ever. The same cold-hearted, money hungry woman.
“You’re bringing a date?”
“Not a date,” I corrected, “Evangeline. My fiancée.” Seb’s gaze darted to mine, his grip on the milk jug tightening.
“Oh, of course.” There was that shrill, artificial laugh again. “I can’t believe I forgot.”
“Must be the wine.” I said, with no humour. “We’ll see you then.” I hung up before she could say anything else to dampen my mood.
I closed my eyes and took a slow breath, trying to steady myself.
Work through the fury - don’t let it swallow you.
My fingers tapped incessantly, my knee shaking, a bodily percussion of frustration.
“You good?” Seb's voice came through the fog and I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I focused on what grounded me - an image of dark, curly hair and warm brown eyes. The smell of mint tea and morning dew after rain. Eventually, I nodded.
“Would it upset your parents if I wore a see-through dress to the charity ball?” Marlee asked, having come to stand by Sebastian while I was navigating bullshit in my head.
“It would upset your boyfriend,” Seb growled and despite myself I cracked a grin.
“Tell me what will piss them off the most and I’ll do it.” She added, lifting the last of the fog. Being around people I cared about helped, more than I noticed before.
“Not a bad idea,” Seb agreed, only half-joking.
“Or we could not go,” I grumbled and Marlee shook her head.
“I’ve already arranged with Arns and Ev to go shopping tomorrow -ifEvangeline’s boss doesn’t mind if she’s late.” Marls grinned, leaning into Seb’s open arms.
“How have you already organised that? My mum only just mentioned it.”
“Don’t try to understand,” Seb admonished and I heeded his advice.
Marlee’s phone chimed at the same time mine did and I shot her a smirk before checking thenotification.
EVA
Hey, would it be okay if I was a little late tomorrow morning? The girls want to go shopping for the charity ball and I need something to wear.
“That’s my sister isn’t it?” Seb asked.
