Until I hear what she says.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
CHAPTER 4
Emma
“Uh… I…” I can’t finish.I don’t know how to answer.
This girl is as sure of herself as I am timid.Besides, she’s holding a plate of food, and all I can do is stare at the variety of delicious treats it holds and wish like crazy that I had the magical powers needed to send the food flying off the plate and right into my mouth.
She grabs what looks like some sort of seafood-filled pastry, shoves it in, and keeps talking.
“Sorry.I didn’t mean it that way.Some folks say I sound like I’m a basketball coach.You know, the kind that screams and throws chairs.”
“Uh—”
“I just meant that I don’t know you, and I knoweveryoneat Yosemite Ranch.Even Victoria’s guests.I met them already.Her assistant, Millicent, is moving to town to work with the company.Thecompany.You know.”
“Huh?”
“Maybe notthecompany.It’s more like Victoria’s part ofthecompany.I don’t know what they’re up to, honestly, plus I don’t give a shit aboutany of it.I work the ranch.The ranch is the best in the country, and that’s partly due to me.Don’t let the Travis boys tell you different, not that they even work their ranch anymore, because they’re hotshot athletes who wouldn’t be caught dead with dirt under their fingernails.”
She’s still talking and chewing, but I can’t follow any of it because I want her food.
She catches me eyeing her plate.“You want some?”
Isowant some.I want some more than I want anything else in the world.If I don’t eat something, I’m going to pass out for sure.
“They’re shrimp puffs.Are you allergic to shellfish?”
“I don’t know.I’ve never had shellfish.”
I hope to hell I’m not allergic to shellfish because I need to eat.I need to eat right this second.
“You don’t look so good,” she tells me.
“It’s been a long day.I know I’m not dressed right, but I didn’t know about the wedding.”
“Fuck that,” she says.“I mean you look like your eyes are going to roll back in your head, and not in a good way— like some parties I’ve been to.Let’s sit you down.”
“I can’t.I wasn’t invited,” I say, but then I shut up because she’s right about my eyes.They’re about to roll back in my head and not in a good way.I need to sit down,now.
She takes hold of my arm.This girl is crazy strong.I grab a shrimp puff from her plate and manage to get it into my mouth.I close my eyes and moan.I so need to eat more.Lots more.
“Is this seat taken?I don’t care.It is now.”My new friend pushes me down onto an empty chair at table number seven.She points at the plate in front of a woman wearing a flower hat.“Are you eating that?Yeah, I didn’t think so.”
She slides flower-hat’s plate over to me and hands me a fork.I don’t have to be told twice.“Are you thirsty?”I nod, and she hands me a tall glass of water.
It's so good to eat and drink.Four bites in and half a glass of water later, I don’t feel like I’m going to pass out anymore, but I still feel like death reheated.
“Move over,” she tells the woman in the flower hat and sits next to me.She places a hand on my forearm.“I’m Summer,” she says.“I probably should have introduced myself earlier.But like I said before, I’m used to knowing everyone and everyone knowing me.”
“Nice to meet you, Summer.”I shovel more food into my mouth as I double-check that my duffel bag is on the floor next to my foot.I don’t want to lose all of my worldly possessions.I swallow.“I’m Emma.Emma Clark.”
“Nice to meet you.Are you Victoria’s friend?”
I look up at her.“I don’t know any Victoria.I went to school with a Vicky once, back in Reno.I’m here for a job.”
