“Really? I always liked reading stories about Minerva,” I admit.
“Yeah, because she’s agoddess.” Dot scoffs. “She’s a lot more interesting than some moony-eyed teenager who wanders around in the woods with strange men. Not for me, thank you.”
I laugh at the absurdity of this conversation. Camden shakes his head. “Can’t relate at all. Nobody popular is named Camden.”
Dot flutters her eyelashes at him. “I don’t know, there’s this onevery sexyhockey player…”
Tristan returns, balancing two plates and a pair of drinks. “Here, I got you a few things I thought you’d like.” He slides one plate of finger foods toward me and takes the other for himself before doing the same with the drinks. I sniff the liquid, which is fizzy but too dark to be champagne.
“Sparkling grape juice,” he explains. “Family and booze didn’t seem like a great combo.”
“Oh, do you have family here?” Dot looks around.
I hunch my shoulders in automatic self-defense. I can’t help but look around to check my vicinity. My stomach clenches when I spot a familiar trio by the bar. “Yes.”
Tristan spins on his heel. “Where?”
I nod toward the group. There are enough people in the ballroom by now that he might not be able to tell who I mean, though my mother and I look alike enough that he could probably guess. She catches my eye, and her mouth twists into a frown. She turns away from me.
Ouch.
A moment later, Frankie spots me. She smiles and nods toward me, and if I didn’t know her, I’d think she was happy to see me. Unfortunately, Idoknow her, and that means I know all of her tricks as well. Just like the slithery Venom mascot, she’s quick to strike. She says something to our father before peeling off from the group to stalk toward me.
“Minnie!” she cries, holding out her arms. I take a step back, but she wraps her arms around me anyway. She pinches the skin of my back and squeezes too tightly. “You stupid little bitch,” she says in a voice so soft I barely catch it, “you shouldn’t be here.” She steps back, her smile still out in full force. She pats my cheek, hard enough that it stings. “Long time no see, sister. And who’s this? The hockey player Uncle Dante forced to takecare of you?” She reaches out to run a hand down Tristan’s arm. “You know, I’ve always had a thing for athletes.”
Tristan shifts away. “You must be Frankie. Minerva’s told me all about you.”
“Only good things, I hope?” Frankie giggles. “You know, it is gala season. We’ll probably be seeing a lot of each other. And I figured I should introduce myself, since Minerva isn’t one for conversation in crowds. Speaking of which, Minerva, have you seen Luca lately?”
She hasn’t changed. She never will. I curl in on myself, wishing I could get away from her. A lifetime of being mocked, compared, and dismissed has turned me into an ideal target, her personal punching bag.
“Excuse me, Frankie, we were having a conversation with our friends.” Tristan places a protective hand on my back. His palm rests in the same place where she pinched me. Did he see that?
Even if he didn’t, he’d believe me if I told him what she’d done. He’dcare. I stand up a little straighter.
“Too bad.” Frankie shifts so that the front of her dress gapes over, revealing more of her full, surgically-enhanced cleavage. “If you get bored, I’m around.”
“I can’t imagine that,” Tristan tells her. “When I’m with Min, I’m never bored. She’s fascinating.”
The room shifts, microscopic but real. Someone defended me. Out loud. Without hesitation. My sister has never faced that kind of resistance before.
“I’ll bet.” Frankie’s lip curls. “At least let me give you my number.”
“Nah. I left my phone in the car.” With that, Tristan turns back to the table. “So, Cam, how are you feeling about the next game?”
Frankie huffs and sashays away, trying to cover her humiliation. I can’t believe that just happened. I’ve never seen anyone turn their back on my perfect sister.
I shift closer to Tristan, breathing hard. How did I luck into this guy? Oh, right, Dante. I need to write that man a thank-you card.
“Wow.” Dot nods toward Frankie’s retreating back. “She seems like a witch with a capital B. Maybe I should reconsider my life choices. Someoneneedsto land a house on top of her.”
I laugh at her unexpected show of support. “I would be forever in your debt.”
“Can’t you hex her?” Camden asks. “Turn her into a spider or something? Or an olive tree?”
“Would if I could,” I say.
Tristan rubs my back. “Are you okay?”
