They already have. “Then why don’t I find somewhere else for you to stay? I can speak to Eli about getting a lawyer and seeing what we can do about Daddy’s money?”
“That won’t work! I already spoke to my friend Timothy, he’s a junior lawyer with Monaghan & Shepard, and he said unless Daddy left us specific things in the will, everything would have gone to Mom when he died. Lachlan checked and we’re not entitled to anything.”
“Oh.”
“JJ, just come home andtalkto Mom…?”
“No! She’s not my mom and thatisn’tmy home!” I say it with more force than I intended.
Margot stares at me like I’m a stranger. “Okay, fine.”
We sit in silence for a long time. I want to talk, but I won’t apologize, and I won’t act like I’m going to come home. That doesn’t leave me with a lot to say.
Margot picks up her wine and drains the glass. “So, you belong to Velvet House now? They paid for you to leave Mr. Parker, so now they own you?”
“No. If I went to Eli or Doc or any of them and asked to leave, they would let me.”
“Are you sure?”
Something shifts inside me, opening until I feel as wide as a summer sky. “I don’t know, but I’m happy to take the risk. I want things to change.”
There’s a polite knock on the door. Harvey sticks his white-bearded head inside the room. “Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but Miss Margot asked me to tell her when she could go home…?”
Margot gets to her feet. “I’m leaving.”
“Wait!” I say, totally shocked. “It hasn’t been an hour!”
She grabs the bottle of wine. “I don’t care. I’m out of here. Have fun with yourmen, I’ll deal with Mom on my own.”
“Can I text you?”
“I… Okay.” She bites her lower lip. “For the record, I am glad you don’t have to marry Parker.”
I stand, wrapping my sister in a big hug. Margot’s tense, but after a few seconds, she hugs me back, the wine bottle poking into my side.
“Bye,” she says, her voice full of tears. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
“You too. You have options.”
“Sure.”
I watch her collect her Fendi bag before Harvey escorts her to the pretty blue door. It closes with a neat snap behind her. I hug my arms around my middle and try not to cry. I know this isn’t the end. Margot is a good person. Eventually she’ll see that there’s a life beyond Corinne, but right now she feels totally alone. I understand that better than anyone because that was how Corinne made me feel.
I hear the low rumble of male voices from another room and smile. I’m not alone. Not anymore.
The guys are piled into rows of movie seats. Adriano is examining his gun, Doc has his feet on the chair in front of him, Eli is on his laptop, and Bobby is tossing a purple ball into the air. I burst into tears and all four of them leap to their feet.
“Pryntsesa!”
“What’s wrong, Tits?”
“Are you okay, JJ?”
“Bella, what happened?”
“I’m fine,” I sob, teetering backward on my heels. “That was just really hard.”
Bobby gets to me first, wrapping his arms around me. “C’mere. It’s all okay.”
