“I saw photos of you on a couple of blogs. They say you’re dating a Serbian supermodel. Is it true?”
Frustration swirls inside me. “Do you really think I have any desire to date? Mom, I’m still not okay after what happened to Owen, and no one deserves a partner with a shit ton of issues to work through.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” She sighs. “How are you holding up? And please be honest.”
“Today has been good.” I rest my head back against the seat and give her a brief overview of my day. I don’t go into detail about my visit with Ines and Santi, though. I never do. They feel sacred, like penance, maybe. And I avoid mentioning Riley.
Dammit. Riley. Once again, I feel like an idiot for my suggestion. I quickly divert the conversation back to Mom. I don’t want to worry my parents, so they don’t know just how bad things are for me, how desperate I am to get my life back.
Once I’ve ended the call, I notice two new text notifications, both from Riley.
Sink or swim, dude.
I tap the screen and read her messages. Then reread them. Holy shit! She actually agreed. A slow smile creeps across my face, and my pulse picks up, making it feel as if my insides are vibrating.
Why are you smiling, though?
I shift into drive and eye myself in the mirror. “I don’t know.”
But it’s impossible not to.
8
this is a terrible idea
RILEY
Eyes glued to my reflection,I apply my mascara. This dramatic winged eyeliner is a bit bold for me, but I want to try something different so I candosomething different later tonight—starting with my makeup and this backless black sequin minidress.
It definitely has nothing to do with Hayden.
That’s what I keep telling myself. If only I could believe it.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand. When my sister’s name appears, I pick it up and swipe my thumb across the screen. She called earlier, while she and Hudson were shopping, but I knew she would call again.
“Hey.” I sit on the edge of my bed, my eyes drifting to the blue hydrangeas in the vase on my nightstand.
“Hey, Ry.” Piper breaks into a grin then whistles. “You look stunning.”
I toss my hair over my shoulder and wink at her. “Thank you. I’m glad you like it.”
“Iloveit. The makeup and the blue highlights make your eyes pop. And I love the lipstick.”
My cheeks heat at the praise. This shade is one of my favorites, a peachy pink color.
Her dark brown eyes sparkle as she tilts her head. “Are you sure it’s just you and Nastya going out tonight?”
“Yup. It’s just a fun night out. I need to let loose a little. Grant will pick us up. It’s all good.”
Piper nods and doesn’t dig for more. I trust her with anything, but I’m so embarrassed about how shitty my dating life has been that I stopped sharing those kinds of details with her a long time ago. Occasionally, she’ll try to interrogate me, but she’s typically good at giving me space. She knows I’ll come to her when I’m ready.
“What are you wearing?” she asks. “This makeup calls for something super-hot.”
I stand and set my phone on the nightstand before I twirl around.
“Wow!”
Phone in hand, I wander back to my vanity. “What’s the verdict?”
