Sam gawked at me.
“You clearly have something to say,” I sighed.
There was a knock on the door. I took the opportunity to avoid Sam’s scrutinizing lawyer stare and got up to answer it.
“Surprise!” Adelaide and Mel shouted as I swung the door open.
“What are you doing here?” I yelled in excitement.
“I called them,” Vince said from behind the girls. “Bronson thought it best to go check on our country manor after the storm and since Sam’s here, I thought we should relive our fun times in New York. It’s party time, ladies!” He winked at Sam and me.
I turned to where Sam sat grinning on my bed. “You know what they say: When in Wexstone, do what the Wexstonians want to do,” she said brightly.
“The guys will be here later,” Vince added.
Fuck my life.Just when I needed a quiet night, Vince was throwing a fucking party. I was going to have to avoid Knox at all costs. I couldn’t let myself be alone with him.
“Cool,” I replied nonchalantly. “Well, I’m going to change, then. Adelaide, Mel, come on in.”
I shut the door on Vince after letting him know we’d be down in a little bit.
“Sam. These are my friends Mellie and Adelaide. They’re a part of the competition, too.”
“Melanie Schneider, the journalist forKingdom Magazine. Grew up around the court, your dad is the finance director for the Department of Health, and you have kickass taste in clothing?” Sam rattled off.
“Um…” Mel stuttered, gazing at Sam like I had never seen her look at anyone, not even Oliver.
Well, well, well, Melanie. Things are making a lot more sense.
“How do you know all of that?” I asked.
“Do you think I haven’t been keeping up with the countless podcasts that have been created around this competition?”
“Oh, God. I can only imagine what they’re saying about us,” Adelaide rolled her eyes.
“Well, Miss Levy,” Sam continued, using her courtroom voice, “they have been quite generous to you since you’re a school teacher who is—and I quote—‘of the people and for the people.’ They love that your dad is a veteran, and after the school drive, your ratings skyrocketed.”
“Ratings? Are there approval ratings on us or something? That’s disgusting.” I chimed in.
“Yeah girl, you’re right behind Adelaide.”
“I need a drink,” Adelaide grumbled.
“Me, too,” Mel agreed.
“You guys head down. I’m going to jump in the shower real quick and then I’ll be down.”
I headed into the closet, stripping off Knox’s shirt and putting it in a neat pile next to my suitcase. If I was going to be able to function, I needed to wash Knox’s scent off me. It was triggering too many memories that I just couldn’t handle right now.
I was washing my hair, trying not to think about how the shampoo smelled of jasmine instead of mint, when Sam cracked open the door.
“Hey, Bee?” Her tone was wary.
“What’s up?” I answered, waving her into the bathroom.
“I just got a social media alert. There’s been another article…” her voice trailed off as she leaned against the vanity.
“Fuck. What is it this time? The articles have been so benign lately, I thought the nasty stuff was over.”
