Desmond grunts and a wicked smile spreads across Meiying’s face. “All the time,” she says with a pointed look toward Desmond. “I’m learning so much. That girl is a wealth of information.”
I snort, but quickly smother my laugh. I can only imagine what these two are getting up to. “Okay. I’ll bite, since I trust KeAnna, why are we going to a party this weekend?”
At the mention of party, four scowls greet me. Jordy, Zheng, Desmond, and Rafael.
Meiying ignores all of them. “The guys have training today after school. They’re supposed to be working with the younger juveniles. All four of them,” she sing-songs.
“Exactly,” Rafael says. “So why the fuck would any of us go to a party? We’re going to be exhausted tonight.”
“Because we’re having a girls’ night,” she says.
Now it’s Desmond who interjects. “The last time you did that—”
She waves him off. “I know. I know. That’s precisely why we need a do-over.”
Rafael grunts, placing his arm around Isabella. She leans into him. “I don’t like it. There’s a lot going on and with the vampires—”
“Yeah, I know. Things can get tense, but that's precisely why we should go. If there's no Pack presence, that’s going to speak louder than if there is one. This is a multi-faction party. We can’t not go.”
Isa pats Rafael on the chest. “It’s fine,” she tells him. “I need to get out.”
“How have you been holding up?” I ask her, realizing I haven’t really checked in. I’ve been so focused on how things have been affecting me, I haven’t really had the time to consider what she might be going through.
She shrugs. “As good as can be expected. I just want it all to be over, ya know? I want to finally put all of this behind me and move on with my life.”
I reach across the table and squeeze her hand. “So, girls’ night out?”
She nods. “Girls’ night out.”
I smile wide. I haven’t been to a party since…well, since I got pregnant with César.
“I’m with Rafe. I don’t like the idea of you three going out alone. Especially if any vamps will be there,” Jordy says, setting César on the table where he promptly twists in an attempt to crawl across the surface.
“Give me,” Isa says, reaching for him. “I need the baby snuggles.”
“We’re not going to be alone. We’ll have each other.” I shrug. “And it’s not like any of us are helpless if the vampires decide they want to start anything.”
“Bad idea,” Desmond adds. Rafael and Jordy both nod in agreement. “Shit could happen. You guys could get hurt.”
Meiying snorts. “Stop being so dramatic. Other members of the Pack are going. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
Des grunts.
“The entire point of going to Hellbound High is to mingle with the other factions, so obviously we’re going to do that. Mingle. The party's at Georgia’s. My dad's place is literally right next door. We don’t have to worry about rides or designated drivers, not that Isa or I can get drunk even if we wanted to. Stop being spoilsports. We’ll call Zheng if we get in a bind.”
Zheng shakes his head. “I’ve got plans. You three are on your own.”
Meiying whirls on him. “Plans? What plans?”
“Personal ones that my nosy baby sister doesn’t need to know about.”
Her eyes narrow but surprising us all, she drops it. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. We don’t need—”
“No,” Rafael deadpans like his word is law and all three of us girls raise a brow.
“No?” Isa says, a tilt of her head and a gleam in her eyes. Oh, this is going to be good.
“Vanilla, you know this is a bad idea.”
