Page 44 of Ordinary Secrets

I groan out loud. These “quick band pics” are never quick. Monique usually makes us pose for a few minutes so she has enough content to work with. While I’m glad she takes care of our band’s social media, I’d rather not have to take pictures all the time. But I’ve learned it’s easier to comply than to resist, so I take a step backward, away from the only reason I have all these damn people at my house.

“Help yourself!” I gesture toward the food. “I’ll be right back.”

For longer than necessary, I smile, I pose, and I put my hands where I’m told. The second Monique says, “Awesome job, everyone!” I beeline back to Arella, who’s quietly nibbling on some pizza crust.

Unsurprisingly, Javina has inserted herself into a game of poker. Arella looks like Javina’s plus-one as she stands behind her friend’s chair, watching the card game.

“You look beautiful,” I say once I’m back at her side. Under the sun and in this dress, she looks like she’s a glowing angel sent from the heavens.

Arella glances up at me with a sweet smile. “Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself.”

I receive compliments all the time, but they never feel the way it does when Arella says it. When other girls tell me I’m hot, it’s because they want me to fuck ’em, and it feels like a transaction. When Arella says that I “don’t look too bad,” I believe her.

I tilt my head to the side. “You wanna go for a walk?”

She gives me a look like I’ve just stumped her with a riddle. “Um, shouldn’t you stick around? It’syourparty.”

“Nah. Nobody’ll miss me.”

“Um, I don’t know if I should leave Javina here alone.”

Without taking her eyes off the poker table, Javina speaks over her shoulder. “Go for a walk with the man, Ari! I’ll still be here when you get back. Except I’ll have double the money in my pocket.”

The boys around the card table erupt into laughter.

“Yeah, right.” Kevin chuckles. “Start weeping!” He throws his cards down, face up. It’s a full house. Three queens, two jacks. Kevin’s brothers groan, chucking their cards at the table. Laughing, Kevin snatches the chips from the middle.

I’m not a poker person. My ability to read emotions tells me exactly when someone’s bluffing. It’s not fun when I’m basically cheating.

Arella pops the last bit of pizza crust into her mouth, then throws away her paper plate. “Okay, I’m ready.”

We’re just through the wooden gate when Liz shouts at me. “T!”

I twist on my heel with an exasperated “Whaaat?”

“Where ya goin’?”

“For a walk.”

She flashes me the same look Arella did when I suggested that we ditch my own party. “Okay...? Don’t be long.”

“I won’t, Mom.”

Liz responds with an eyeroll, then goes back to her conversation with Emmy.

When Arella and I make it to the sidewalk, I shove my hands into my pockets. I have the urge to offer her my arm to hook hers through, but I’m pretty certain she won’t accept it.

I’ve got a hunch as to why Arella’s so jumpy whenever I touch her. I think she’s been abused. I used to be jumpy, too, whenever Victor raised a hand around me. Once I got as tall as him, he stopped hitting me like that, and I stopped being jumpy.

Considering Arella is all of five-two, with skinny arms that resemble tree branches, whoever abused her is probablystillbigger than her. I doubt it was her grandparents, since she seems to adore them and vice versa. If I had to put money on it, I’d say it was an ex-boyfriend.

“I’m glad Javina forced you to come out tonight,” I say as I shift to walk on Arella’s side closer to the street.

“She didn’t force me. When I saw your message at work, I mentioned it to her. I’m not really a party person, so she thought I was going to say no, which is why she stole my phone and texted you.”

I raise my eyebrows with a smile. “So... you wanted to come?”

“Mm-hmm.”

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