Page 42 of Ice Me Out
It isn’t lost on me how she leaves Victor out of the introduction. I guess Candace wasn’t joking when she said she was going to make him feel unwelcome.
I’m glad that the Zeta president seems to love Luke and me by default. I wouldn’t want to find myself on her shit list.
Redness flushes Fiona’s pale complexion, but the Zeta sister forces on a smile, extending her hand for me to shake. “Nice to meet you, Bex.”
As I shake her hand, I also check out the guy she left Connor for. While Connor is taller than average at over six three, her new man is definitely on the shorter side. The Cove Knights’ d-man also has also an enviable build, with muscles for days. Fiona’s new boyfriend is on the scrawny side, with narrow shoulders and skinny legs and arms. Where most guys look sexy with a five o’clock shadow, Victor’s mousy brown scruff makes him look unkempt, almost dirty.
I keep my perusal casual, but I mustn’t be the only one who’s curious.
Fiona and her friend Hillary are starting at me with an intensity that’s starting to make me uncomfortable.
I tell myself that it’s all in my head; that I spent so much time secluded in Dad’s compound that I lost the ability to feel comfortable in a social environment where I don’t know everyone.
But then Hillary whispers something into Fiona’s ear, and Connor’s ex nods in response. They’re both staring at me, and I fight the urge to squirm under their probing gazes.
“Sorry,” I finally say, feeling uncomfortable to the point that I shudder with a prickle of embarrassment. “Is my mascara smudged? Or do I have something between my teeth?”
“No, there’s nothing wrong with you, Bex.” Fiona says, her gaze boring into me with even more intensity than before. “You just look… familiar. Hillary was just telling me that you look a lot like Rebecca Shine, but it’s impossible. Her bio says that she’s an only child.”
Fuck. The reason why they aren’t sure if I’m the same person they saw dancing on social media is that usually I wear a ton more makeup. I also use colorful wigs to change my look each time and make my image more interesting and engaging.
Or to be exact, I used to do that. Despite being Rebecca Shine, that persona is a property of Dad’s talent agency.
“If you aren’t her,” Hillary insists. “You must be her twin sister. I’m very good with faces. And you might not be wearing fake eyelashes and a wig, but I’m one hundred percent sure you’re her.”
I swear to God, Hillary should work for airport security somewhere. No one would be able to evade her scrutiny.
“I…” the lie that I’m not who they think I am is on the tip of my tongue. But these two look pretty stubborn and if I’m hoping to stay in this house and work on campus, I don’t want to have to watch over my shoulder all the time. “Ok, you got me. It’s me. But I?—”
“Oh my God!” they squeal, their eyes as wide as saucers. “You have no idea how exciting this is! We are huge fans of your dance moves. We’re literallyobsessedwith you.”
Shit.
I’m not hiding, per se, but I’d prefer it if my dad didn’t know where I am. I don’t think he would guess I came to see Luke. Of course, he knows my twin brother is a Star Cove Knight. But after he made me cut all contact with him, he’s probably convinced Luke wouldn’t lift a finger to help me. Or so I hope.
The good news is that I’ve been here two whole days, and no one fromPure Shineshowed up to take me back to Bridgeport. I don’t know if it’s because my assumption is correct that Dad doesn’t think I would come here, or because he doesn’t care about bringing me back into the fold of his cult.
“Thank you,” I say to Fiona and Hillary. “But I’m quitting Rebecca Shine.”
I didn’t realize how true that was until I said it out loud. This is a new beginning, not just in my personal life. Rebecca Shine was my dad’s perfectly packaged product and I want to do something that’s meaningful to me. I want to express myself.
“You are?” Fiona gasps. “But you just dropped a new video this morning.”
Right. “Yeah, the Rebecca brand belongs to a company. They have a few weeks’ worth of material I recorded before quitting and they can use it if they want. But I’m moving on, and I was hoping to start with a clean slate here. So I would be grateful if you girls didn’t spread the news that I’m here.”
Thankfully, the two Zeta sisters agree to respect my privacy.
“Of course,” Fiona’s face is a mask of sympathy. “I’m excited to see what you’re gonna do next. I’m a huge fan, and I can’t believe you’re right here, in front of me.”
Bex
Candace doesn’t miss that opportunity to begin getting the Zetas on board with our plan to get me into their new arts center and the Zeta house. She explains her plan to her sisters.
“Oh my God,” Fiona gushes. “It would be awesome if you lived here. Hillary and I are on Star Cove’s dance team. We could ask you for some pointers to improve our dancing. Would you help us?”
Of course, I’m not in a position to refuse right now, so I promise to get together with them soon in the Zeta house gym.
“Ok.” Candace raises her voice, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention. “It’s time to play our first game of the night. We’re playing ‘Mystery Kiss’ with the help of our lovely Gamma Delta Tau friends. Heather, do you have the game cards I asked you to print?”
