Page 6 of Push & Pull
That’s one way to put that display from earlier.Last Petra saw the younger Marseille sister, however, Daria was drunkenly dancing with one of the boys from Stockholm. Simone had disappeared since Petra last saw her, and it was easy to assume that she had left.
“Name rings a bell. Didn’t she leave?”
“Leave? No, no.” Hailey snaked by a couple making out in the hallway. She released Petra’s wrist, but only because the woman who was slammed up against the wall complained that there were“too many spectators.”“She’s actually staying with me these past few days. This is her room over here.”
A door that had remained closed for the duration of the party was easy enough for the woman with all the keys to open. Petra lingered near the doorframe as Hailey marched in, lightly calling Simone’s name.
Soon, Petra realized while her friend was concerned.
Simone was face down on the bed, limbs splayed and fingers limp. Her wrinkled clothes matched the mussed hair that had been so neat and orderly a few hours ago. The first thing Petra noticed, though?Jesus Christ, it smells like a hospital in here.There was so much alcohol in the air, Petra couldn’t even imagine a bar. Or a nightclub.
“She’s been like this since I saw her twenty minutes ago. I… I can’t bear to look.”
Petra closed the door, silencing the rabble of the party out in the living room. “What are you talking about? Can’t bear to look at what?”
Hailey inched closer to the bed. Simone still did not move. “I don’t know what she’s taken. She was talking to Yvonne earlier.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Hailey.” Petra pushed past her. Now that she knew an OD was on the table, this wasn’t about hurting feelings or broaching boundaries. “Twenty minutes? You’ve known she’s been like this fortwenty minutes?”
She didn’t wait for Hailey to come up with some sorry excuse. Petra climbed onto the bed and stuck her fingers in the crook of Simone’s neck. When she confirmed there was a healthy pulse, she let out a sigh of relief – and enlisted Hailey to come help either wake up Simone or flip her over.
“No, you do it.” Hailey backed up toward the door. “If she’s… oh, I couldn’t bear.”
Petra should have known this was her fate at this party.Using all of my strength to turn over a woman almost a foot taller than me.Probably. Wasn’t like she knew exactly how tall Simone was. “Why didn’t you call 911 if you were so worried?”
“911? Oh, no, that’s not necessary. We don’t need that attention here.”
Fucking rich girls.Simone flopped back and slightly stirred as Petra manhandled her into life.If it’s not throwing irresponsible parties full of vulnerable people, it’s making me clean it up!No 911? For goodness’s sake. “Let me guess! You’ve got some guy you can call. Even has a medical license and everything.”
“It’s Miami,” was all Hailey said at first. Then, “Is she okay?”
Petra snorted as soon as she smelled Simone’s breath. “If you count being blackout drunk asokay,then sure.” She backed off the bed and smoothed out her pants.Can’t believe I wrinkled my nice vest for this.“She’s fucking peachy, Hailey.”
The door opened. “Don’t stray too far.”
“Don’t make me babysit her!”
Hailey was gone. Petra had a feeling it wasn’t the end ofthismess. It never was when rich girls used her.
Chapter 3
Simonehadnoconceptof what had happened, where she was, andwhat the hell was going on.
Then again, it was hard to keep track of her own mental faculties when her head throbbed in ineffable pain. Not to mention the spinning world. Was that rain? On the windows?
The windows surrounding her body as she was strapped into the passenger seat of a moving car?
Wait…
“Hey, hey.” A faraway voice spoke to her from the driver’s seat. Simone attempted to turn her head, but the blur of the world made her so nauseous and her head throbbed so badly, she almost threw up and passed out. Probably again, knowing her. “You finally coming to over there? You okay?”
A woman’s small hands gripped the steering wheel. Too bad her face was too blurry for Simone to make heads or tails of her identity.I don’t know what’s happening. Why am I in a car?Was she supposed to be in a car? They must have been going to the airport. Simone was supposed to fly out of Miami that day.
Maybe. She thought so. Could it be?
“Wha…” Simone found her hand. It was now on her forehead, holding back the hangover that threatened to wreck her morning. “Where am I? Who are you?”
“Guess you don’t remember me.” The car slid into the far left lane. Water splashed against both the windows and beneath the car tires. “We met last night at Hailey’s party. I’m doing her a favor.”
