Page 56 of Before We're More Than Friends
Dallas
Raina and Arielle didn’t show up to school the next day, and the headlines on the local news quickly answered why. Raina had not been kidding when she’d told me that her dad was a big deal around here.
Millionaire real estate developer Manuel Vermont found guilty of tax evasion. Four years without paying the IRS. State-wide shock. Trial avoided. Eighteen-month sentence.
Well, at least I finally knew their last name.
Even as I sat in Chemistry now, exchanging sad looks with Hayden from the table next to me, a few students whispered about them. Hayden eventually told them to shut up once they started cracking jokes, his fists clenched.
An ache grew in my chest as I gazed at the empty seat next to me, wishing I could bump elbows with Raina. Wishing she would be at the shelter to feed the bunnies with me this afternoon.
And to think all I’d wanted before today was to escape her.
That afternoon in the shelter, I sat in the break room with the entire group. I was minding my business, scrolling through cat videos on my phone, while Hayden, Oliver, Caleb, andKami talked among themselves about whether or not it was ridiculous that owners dressed up their pets.
In the middle of the conversation, a brunette wearing a gray beanie and wedged boots strolled in. “Hey, y’all.” She placed her purse and coffee on the counter before looking at me and Kami, her red lips curving into a smile. “Dallas and Kami, right? I don’t think we met on Saturday.” She held out a hand to me first, her wrists full of jangling bracelets. “Sienna.”
I shook her hand, hoping mine wasn’t sweaty. “Nice to meet you.”
She smiled before shaking Kami’s hand. “I don’t volunteer as often as the rest do, but I’m around.”
“That’s because you’re either shopping or waiting in line for coffee,” Caleb said as he opened a bag of chips. “Your bank account is more active than a gym rat.”
Sienna rolled her eyes. “At least I work for my own money.” She leaned against the counter, sipping her coffee. “You know, it’s not the same without the girls here.”
My eyes dropped back to my phone screen so I could avoid the conversation.
“The rumors are driving me crazy,” Hayden said, shuffling his UNO deck. “People are so freaking insensitive.”
“I heard a freshman say that Mr. Vermont is part of an undercover criminal association that commits tax fraud,” Caleb said. “Then I heard their friend say the whole family is part of the association.”
Hayden frowned. “Did you punch them in the face?”
“I don’t think I’m allowed to punch girls, but I did tell them the undercover criminal association also robs people who speak about them.” Caleb shook his head. “Imagine Raina and Arielle in a freaking ski mask and robbing a bank or something.”
“That’s rude,” Sienna said, halfway through her coffee. “Ijust wish people stopped spreading things and covering it on the news. They’re already suffering enough in private.”
“I didn’t know that their dad was that big,” Kami murmured, sympathy in her voice. “I can’t imagine what they’re going through right now.”
“Me neither,” Oliver said as he put a card in the UNO pile. “I had no idea their dad actually did the crime.”
Hayden’s face pinched as he took a card out of the pile. “I really don’t like that man.”
I nodded. “He’s changed a lot.”
Everyone turned around and stared at me in confusion. I fought the urge to smack my palm against my forehead.Are you freaking serious?That was so easynotto mess up!
“Raina told me about him on Sunday,” I rushed to say, resisting the urge to wince at my lie. Raina wouldn’t have touched that topic with a ten-foot pole with me of all people.
“Is that what happened?” Hayden asked.
No, nothing happened that day!“Yeah.”
If this got back to Raina, she’d kill me with her icy glare.
“She hasn’t really talked to me about it,” Sienna said, a flash of hurt on her face. “Or anyone, I think.”
No, no, no, this was bad. She could easily talk about it with Raina later, and Raina would call me out on my BS.
