Page 39 of Good Girl
Frustration and guilt swirl in my gut.
‘Good,’ my father says, clearly already sure of his victory. ‘There’s a tuxedo of mine in the closet of the spare room you can wear. Make sure you both look the part.’ Then he hangs up without even saying goodbye.
Wearily I drop the phone down onto the counter, then jump when I see movement in my peripheral vision.
‘Whoever that was, I get the impression they’re not in your good books right now,’ Juno says with a grin.
I try to smile back, but fail. I just can’t summon the energy for it. I feel drained and edgy now.
‘It was my father. He wants us to go to a charity gala to represent my family this evening.’
Instead of looking displeased, I’m surprised to see her smile again. ‘We can do that.’ Her brows pinch together as she studies my tense expression. ‘Unless you really don’t want to.’
I sigh and rub my hand over my face. ‘He didn’t exactly give me much choice.’
‘Then we’ll go,’ she says, her eyes glowing with a compassion I’ve come to love.
‘Are you sure? It’ll be really fucking boring and stuffy.’ I don’t want to mention that we’re expected to pose like stuffed mannequins for the camera at this point. I’ll tackle that little glitch later.
‘Sure I’m sure. I’d love to help you out.’ She moves closer to me, bringing with her the scent of sunshine on her skin. ‘After everything you’ve done for me, I think it’s about time I paid you back.’
‘Okay. If you really don’t mind.’ I lean down and kiss the top of her head, pushing away a surge of guilt about the things I’ve already taken from her that she doesn’t even know about. ‘Let’s get changed and get it over with.’
Juno
‘It’s a black-tie do, so we’ll have to get trussed up for it,’ Sandro says as I turn away to go and get ready for this impromptu night out.
‘Oh, God, I don’t have any clothes for that sort of party,’ I say, suddenly realising the folly of being so quick to agree to this. But I don’t want to let Sandro down when he needs me. Not after everything he’s done for me. And I want him to be happy. Very much so. So much so, I’d rather not think too hard about it.
He frowns, then waves his hand towards the bedroom we’re not using. ‘Borrow one of Maria’s dresses.’
‘Really? She won’t mind?’
His expression is unconcerned. ‘Not at all. My father bought them all for her anyway.’
‘Okay, then.’ I nod assertively, as if there’s nothing at all weird about me wearing one of his father’s mistress’s dresses out on a date with him.
‘Would you do something for me?’ he asks as I go to turn away again.
‘Of course.’ As if I could deny him anything when he’s looking at me like that.
‘Wear your hair down tonight.’
I raise my hand to touch where I’ve caught it in a ponytail at the nape of my neck. ‘Okay. If you like.’
‘I do like,’ he says, strolling over and reaching behind my head to pull the band out so my hair falls freely around my shoulders. Leaning forward, he nuzzles into my neck and I hear him take a deep breath through his nose.
‘Are you sniffing me?’ I tease.
A laugh rumbles out of him. ‘Yes. I’m the big, bad wolf and I want to eat you all up.’
Heat builds inside me at his covetous tone, making my body ache for him, as it always does. How am I ever going to go back to my normal life without him being in it?
‘Hey... We’ll still be friends after this...won’t we?’ I whisper.
I feel him stiffen then draw away from me. There’s something in his face that makes my stomach swoop, but not in a joyful way. He looks wary suddenly. Have I gone too far? Asked for too much? We’ve been living in a make-believe land for so many days, I’m not entirely sure what’s right and wrong any more.
‘Sure, we’ll be friends after this,’ he says. But there’s something not quite right about the way he says it.
