Page 92 of The Mafia's Bride
“I’m alright, promise.”
We sit down at the bar, crossing legs bumping each other. She orders two shots and a Cosmo.
I don’t take the shot when it comes, leaving it for her.
At the refusal, she cocks an eyebrow. “What? Too good for a lemon drop now,Mrs. De Luca?” She makes me name sound like an insult.
I sip at my martini. “No. I just have to see my sister tonight and can’t be bombed doing it.”
Maeve had requested a meeting between us again. Lex didn’t look thrilled about it, but by the way things ended last week, I didn’t expect him to be. The tension had followed us back to our home, hanging over us like a thick fog of apprehension.
He had raged about her treatment of me. I felt vindicated that someone—finally—saw what I had to deal with at home. That I was always just pushed away, the outsider within the family.
“If I recall that’s how you always wanted to be when you saw her.”
I smile because she’s right. “Things change.”
She scans me, as if seeing someone for the first time. It’s critical and not the least bit nasty. “You’re different.”
“Different how? Bad different?”
Danica shakes her head. “Not bad. Just different.” She takes her shot, then mine, glancing around, judging the classy décor. I chose this place because I know the De Luca’s use it as a front. Lex told me of all the safe places if I needed to go somewhere or had to conduct business. These people knew me.
Danica taps her chin. “The old Sloane would have been all over those two handsome men in the corner by now. This Sloane is nursing her drink that looks to already be an hour old. A shame, really, to let a drink sit that long, darling.”
“Maybe I don’t really want to drink tonight.”
“Blasphemy,” she snorts. “You always want to drink. Drink and fuck and cause a ruckus. That’s half of our relationship.”
“I was thinking about that.” The glass clinks on the bar as I put it down. “Maybe we can reinvent our relationship.”
“Reinvent it?” She looks unsure. I mean, I would too. This is a sudden development and I’m hoping I can bring my friend along with me.
I can’t keep drinking, doing drugs, and getting into trouble. I had to evolve to fit into this marriage, this life, if I wanted it to work. Before I told Lex I loved him, I needed to make sure I was the wife he needed.
“Yes. Instead of always going out and getting into trouble, we can do other things. Shopping, trips, movies, shows. That sort of thing.”
Danica shakes her head, looking as if her Cosmo was made with sour mix. “I’m sorry, what? Who are you and what have you done to my friend?”
“Danica, listen?—”
“Wait.” She pulls out a small baggie. More pink pills stare back at me. “You’re probably stressed. Marriage, new house, uptight in-laws. We haven’t seen each other. Hell, the guy probably doesn’t even know how to get you off properly.” She couldn’t be further from the truth. “One or two of these, and you’ll feel like the old you.”
The old me who used to make a mess out of herself for attention and the spark of fire that would burn with all of the gossip. The old me who used to get so fucked up she couldn’t remember her nights.
The old me, the one who would end up passed out on the front steps, only to somehow wake up in her bed with a bucket beside her.
The old me who didn’t feel like she could be loved for being herself. Until I met Lex.
I push the bag back toward her. I don’t even miss them. “No. I’m good.”
The look she gives me is lethal. “You’re good?”
I nod. “I’m turning over a new leaf, Danica. I’ve got a husband who cares about me, a great family now. I’m even working on this charity auction. It has all vintage designer clothing. You’d love it?—”
“Is this a joke?” Her words are dripping in acid, blonde hair falling over her shoulder. I never noticed how fried her hair was until now. “You’re talking about charities and love like it’s all you’ve ever wanted. You never wanted this. You wanted fun and chaos, you wanted to party. And I’ve always been there, enjoying the ride, embracing that mess. And what, you just want to forget that? Forget what we’ve been through together?”
“No, Danica. I would never want to forget you.” I shake my head vehemently. “That is the furthest thing that I want. I just thought we could do something different together. Instead of drugs and alcohol or hooking-up, make a new path. You use as much as me. We coulddetox together.” I push the alcohol away to make a show of my intent. “I just want a friend, a real friend, leave our toxic relationship behind and finally bond, like true friends do.”
