Page 104 of My Lucky Star
A few minutes later, he rattled off the instructions to Burcu’s house. “Melis had her personal phone number and address. Burcu is expecting us.”
Hearing the new directions, Tarik did a U-turn. Despite the tooting of horns and screeching of brakes, no metal made contact. For a second, I thought we may have lost the SUV, but it copied Tarik’s move, scaling the concrete berm between the lanes.
“Oh, my God!” Aria panted, her face white. She brought her nails to her lips, but turned her hand at the last minute, sinking her teeth into her knuckles. It must have been so hard to stop biting your nails. The thought made me crave a cigarette so much I nearly stole one from Tarik’s pocket.
“It’s okay.” I tapped our driver’s shoulder. “Let them follow us.”
I leaned back in the seat, clasping Aria’s hand. Tarik slowed down and she released her teeth from her fist, swiping her lipstick onto her cheek on the way down. I should have said something, but I kind of liked that small crack in her armor.
When we reached Burcu’s address, North of Bebek, a pair of decorative cast iron gates opened for us, then closed quickly, leaving the SUV outside.
We peered through the back window as the paparazzi pulled on the curb.
“Do you think they’ll wait out there?” Aria asked.
A muscle on Emir’s jaw twitched. “They might. They’re expecting Cem to drop you off and drive home.”
This was not how I’d envisioned the night going. Forcing myself into action, I got out of the car and opened the door for Aria. Emir joined us. The photographer had made it to the gate and the bright camera flashes lit up the footpath like a lightning storm as we approached the entrance.
I spotted a cracked wall panel and a sad ceramic pot with no plant. The grass looked scraggly. So, it was true. They were in financial trouble. Burcu would have never settled for anything other than perfection. Otherwise, the house looked like a recent build. They were probably doing everything they could to hang onto it.
The front door opened, and I braced myself. I wasn’t ready for this.
Chapter 37
Aria
MY FIRST INSTINCT WASto hide behind Cem’s back. Behind anything, really. When the door opened, I knew I’d been right. One should never meet their doppelgänger. Nothing invites comparison like two nearly identical people.
A woman in a sheeny wrap top and high-waisted jeans stepped into the light of the iron lanterns framing her front door. A shy smile wavered on her lips and within seconds, my brain registered half-a-dozen differences – all of them in her favor. She was at least two sizes smaller, with an impossibly tiny waist and narrow hips. Her neck appeared longer and more graceful, her eyelashes thicker. I could tell she wasn’t wearing as much makeup as me yet looked more striking. Whatever star quality was, she exuded it. I could imitate her all I liked, but I could never carry myself with such regal elegance.
I stared at Cem, wondering what was going through his mind, seeing the woman who’d vanished after sleeping with him. He hadn’t had much of a closure, I realized. Was he really over Burcu? How could he possibly be?
Cem and Emir greeted Burcu with kisses. Her melodic voice was as soft as a whisper. I listened to their Turkish chatter, shrinking into the background, until Cem brought me forward and switched to English. “This is Aria. I told you about her.”
Burcu nodded, her face pleasant but unreadable. “Nice to meet you. Your dress is beautiful.” Her English had a funny lilt.
