I lifted my shoulders in a shrug. "I guess. That's what I've gathered from Tristan, although I'm not sure how permanent it is."
"Don't get too attached to the kid," Annalise warned, her eyes narrowing. "I know you and your bleeding heart."
"Bleeding heart? Excuse me?"
She laughed, but her eyes were serious. "You know it's true. You feel too much. But you can't lose sight of the original mission. And that's revenge on that asshole for what he did."
I nodded. "Right. I know. Believe me, I'll never lose sight of that."
"Good girl," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Sometimes it really sucked to be the youngest child, everyone always thinking they knew best and telling you what to do. As we'd grown up, it'd become more subtle, but it was still there underneath the surface, ready to bubble up at the slightest provocation.
Oh, who was I kidding? There was nothing subtle about it most of the time.
"So in my humble opinion," my big sister continued, "I think we should enact all these little pranks that go under the radar, just for shits and giggles, all while you're playing the long game, and then you'll go in for the ultimate revenge."
"Which is?" I asked.
Her eyes turned flinty, her expression mirroring the coldness, as she faced me fully. "Make him fall for you, and then, in the end, break his heart, break his spirit, just like he broke yours."
Damn. I stared at her, heart pounding for some reason.
"Yes. That's it exactly," Aria echoed.
Who knew my sisters were so bloodthirsty?
Glancing back and forth between their determined faces, it hit me then... so yes, being the youngest, they bossed me around quite a bit. But also? They were the most protective people in my life by far, and they would always,always, support me and defend me.
"Okay. That's the plan then," I agreed. "One problem, though. How can I make someone fall for me and love me?"
Annalise scoffed, waving her hand in dismissal. "Easy. Just be yourself. You were yourself at the ball, right? And he clearly loved you. So just keep being you."
That was a sweet thing to say really. But I wasn't so sure that would work. Not only because Tristan and I were leagues apartin all the important things in life, but also, was there anybody out there who would actually love me for being me?
And even worse, I didn't even know who I was lately. Ever since I'd met—or rather, reacquainted myself with—Tristan, my equilibrium had been off. And now, I was some strange combination of my insecure high school self and what I thought had been a confident young career woman.
"Annalise is right," Aria said. "You're amazing just the way you are. Just be yourself, remember the end game, and we'll take it day by day. All of us together. You're not in this alone."
"Nope, not alone." Annalise set down her empty glass with finality. "Never."
Sure, the two of them were totally coupled up now, and between that and their jobs, they were busier than ever. But I knew if I needed them, they'd come running in an instant. Just like I would do for them.
"Let's get this fucker," Annalise said as she picked up the check.
"You mean the bill or Tristan?" Aria joked.
"Both."
So we had the skeleton of a plan. Sort of. It was up to me to flesh it all out and put it into place. Stuffing my little notebook into my bag, I couldn't help smiling.
Revenge was kind of fun.
Eleven
Tristan
Clearly, I'd been hanging out with my little brother too much, because I felt like a teenager as I picked up my phone to callher, my heart pounding and nerves filling my stomach.
