Series: Webs We Weave Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 813(@200wpm)___ 650(@250wpm)___ 542(@300wpm)
Hailey frowns at me. “You think Elizabeth tipped him off that we’d be here?”
“I think someone did, seeing as how he was waiting for me to get on the bus.”
“You took the bus?” Addison puts two fingers to her temple, sinking backward like a migraine is coming on.
“That’s what you’re getting out of this?” Irritation claws at my insides. Their priorities seem fucked-up. The godmothers are more worried about me and Hails ditching our grifter lifestyle than anything else. Rocky would say they don’t want to lose their assets they’ve cultivated for twenty-four years, but I’ve always believed it’s deeper.
They’re worried Hailey and I won’t live the lives they’ve dreamed for us. All they’ve ever wanted was for us to have it better than them. From what they’ve said, they grew up poor as dirt, and they scraped their way to the upper echelons of society. So seeing their daughters choose the bottom-feeder lives they fought to escape—it must hurt a little.
At least enough to burst a blood vessel in Addison’s temple.
“If Bethy tipped him off, she would’ve had a good reason.” Addison reaches for her wineglass. “The last thing she’d do is put you in harm’s way. The only reason she’s entertaining that ghoul is to protect you, Nova, and Oliver.”
I clench down on my teeth. My heart pangs as guilt begins to gnaw from the inside out. I have no idea if my mom even loved Varrick. She was only twenty-two when she ran from Connecticut. From him. Pregnant with triplets.
He couldn’t have been much older than her. What was their relationship even like? Were me and my brothers conceived out of hate? Was it forced? Do I want that answer?
It’d paint a graphic picture of her present interactions with my dad at Stonehaven. I should have these facts rather than bury my head in the sand, but my throat swells with emotion. I can’t ask Addison for those exact details when they need to come from my mom.
“Has there been signs of life?” I ask, my voice scratchy and edged. “What if he threw her into the bay?”
“He didn’t throw her into the bay…” Addison says, but her forehead wrinkles again. She downs the last sip of white wine and only eases when she glances left. She immediately rises from her chair in relief. “There you are.”
Elizabeth Graves is…a mess. My mom struts in with disheveled, bed-head hair. It’s dyed a pretty honey blonde that seems a little too yellow in the sunlight. Her peach blouse is severely wrinkled—her leather Birkin halfway unzipped.
She’s not always drenched in Hermès, Cartier, and Dior, as she’d say, “Real wealth doesn’t need to be flashy.” And Addison would add, “Wealth whispers.” But my mom does usually appear like she’s a walking celestial perfume ad. Ready to grace your life with heavenly charm.
She’s not angelic right now. She’s evoking hangover chic. Is her mascara smudged?
After Addison and Elizabeth hug, my mom sinks down in her seat while greeting too brightly, “Hi, spiders.” Her smile is too caked on. Phony. “You’re both looking cute today.”
I open my mouth, but a server interrupts us. “Would you two like anything to drink?”
“Water’s fine,” I say.
“I’ll have what she’s having.” My mom points to Addison’s empty wineglass.
“We’ll take a whole bottle,” Addison chimes in. “Four glasses, please.”
Hailey slumps in her chair, cupping her coffee in two tight palms. I slip her a subtle reassuring look before waving a casual hand at the server. “That won’t be necessary. Just two glasses for them.”
“You sure?” My mom smiles to draw mine out. “You have a reason to celebrate.” She must detect my confusion because she adds, “Your breakup with Jake.”
Right…“No, we’re good,” I tell the server. “Just two glasses.” Once she disappears from earshot, I explain, “I’m sure it’s a hundred-dollar bottle. At minimum. Hailey and I didn’t come to this lunch flush.” I pick up a menu. “I’ll be lucky to afford the breadbasket.”
It’s not a lie, but it’s not the real reason we’re sober.
I’m protecting Hailey’s baby secret. To my fucking grave. I won’t tell a soul, not even my boyfriend. Her brother. Not until she’s ready to share this news—which she’s not. She literally just found out a week ago.
My mom zips up her Birkin. “Aren’t you dating Rocky, bug? He can pay for you.”
“For a lunch he’s not even attending?” I set down the menu, my stomach tossing. “That’s demoralizing.”
“More demoralizing than taking the bus here?” Addison retorts.
Elizabeth lets out a shocked breath. “You didn’t.”
I growl out a sigh. “Okay, the real issue isn’t my mode of transportation.” I rotate toward my mom beside me. “Did you tell Varrick about this lunch?” My frown deepens into pits of concern. “And why do you look so…?”
She flattens her hair quicky, almost embarrassed. Flustered. This woman could make a period stain appear like the latest fashion trend. I’ve never seen her wear embarrassment—not a single day of my life. Hell, she’s never been this ruffled. Even on the drive away from an abusive mark who left a handprint on her cheek, she’d have perfect posture in the car.