“Jesus … you scared the shit out of me! What the hell are you doing here?” My hand is on my heart as it beats in panic mode.
Her long hair is flowing in curls, bouncing as she glides over. “I have a key, obviously. I’ve totally let myself into your apartment a thousand times before. What’s the problem?”
I push off the wall and toss my bag on the table. “I guess I’ve been a bit jittery lately.”
“Understandably! That happens to be exactly why we need to go out dancing.”
“It’s Monday. No one goes dancing on a Monday.” I lower my brows while she raises hers.
“When did you get so old? We live in New York City, the city that never sleeps. You can go clubbing at two in the afternoon if you want. And tonight just happens to be house night at Elektra.”
I walk to the refrigerator and open it, grabbing a bottle of VitaminWater. “I’m not in the mood to go dancing. This weekend wore me out.” Twisting the cap, I take a hefty drink.
“I know. We almost died on Friday night.”
“Correction: I almost died. You left.”
“Ten more minutes—”
“And you would have perished. You’re right. It’s frightening. I still don’t want to go out.”
I walk to the sofa and fall onto the cushions.
Sienna grabs my hand and lifts me up before I have a chance to get comfortable. “Oh no, you don’t. The world could end tomorrow, which means we need to spend every last minute having fun.”
“What about your tail?” I ask, referring to her bodyguards. “Do you not find it alarming that you have private security? Where are they anyway?”
“They’re parked by the hydrant across the street. Super stealthy. And, no, they’re just guys who drive me around. Don’t you remember my dad used to make us have a chaperone when we were in high school and wanted to go dancing in the city? Same thing.”
I let out a laugh. “Not really, Sienna. I think you have them because your father believes there’s a threat.”
“Your dad didn’t hire security for you, so that must mean you’re not! Believe me, those guys outside have more to do with my father keeping tabs on me since he and your dad are out of town. He’s been dying for an excuse to do this since I became an adult.”
Her assessment of the situation makes me feel a little better.
“How do you plan to get past them?”
“They’re coming with. Free designated driver. Who would pass that up? If you’re worried about them telling anyone where we’re going, I wouldn’t fret. Their job isn’t to report where I go. It’s to be there in case there’s trouble.”
“Doesn’t a club at night scream trouble? Besides, you’re the one who, just this morning, chimed in on why I shouldn’t go to work.”
“Work is not worth risking your life. Dancing with super-hot men is.” She does a shimmy, making the light reflect off her sequins. “Watching you walk away from your mom this morning was awesome. I’ve never seen that Amelia before. It was so badass.”
“While I appreciate the comradery, walking out of my mother’s house to go to work is hardly expressing my inner badass.”
“Then let it out. You’re twenty-five, and you live like a nun. Let loose and forget about all the drama. We deserve it!”
I look at her with her blown-out tresses and fresh spray tan, making her look amazing and full of life. She’s right. We should be living. Isn’t that what I told myself this morning on the subway? The old Amelia is gone. Here stands a new, fierce woman.
This is a horrible idea. My father is in hiding. Jesse thinks the Lugazzis are looking into me. I’m pretty sure the guy I’m crazy about is a spy. And still, I actually think getting out and doing something fun might be good for me. I’m officially losing my goddamn mind. I think it’s because we’ll have bodyguards, and that notion makes me feel better.
I can’t believe I’m even considering this.
“Will the guards be with us the whole time?” I ask, making sure she understands them coming is high on my list of reasons why I’m even thinking about leaving.
“Like annoying chaperones at an eighth-grade dance.”
“This is worse than high school.”
“I know! So much fun.” She pulls me up off the couch and down the hallway toward my bedroom. “Now, come on. Let’s get you sexified.”
“Eww. Don’t say that word,” I huff as I walk over to my closet. “What kind of outfit are you thinking?”
“Remember that dress you wore to Anthony’s birthday dinner when you two were still together?” She waggles her brows as she stands by my dresser, looking at my jewelry. “That one but with your knee-high boots.”
“I wore those boots as part of a Halloween costume.”
“A sexy-cop costume. Tonight, you’re going to be sexy Amelia,” she says, holding a pair of my giant hoop earrings up to her ears as she models them in the mirror.
I pull the cocktail dress out of my closet. It’s black with a shiny, metallic fabric that makes the light dance off of it when I walk. Spinning the dress on the hanger, I look at the long-sleeved number. “I don’t want to draw attention to myself.”
She holds the earrings out to me, and I take them. “Wear the dress and whatever shoes you want. I’m just glad you’re going out.”
As I walk to the bathroom to change, I know it’s a bad idea to go out.
I hope I don’t regret this.
Chapter Seven
Ever since high school, when the resurgence of industrial Brooklyn communities morphed into high-end dwellings for Manhattanites, Sienna has made this her stomping ground. Every restaurant and bar has been imbibed by her. And the clubs are her playground.
She’s brought me with her a few times. The food in the area is great. The bars are fun, but the clubs are always too wild
