“Help yourself. Isn’t this beautiful? It came from the Cromwells. They live nearby. Mr. Cromwell is a well-known author and I met his wife at a charity function last week. It will help if we establish a friendship with them. They’re coming over for dinner tonight. You’ll need to be presentable at seven o’clock. Wear something nice, okay, Gabriela?”
So much for asking how my day went. I realize I never settled the car situation with Raf. Hopefully, I won’t be grounded from using my car once he decides to collect.
“I have homework,” I mumble, biting into an apple.
“So you’ll get your homework done now, and be down here with your smiling face by seven. I’m not asking…”
If I could be paid for the times I’ve heard her say, “I’m not asking, I’m insisting…” I’d have no need to ever work in my life. I’d be independently wealthy and could retire on a sandy beach somewhere, drinking umbrella drinks.
I don’t dare argue. I’m too tired to win and wouldn’t even if I was well-rested. Sarah or “Sookie” Sinclair—either persona is a force who refuses to be disregarded.
The Cromwells arrive at seven on the dot and I reluctantly make my way down the stairs in my “presentable” attire. My hair swishes around my waist and elbows as I walk.
Turns out I’m the one surprised once again. The Cromwells have a son my age and turns out I know him. Ashton stares up at me and grins, and I almost stumble down the stairs. He’s not as tall or as handsome as Raf, but he’s not suffering in the looks department. Not at all.
His hair is buzzed, which draws all of my attention to his deep brown eyes and full lips.
“Hello,” he says with a smirk.
I lower my eyes to the floor, uncertain if I have bullying to look forward to in my own home or if we’re going to perform the act of all acts. Pure fakery. “Hello.”
My mom holds onto my elbow. She looks like a different person when she’s out of her stage makeup and wearing conservative clothes…or clothes at all. Tonight, she’s playing the part of Suzy the homemaker. “This is Stuart and Lisa Cromwell and their son, Ashton.”
The Cromwells are a striking couple with a dignified air about them. They must not recognize my mother—I doubt they’d be here if they did. Mr. Cromwell holds out his hand and I shake it, then Mrs. Cromwell’s, and last of all, Ashton’s.
“And this is my daughter, Gabriela,” Mom says. “Ashton goes to Longlake. He’s a senior too,” she adds.
It’s hard not to do a full eye roll, but I hold it in. “Yeah, we’ve met.”
“Oh.” My mother shakes her head and grimaces when I don’t say anything else. “Gabi has spent most of her schooling at home, so it’s a new experience at Longlake, I’m afraid. I think you’ll be great for her, Ashton.”
My eyes widen and I shoot her a look. My lack of “experience” is because of her isolating me, but I don’t say anything. Of course, she’s studiously avoiding me. I feel the color rise on my cheeks and look at Ashton again. He’s grinning wide, enjoying the show.
The dinner feels never ending, between the heat in Ashton’s eyes as he watches me across the table and our parents getting to know one another. Ashton’s parents brag about him being the star quarterback at school. Apparently, he already has several schools interested in giving him a full-ride scholarship. I couldn’t care less about football, but I try to act interested. I do think it’s cool that he could get a great scholarship doing something he loves. With everything that happened with Luke and the fallout afterward, I got so far offtrack with school that it will take a miracle for me to make up for it. It’d be nice not to worry about getting in somewhere.
When they leave, with my mom promising Ashton that I’ll watch for him at school tomorrow, I collapse against the door and stare at her.
“What was that about?” I groan.
“What are you talking about?” Her voice is nonchalant, but she has to bite the side of her mouth to keep from smiling. “It can’t hurt you to get to know Ashton,” she says. “He seems like a sweet kid…you heard his parents—he’s the star quarterback and will have his pick of schools. We’re new to this town and you wanted to experience life.” She does jazz hands and I groan. “He’ll be a good friend to have, but you have to make a little more effort.”
I’m too annoyed to speak. I go upstairs and slam my door.
Ashton was nice tonight. But I wonder what he’ll be like tomorrow when Raf is watching.
“Your mom was okay with you coming out this late on a school night?” Laura sits across from me at a coffee shop near my house.
“She doesn’t argue with me when I say I need to meet with my sponsor.” I smile at Laura. She was recommended to me at my first Long Island AA meeting and I’ve been happy with her so far. I didn’t love Patricia, my sponsor in Vegas, so that was no big loss. Laura is down-to-earth and much easier to talk to than Patricia, who was older than my mom and more judgmental.
“How’s it going at school?”
I crinkle my nose and she copies my expression. “Uh-oh. Well, let’s get to the big question. Has it made you want to drink?”
“No, not really. I feel pretty solid. I guess I just wanted to see you before I get that feeling because…this school will be a challenge.”
A guy’s face flashes across Laura’s phone and she groans, picking it up to turn the sound off. “My brother,” she says. “Forgot to turn my sound down. Sorry about that. I’ll call him back later.”
“I won’t be long. We could’ve done this over
