[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
225
JENNI FER BANASH
shipped over from Florence. She stopped right in front of
their oblivious faces, staring at each other with lust-crazed eyes
that made her want to hurl up her undigested shrimp at their
feet in a fishy-smelling puddle.
Well, she said, her lips, painted with MAC Lacquer in
Fanplastico, curling into a sneer. Don t you two look cozy.
At the sound of her voice, Casey and Drew jumped apart like
they d been struck by lightning. In a minute, they re going to wish
they had been, Madison thought with no small degree of satisfac-
tion as she took in the panicked expression on Casey s face.
Better to be feared than loved that was for sure. It gave you so
much more what was the word? Ah, that s right leverage.
Madison crossed her arms over the sleek fabric of her dress. It
was weird how close crying and complete and utter rage really
were at the end of the day. If she wasn t so angry right now she
knew that she d probably start blubbering away like an idiot. It
wasn t fair. People in her life just kept disappearing first her fa-
ther and now Drew.
Madison, Casey s voice shook slightly as she spoke. We
weren t sure you were coming.
Oh, I wouldn t miss it for the world, Madison said airily,
looking Casey over with a practiced eye. But tell me, she
said, moving closer, reaching out to grasp the material of the
dress in her fingertips. Wherever did you find my old dress?
Have you been playing in the garbage? Madison turned to
Drew, her green eyes cool and impassive.
You see, I gave that dress to my mother to donate to charity
two months ago, Madison sneered, relishing Casey s obvious
226
THE ELI TE
embarrassment as she turned bright red, then looked at the
floor, unable to meet Madison s gaze. Come to think of it,
Madison went on, placing one perfectly manicured finger
against her chin, it seems like ever since you moved here you ve
been interested in everything that belongs to me, haven t you?
Madison watched with satisfaction as Casey looked up,
opening her unglossed lips, and then rapidly closing them. She
looks like a fucking guppy, Madison thought triumphantly. And
what would Drew want with a loser fish who can t dress and has
incredibly unfortunate hair when he could have me? She smiled
smugly, her eyes like frozen jade chips as she reached over and
twined her arms around Drew s neck, pulling him close.
Drew s face was a mass of confusion as she wrapped her body
around his, pulling his face down for a kiss as her tongue
snaked into his mouth. At first his lips were tense and hard as
they touched hers, but as she held on she felt his body give way
and melt into hers. And before she knew it, he was opening his
mouth and kissing her back. Madison opened her eyes and
stared at Casey, who had gone suddenly white, as if a vampire
had swooped down onto the terrace while their eyes were
closed and drained her of all her blood. Serves you right, Madi-
son gloated as she closed her eyes again. You messed with the
wrong girl . . .
I m so sorry I m late, baby, she purred when they broke
apart, reaching up and smoothing Drew s hair back with her
fingers. But I m here now.
I should . . . Casey stammered, her eyes darting wildly
from Drew to Madison, then back again. I should. . .
227
JENNI FER BANASH
Go? Madison deadpanned, one arched eyebrow raised,
her lips curled into a smirk. Good idea.
I ll go, Casey said, her voice shaking slightly, but I want
you to know something first. Ever since I moved here, I just
wanted to be your friend I didn t plan . . . this. She gestured
at the space between herself and Drew with one hand. It just
happened.
Nothing just happens, Madison answered back, her
green eyes like slits. Everyone here has an agenda even you.
If that s true, Casey said, a tear spilling from her right eye
and sliding down her cheek, then I guess you do, too. Before
Madison could respond, Casey turned and walked quickly
back toward the Van Allens apartment, tripping on Sophie s
wedge heels and the slickly tiled patio, twisting her ankle and
falling to the ground. Madison giggled, rolling her eyes as she
watched Casey pick herself back up, blood running down her
leg from a skinned knee before she ran inside, fumbling with
the huge sliding doors. Madison turned back to Drew, smiling
expectantly. Thank God she d come along and saved Drew
from the hell of trying to date some uncoordinated, totally
spastic freak who couldn t even run away without falling.
Whatever, Madison thought as she reached over and took
Drew s hand, I m sure he ll think of a way to thank me later . . .
Now, she purred, her green eyes flashing. Where were
we?
228
the
big
blowout
What the hell are you doing, Mad? Drew pushed
Madison away, stepping back and crossing his arms over his
chest. His face felt strange and tight with an uncomfortable
mix of confusion and fury. The look on Casey s open, freckled
face as she ran away played itself out over and over in his brain
until he thought he might lose it completely.
What am I doing? Madison snarled, tossing her silky
platinum hair from her shoulders. What are you doing, Drew?
You ask me out the other night, and then you freak out at my
door and run away, and the next thing I know you re here with
that girl.
Her name is Casey. Drew ran his hands through his hair
JENNI FER BANASH
and began to pace the way he always did when he was mad or
freaked-out or both. He couldn t remember the last time he
was this angry, and if he d ever been this completely furious at
Madison specifically, he d blocked it out. But deep inside he
wondered if just maybe he was maddest at himself. There was
no way he should ve responded when Mad kissed him, but
when it came to Madison, his body seemed to have a life and
mind of its own.
And you just treated her like crap, you know that, Mad?
She didn t deserve that!
Oh, poor baby. Madison pursed her lips out into the full-
lipped pout that usually drove him half-crazed with lust, her
voice dripping with fake sympathy. My heart really bleeds for
her.
We were just talking! Drew shouted, throwing his arms
in the air. All at once the crowded terrace fell silent, the party-
goers staring at Drew and Madison surreptitiously over their
half-full glasses. The Upper East Side was a very small world
a microcosm really, and Drew knew that by Monday, the fight
he was currently having in front of practically everyone he
knew would be all over polite society. As it was, Dominique
Delmonico, the biggest gossip on the Upper East Side if not
all of Manhattan was standing less than ten feet away, peer-
ing at Drew over her red, rectangular Chanel eyeglasses, her
blue eyes widening.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]