Chapter Twenty - KATYA
“So,” Ariel says, taking a seat at the kitchen table next to me.
“So,” I say back.
“You’re kinda young,” Ivy says.
“Right?” Cindy laughs. “Wow, I’m so glad you’re practically jailbait.”
“Cindy,” Ariel says, a note of irritation in her voice.
“What? I’m tired of being around all you old people. And Ivy’s preggo, so she’s no fun. No offense, Ivy.”
“I get it,” Ivy says, taking the seat across from me.
I’m starting to feel a little cornered. I didn’t think they’d be so intimidating.
“I’m sensing that there’s more to your story here. Kat, is it? Oliver likes to call you Kat?”
“Kat is fine,” I say, straightening my spine. “And yeah. I mean what’s happened to me in the past eleven years can’t be summed up in one conversation. Obviously.”
“Uh-huh,” Ariel says.
“Stop it, Ari.” Cindy is pointing her finger at her sister. “I mean it. She came to us for help. Don’t chase her away.”
Ariel barely acknowledges Cindy. Instead she looks me straight in the eyes. “Is that why you came? For help? You think… what? We’re all in this together?”
“We could be,” I say.
“Uh-huh,” she says again. “Lucio Gori Junior. He did that to your neck.”
“It’s awful,” Ivy says. “I can’t even imagine. I’m really not used to all this excitement. I’m just a boring girl who decided to seduce Mr. Romantic one day. So, honey”—she reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers, gives it a squeeze—“if you need help I’m on your side.”
Well, that’s nice. “Thank you,” I say.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Ivy.” We all turn to look at Ariel. “She’s Oliver’s ghost.”
“I’m not a ghost. I’m an ex… girlfriend.”
Ariel screws up her face. “Oliver doesn’t have girlfriends.”
“Well, we dated for like six months four years ago. I think that counts.”
“Oh, my God,” Ivy says, counting on her fingers. “Were you underage? That’s kinda hot.”
“It’s stupid, is what it is,” Ariel says. “Like my brother needs that kind of attention?”
“He’s my brother too,” Cindy says. “I think it’s hot. I started stalking Paxton when I was thirteen.”
“You’re sick,” Ariel says.
Cindy just nods her head. “Damn right. And he’s just as sick as me. We’re peas in a pod.”
“I just think it proves how much Oliver likes her,” Ivy says. “I mean, to take a risk like that? After… you know.” She sighs and closes her eyes for a moment before opening them back up and saying, “Nolan took a risk like that for me too. I think it’s sweet.”
“Mac took a risk with me too.” Ellie was looking out the front window during this conversation. Like she was lost in thought. But now she comes over to the table. “And really, if any of us are a ghost, it’s probably Tori. Her and West’s story. Jesus. Talk about drama.”
“I don’t think it’s sweet,” Ariel says. “I think they’re a bunch of dumbasses who think with their cocks.”
“That too,” Cindy says. “But they’re our cock-thinking dumbasses.”
“Welp,” Ellie says. “We might as well get started on the plan while we wait for Tori to come back inside.”
“She’s not part of the plan,” Ariel says.
“Oh, I think she is,” Ellie says. “If she knew Lucio Gori Junior, then she knows Lucio Gori Senior, Ariel. She can be the bait.”
“Bait?” I ask.
“Just a figure of speech Tori came up with,” Ellie says. “She was the bait, but you know… I think our little kitten here might work better. They’re expecting Tori to do something. She’s wild and unpredictable. Tell me, Kat. Are you known for being wild and unpredictable?”
“Not really,” I say, letting the answer come out without thinking.
“See,” Ellie says, taking the seat next to Ariel at the table and folding her hands in her lap. “She’s perfect. She’s exactly who we need.”
Ariel sighs, still staring at me. “I don’t trust you.”
I stand up. “Look… maybe it was a mistake to come here. Just tell Oliver I had to go to work. And I need a day to myself to think.”
Cindy grabs my arm so quick, I startle. “Sorry,” she says, letting go. “But wait. You can’t just walk out now. My sister isn’t someone who trusts people easily, that’s all. Meet us tomorrow. We can all have a good long think and then see the situation with new eyes.”
“Good idea,” Ivy says. “I’m sure whatever the men are doing outside will require a nice long think as well. At the very least we need enough time to stop them from going forward with whatever stupid plan they come up with next.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Ellie laughs. She looks at me. “We’ve decided to cut them out of this little problem we find ourselves in and take the reins.”
“Men.” Cindy sighs. “They really are a bunch of cock-thinking dumbasses.”
I consider their offer for a second. It would be nice to have people on my side. And these girls all seem capable in their own ways. I mean, five more people to help me dig my way out of this fucking hole I’m in? How could I say no to that?
“OK,” I say. “I’ll meet you tomorrow.”
“We can have coffee at the theater,” Ariel says.
“How about we don’t go to the FoCo Theater?” Cindy says. “The last thing we need is Sparrow sticking her nose into things.”
Everyone looks at Ariel for an answer. “Fine. We have an old building on Mason Street just behind Shrike Bikes. My dad’s been renovating it for years, but he hardly ever goes over there. And he’s so busy preparing for the Zombie Run this weekend, he won’t be there tomorrow for sure. How about noon?”
I nod. “OK. I’ll be there.” And then I walk to the front door and let myself out.
I exhale deeply and take an equally large one back in to steady myself as I open the gate and start walking up the street towards downtown.
I can’t decide if what just happened is on plan or not.
I decide it is. I decide it went just the way it was supposed to.
I decide that even if I just majorly fucked it all up, I don’t care. Because I cannot do this on my own. I need those girls on my side if I want to win this game.