Kasey heard her alarm go off, but there was no way she could do this right now. She couldn’t face her friends yet. She needed to figure things out and prepare, so that no matter what happened, she’d be set. With that plan in mind, she called in sick and pulled the covers over her head.

Every muscle in her ached. That was what sucked about being in a wreck, you didn’t feel anything until the next day and then it hurt like hell.

“I called Kira. She said she’d already talked to you and it wasn’t going to be a problem for me to stay home today,” Layla said softly from the doorway a few minutes later. “Can I come in?”

Kasey didn’t reply, just moved over in the bed, biting her tongue to keep from groaning due to the soreness, and pulled the covers down so she could hide beside her.

They didn’t talk; they lay there and thought about what had happened the night before—the car crash, but more importantly, the conversation with her father. Eventually coffee, the evil seduction that it was, called to them from the kitchen and they emerged from the cocoon to face the world once again.

“Are you going to do it? Set up a meeting like your father asked?”

Kasey shrugged and pulled two cups from the cabinet. “I think I have to. I can’t keep lying to them forever. I have to come clean and pray they’ll understand I never meant them any harm. I’ll text everyone and ask them to meet me tomorrow night. I don’t want you to be there. Keep your distance until we know how they handle it and we’ll go from there. Okay?”

“I understand. I don’t like it, but I understand. Do you know what you’re going to say yet? Are you inviting your father, too?”

“I think I should but have him wait until I’ve explained some things first. That way it’ll be like ripping the Band-Aid all at once. Maybe it’ll hurt less that way.”

“Hurt you or them?”

Kasey didn’t and couldn’t reply. She didn’t know the answer. Or rather she did but didn’t want to dwell on it too hard. Truth was she needed them more than they needed her. They had each other, their mates, and their families. Kasey was just someone they adopted because she had no one else. She’d get through this. She had Layla now. She wasn’t alone anymore.

The rest of the day passed in agonizing slowness as she watched the clock slowly tick the hours away. If this week hadn’t been bad enough, now she had to see Artemis. There wasn’t enough Xanax in the world to make her numb enough to deal with that woman and her constant criticisms veiled in niceties. “I asked the cook to make everything with no butter, try to make the meal a bit healthier.” And, “Those pants look good on you, but I think they are little too tight in the butt and stomach. I like them, though.” Or, “You know, I met the most wonderful young man yesterday. He’s single, too, but I don’t think you’d be his type. He looked like a young Robert Redford.” The woman was cruel and vindictive. Always making Kasey feel fat, ashamed, and not good enough.

“Layla, you almost ready?” Kasey called through the door. “Artemis will throw a fit if we’re late.”

“No, I don’t know what to wear. Everything I put on makes me look fat. After the things you told me about her, I’m freaking out,” Layla cried as she opened the door to show Kasey the mess that was now her room. “Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”

Kasey couldn’t help but laugh at her cousin's use of the line from one of their favorite movies. “It’s not that bad. She’s going to focus on me, anyway.” She picked through the random clothes until she found a suitable, comfortable outfit. “This is going to be uncomfortable enough without us putting on something we hate.” She handed Layla the jeans and blouse she’d grabbed with a wink. “Now hurry up. I want to get this over with.”

Her father’s men escorted them to a car. There was no way he would let them be in public or traffic without protection. She was surprised her father even let her leave the apartment.

Then walking into her father’s house was just as bad as she’d assumed it would be. Artemis wasn’t even showing yet, but she had on a maternity top. She greeted them warmly enough, but that could have been in part because of the guests that were also invited she hadn’t been warned about.

“My dear Kasey, I’d love for you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Santiago, and this is their son, Elias. They were at the party last weekend, but I do believe you left before they had a chance to make your acquaintance.”

Kasey smiled and gave polite chitchat with the parents until she was able to sneak away. Elias for his part smiled, but he too seemed as bored as she and Layla were. Eventually the three of them found themselves grouped together. At first, conversation was stilted and awkward until finally Elias sighed. “Forgive me for this question. I’m afraid there’s no polite way to ask it.”

“Ask away, we promise to try not to be offended, if said question is indeed offensive, that is.”

Elias laughed at her reply and nodded. “Please tell me this ends soon. I don’t know how much longer I can handle listening to that woman blather on and on about nothing.”

Kasey and Layla bit their lips to keep from laughing but it was futile. Their chuckles escaped, and soon, he was laughing with them. “I’m afraid to tell you that you can expect at least another hour of this before dinner even begins. Trust me, by the end of the night, you’ll be begging someone to kill you and put you out of your misery.”

“Kasey, that’s so mean. Your stepmother would be aghast to hear you say such things, and to one of her invited guests at that,” Layla chided with a twinkle in her eyes.

“That’s even more reason to say it if you ask me. That woman is not my stepmother. She is simply my father’s wife. I do not lay any claim to her, nor does she claim me as hers. It’s a mutual hate-hate relationship there.”

Elias grinned. “In that case, I think this party just got a lot more fun. Now, ladies, please tell me how I can get myself uninvited for future parties with her.”