Chapter Three

In Which Elisa Spends an Entire Party Sulking

An after-wedding party at Colin Burger’s was not Elisa’s idea of fun. But she wasn’t ready to go home. Bobby invited Julieta out for drinks with him, and she’d accepted, which meant their mother wouldn’t talk about anything else until she fell asleep—which, since she was hopped up on cake, wasn’t likely to be any time before midnight.

Even if Elisa went to bed, she’d still have to hear about it. It was a small apartment, and her mother’s voice tended to carry. She was glad Bobby turned out to be nice. Julieta’s blush said it all. Her sister was happy and excited.

But that didn’t mean Elisa wanted to listen to their mom talk about it for hours.

So when Colin invited Charlene and the remaining Benitez sisters to his apartment in Hunsford, the token “rich but not as rich as Netherfield Park” neighborhood, she agreed. Her mother had been skeptical about Elisa and her sisters being out so late but had relented as soon as she found out that some of the handsome, single groomsmen would be in attendance, too. The possibility her daughters might meet a future husband was all the encouragement her mother needed.

“This is going to be so much freaking fun,” Lucia said, practically bouncing off the walls of the minivan after the girls dropped Mom off at Longbourn Apartments. They’d left with the promise they’d be home by one a.m., which left them with a solid three hours to spend at Colin’s party. Elisa just hoped Mom would be asleep by the time they got home.

“Remember, we’re all underage, so no drinking,” Elisa said, reminding herself just as much as anyone. Only because she had to stay in control if she wanted to watch out for her sisters. “Colin will probably have some liquor there, but if anyone offers, say, no.”

“Jeez, do you ever stop nagging?” Lucia asked.

“She only nags because she cares about you,” Charlene chimed in from the passenger seat. Elisa gave her a smile.

“You don’t have to worry about us, Elisa,” Camila said, leaning forward to talk to her. “We’ll be fine, honest.”

“I’ll always worry about you,” she said, now allowing a hint of fondness into her voice. “Even when you’re married with three kids.”

Elisa had never been to Colin’s place before, but she assumed his parents were paying for it. He was in school full-time, and he never stopped posting about it. If he’d had a job, she definitely would’ve heard by now. He posted about every part of his life, which was almost as boring as hers.

She was surprised by how nice the apartments were. Unlike the McMansions in Netherfield Park, she could see herself living in one of these…in a parallel universe where she had money.

Colin answered the door when they reached his apartment, and he hugged them. Lucia and Camila didn’t seem to mind.

“Thanks for inviting us,” Camila said. “Here I thought the party was over.”

“I’m always happy to have people here,” Colin said, ushering them in. Elisa could see the kitchen and into living room, with about a dozen people scattered throughout. Most of them were wearing bridesmaids’ dresses or groomsmen’s suits, with drinks in hand.

While Colin droned on and on about the virtues of his apartment, he’d taken the girls’ coats and hung them up, and offered them all drinks. Elisa was glad that he at least had the good sense to offer them Coke and juice. Colin was underage, too, for another few months, so the booze must have come with the bridesmaids.

After listening to him for ten minutes straight, though, she wished he’d offered anything that would dull the throbbing in her head.

“Thanks,” Elisa said, taking a can of orange soda from him.

“This place is beautiful,” Charlene said, interrupting Colin. Finally.

Of course, Catherine Burger, Colin’s mother, would put her little boy up in the nicest apartment she could find. His older sister Anna was currently living the dream in a London penthouse, on her parents’ dime. The Burgers were seriously rich, though Elisa had never known how. Maybe his father did something with the stock market, but she wouldn’t swear to it.

He was related to Darcy.

Why am I even thinking about her? Wrong. So wrong. Anger twisted in her gut.

“E, are you okay?” Charlene asked, nudging Elisa. “You look like you’re mad about something.”

“Let’s find a seat, and I’ll tell you,” Elisa said. “I overheard Darcy and Bobby talking back at the wedding.”

They found a seat on the huge windowsill overlooking the street below. Charlene sipped a wine cooler, since she wouldn’t be driving and, allegedly, didn’t have work the next day. Eyebrows raised, she waited for Elisa to tell her what she’d heard.

And she did, relaying the entire conversation. She hadn’t meant to get so worked up over it, but by the time she finished…

“I mean, can you believe her?” she finally snapped, crumpling up her soda can in her hand. “She barely even knows us, and she’s already made up her mind to hate us.”

Charlene looked amused. “You really want to talk about someone making snap judgements, Elisa?”

“Oh, come on,” she said. “I decided I hate Darcy because she’s a snob. She decided she hates me because… because my sisters are idiots. It’s totally different.”

“They were being pretty rude. Not—not that I agree with Darcy,” Charlene hastily added when Elisa glared at her. “I’m just saying. She doesn’t know them as well as we do. She doesn’t know that they’re not always that bad.”

“She doesn’t want to get to know them. That’s the problem.”

“Well, did you want to get to know her after that first day of class?”

“Well—no, but—”

“I’m not saying she isn’t ridiculous. But you’re getting awfully worked up over basically nothing. I mean, you don’t even like Darcy, so who cares what she thinks?”

“I care, because she was badmouthing us to Bobby.”

“Since when do you care what he thinks?”

“Since I realized Julieta actually likes him.”

Charlene sighed. “Fair enough,” she admitted. “Well, if he likes her back, he won’t let Darcy screw it up.”

Elisa shrugged, fingers playing with the fabric of her skirt. “I dunno. I mean, Bobby said they’re best friends. Those opinions matter. I’d ask for your opinion before I got serious with anybody.”

“And I’d always do the same with you,” Charlene said. “But first impressions can be misleading. He seems like a smart guy. He’ll look past it if he really likes her.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I’m always right.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Miss Locke,” Elisa said, smirking.

Before Charlene could reply, Colin forced himself in between the two.

“How are you two enjoying the party?”

How would we know, we’ve only been here five minutes. “It’s great, Colin. Thanks again for inviting us out.”

“I am always delighted to be in your company, Elisa. And yours, too, Charlene, of course. But, Elisa—I feel that even though we essentially grew up together, we don’t spend that much time one-on-one.”

I’m thinking he doesn’t understand the reason for that. “I suppose we don’t,” Elisa said, barely keeping her tone nice.

“I’d like to change that.”

Oh no.

“Elisa, I was wondering if you’d ever be open to the idea of having dinner with me.”

Charlene took this as her cue to leave, saying something about needing another drink.

Thanks, bestie.

“Uh—Colin. That’s, uh…that’s really nice of you to offer,” she said, “but I am just…so busy with school right now. The semester just started, and I’m in all these clubs.” She wasn’t in a single one. “I barely have time for Charlene, let alone…”

“Oh. I—I understand. Maybe some other time, then.” For the first time in years, Colin seemed to be without words, and he looked downcast, though he was clearly trying to hide it.

Feeling a tiny pang of sympathy, Elisa said, “But thanks again for offering. That’s very sweet.”

Colin nodded, attempting a smile, which was more of a smirk. “Well…have a good night, Elisa. I better go check on my other guests… A host never gets to stop and enjoy his own party.”

As he left, Charlene returned, sitting next to Elisa again. “Well, he wasn’t crying, at least not here,” she said. “I take it you let him down easy?”

Elisa nodded. “I mean, it’s nice that he’s interested, I guess. I don’t hate him or anything.”

“Ringing endorsement.”

“Well, you know how he can be.”

“Yeah, I do,” Charlene said. “Honestly, I’m kind of surprised it hadn’t happened sooner. I think he’s been thinking about it for a couple months, at least.”

Elisa groaned, running a hand through her black hair. “Don’t…don’t tell Mom I turned him down, okay?”

“What kind of fool do you take me for?”

Colin had always been persistent in befriending Elisa, but in the past few months, he’d become much harder than usual to avoid. He’d popped over to the apartment “just to say hello,” and had messaged her and commented on all her social media posts far more often than he used to. He’d also invited her to almost every event he’d hosted. It had taken Elisa a while (and Charlene interfering) to figure out what the sudden extra attention was about, but once she did, she took every precaution to keep her mother from figuring it out, too. Mom also thought Colin was annoying, but she’d be willing to overlook that if he showed interest in one of her daughters. His bank account could make up for almost anything, as far as she was concerned. Elisa didn’t see it that way. No doubt that whoever Colin wound up with would have a very comfortable life and would probably be able to go on all sorts of fun, exciting vacations and live in a huge, expensive city, with all the fast cars and fancy clothes their heart desired. But the price for all that would be actually putting up with him 24/7. No amount of money was worth that.

The apartment was huge, so even though there were at least thirty people in attendance, it didn’t feel too crowded. The music drowned out almost all conversation from Elisa’s standpoint, and it was easy to lose track of time as she sat there, chatting with Charlene about everything from the wedding to Charlene’s soul-sucking job. Before she knew it, they’d been sitting there talking for almost a full hour.

“Hey, where are your sisters?”

Crap.

“Hell,” she muttered. “I’ll be right back, Char.”

She quickly searched the rest of the apartment. It was like herding cats every time they went out together, and her sisters had a way of leaving chaos behind.

I love them. But sometimes I wish someone else was the prison warden.

Maria and Camila were sitting in the room Colin referred to as the lounge, chatting with a couple of bridesmaids from the wedding. When Elisa asked, “Where’s Lulu?” Camila and Maria only had shrugs, but one of the bridesmaids piped up.

“She’s the tall, skinny one with pink streaks in her hair, right?”

“Right,” Elisa said. “You’ve seen her?”

“I think Jamie was talking to her in the kitchen.”

“Thanks,” she said, hurrying off, not bothering to ask who Jamie was. Whoever he was, Elisa was willing to bet that Lucia was way too young to be talking to him.

She was right. She found Lucia and Jamie, who was, as it turned out, one of the groomsmen—and one of Elisa’s classmates. They were in the spare bedroom, making out on the bed. I’m going to murder her. Elisa charged in, turning on the light and shouted, “Stop.” Other than Jamie’s jacket, which was laying on a chair, they both seemed to have all their clothes on.

At least there’s that.

“Elisa—” Lucia was blushing furiously, pushing some hair out of her eyes. “You could knock.”

“Oh, hey, Elisa,” Jamie said, clearly not getting why Elisa was upset. “I didn’t know you two knew each other.”

“She’s my sister,” Elisa said, putting her hands on her hips. “My fourteen-year-old sister.”

Jamie went paper-white, and jumped up from the bed, grabbing his jacket and quickly saying, “I’ll see you in class, Elisa. Lucia, delete my number from your phone, please,” he said in one breath before hurrying out.

“We’re going home,” Elisa said. She grabbed Lucia by the arm and forced her to her feet. “Once Mom hears about this, you won’t be allowed to leave the apartment for a month.”

“Please don’t tell her,” Lucia pleaded, trying to force her wrist out of Elisa’s grasp. “We were just having fun.”

“You are too young for that kind of fun. Especially with a guy that age. Lucia—those laws exist for a reason.”

“Age is just a number.”

“Yeah, and jail is just a room.” Elisa let go of her wrist to bring her hand up to her forehead, massaging it. Her head hurt. “Lulu, you need to stick to guys your own age. For your own good, and everyone else’s. Jamie could’ve gotten into serious trouble if you two had done anything.”

“Guys my own age suck.”

“I guarantee, the kind of adult man that would do that with a fourteen-year-old girl sucks way more. The only excuse is that you didn’t tell him how old you were.”

Lucia crossed her arms, raising her chin in defiance. “I’m mature for my age.”

“First of all—no, you’re not. Second of all—if it was maturity they were interested in, they’d be going for women their own age. Not children.”

“I am not a—”

“Yes, you are. Legally, mentally, and in all other aspects. You are a child. So be a child. You don’t have to pretend you’re this mature, experienced adult when you’re not. There’s nothing wrong with just being fourteen.”

“You always said you hated being fourteen,” Lucia said.

“Yeah, but I still had to go through it. And so do you. No amount of drinking or hooking up with older guys will change that.”

Lucia glanced away, lip trembling slightly. Elisa sighed.

If she thinks she can start crying and soften me up, then she is…totally, completely, 100 percent right. God dammit.

“Okay. That’s my lecture. I won’t tell Mom about this,” she said. Lucia looked up, then, meeting her eyes for the first time since she had walked in. “But please think about what I said. You shouldn’t be in any rush to grow up—and this isn’t the way to go about it.”

Lucia didn’t respond right away, tearing her gaze away once more. “I’ll think about it,” she said quietly.

“Thank you.” She let out a sigh. “I’m just doing this because I want to keep you safe, Lulu. You know that, right?”

“Yeah. I know.”

Elisa smiled and wrapped an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “C’mon. Let’s find Char and the others and get out of here.”

…

Tiptoeing past the room where Mom slept, the Benitez sisters hurried off to bed. Lucia had gone into her section of the living room, unusually quiet, while Camila and Maria slipped into the room they shared. Elisa was last, locking the front door behind them, before going into the room that she shared with Julieta. As she expected, the other bed was empty.

She had nearly drifted off to sleep when Julieta returned an hour and a half later, quietly slipping into the room and preparing for bed. She was humming a love song that she had heard on the radio approximately six thousand times that week.

“Jules,” she whispered, “I was wondering when you’d get back.”

“Oh, did I wake you? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”

“You didn’t.” Elisa sat up. “How was it?”

She was beaming, looking bashfully down at her feet. “It was great. He’s so sweet. He gave me a ride home and even kissed me before letting me out.”

Elisa grinned. “A kiss on the first date? Why, Julieta Benitez, you skank,” she said playfully.

Her sister blushed, shaking her head as she laughed. “Oh no, no, it…it was very G-rated, just on the cheek. I don’t think this even counted as a date. But,” she added, “he did give me his phone number and email, and he told me to add him on social media.”

“So, do you think there’s something there?”

Julieta nodded. “I do. I really do.”

She paused. “How can you tell?”

Her sister ran her fingers through her hair, a smile still playing around her lips. “I can’t explain it. It just felt like—like the more we talked, the more it felt like we’ve always known each other. And there weren’t any awkward pauses, or any moments where I said something and then was immediately like, ‘Why did I say that?’ We just clicked, you know? I mean, yeah, maybe it was the alcohol, but I really don’t think so. I know you hate to give Mom the satisfaction, but…maybe there’s actually a future for Bobby and me.”

“Don’t tell him that,” she advised. “Guys are notorious flight risks.”

“I won’t. I’d like to keep him around for a while.”

“I’m glad. G’night, Jules.”

“Good night, Elisa.”

She rolled over and tried to fall back asleep, listening as her sister’s breaths became soft and steady. As her eyes closed again, she thought about what Julieta had described. She’d heard of that sort of thing before, of course, but she’d never known it to actually happen in real life—until now.

She was happy for her sister. So, so happy—Jules deserved this more than anybody else she knew. But she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

When’s it my turn?