Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
I look at my three best friends and try to force the fact that none of them were there for me the day I buried my father out of my mind.
As well as the fact that I haven’t seen any of them much in the last three weeks.
“I understand, life happens,” I say, trying to ignore the knot in my chest. “I know you all have commitments.”
I pick up my glass of wine and take a mouthful to wash down my lie.
The truth is, I don’t understand. They are supposed to be my best friends but when my life collapsed around me, they were nowhere to be seen. Oh, their over-the-top floral arrangements came to the house, as well as the wine hampers and cards of condolences.
But a shoulder to cry on?
Not a single one.
I feel their guilty gazes on me, waiting for me to say something else, because heaven forbid they try and make this awkward lunch any easier on me. My fair-weather friends.
“You’re here now, that’s the important thing,” I add with a forced smile. “I’m so pleased you invited me to lunch today. Perhaps we could make it a weekly thing again?”
I’m hurt by their lack of support but willing to put it behind me.
Because without my three girlfriends, who do I have?
Everyone scattered to the wind.
A look passes between Lilah and Angelica.
Okay, what was that?
Lilah plays with her diamond earring, a clear sign she’s nervous.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, unease creeping into my gut.
Angelica glances at both Lilah and Jules before whatever is on her mind gets the better of her, and she leans forward on her gold-bangled forearms and says, “Look, we’ve been talking and it’s probably a good idea if we don’t see each other for a while.”
I stare at her as my world falls away beneath my feet.
“What do you mean?” I finally manage.
“It’s not that we don’t want to be your friend…” she says.
“But we have our own lives to consider,” Jules adds.
Lilah gives me a pitiful look. “It’s not our fault. Or yours for that matter. It’s your father’s fault. He created an impossible situation for all of us. Andrey says we need some distance. He has a business to consider and my friendship with you has already caused problems.”
“And Edward says being an acquaintance of the Bamcorda is hurting his political ambitions,” Angelica says, referring to her husband. “He’s running for mayor and says we need to separate ourselves from what happened.”
Edward didn’t have a problem being tied to my family name when he was receiving big fat campaign checks from my father.
I huff out a breath as I look at my friends. “You guys are breaking off our friendship because of what my father did?”
“That sounds harsh,” Lilah says, looking horrified.
“We’re cooling our friendship, just for a while,” Angelica assures me.
I turn to Jules.
My very best friend.
The one who enjoyed all the highs with me during the good times that included several overseas trips to exotic locations, frequent shopping excursions, and many, many meals at restaurants where the Bamcorda name got you a table no matter how short notice it was.
The one who spent so much time at my house she was basically family.
Please stand by me.
But she looks away.
“Jules?” I say her name with desperation. “Seriously?”
But she doesn’t look at me.
And my heart breaks.
I have no one.
I remove the linen napkin from my lap and dump it onto my barely touched lunch in front of me.
“Well, I can see this lunch is over.” I signal to the server for the bill. “Best I leave before I cause you ladies any further embarrassment.”
“Please don’t be like that,” Lilah begs, as if I’ve just punched her straight in the heart.
Angelica straightens her back and doubles down. “It’s not our fault, Bianca. Do you really think we want to do this? What your father did ruined everything for us too.”
I glare at her. “How has anything been ruined for you? Have you lost the only parent you had left? Have you been made into a goddamn pariah in this town? Do people stare at you when you walk past like you have three fucking heads, only to turn their back on you?”
People from surrounding tables turn to look in our direction.
“Keep your voice down,” Angelica hisses.
The server appears at the table with the bill, and I hand him my credit card.
“You don’t need to pay for lunch,” Lilah whispers.
“Bianca, that’s unnecessary, we’re happy to pay,” Jules adds, finally looking in my direction.
“Consider it a final hurrah to our friendship,” I say sharply.
“There is no need for dramatics,” Angelica says.
“You’re dumping me because of what my father did. I think the dramatics have already begun, don’t you?” A pain hits me in the middle of my chest but I resist rubbing it. It’s just my heart breaking. “I would never do this to any of you.”