Vengeance (Private 14)

“Just hear me out,” he said, putting his hand on my knee. “We have finals next week, then graduation, and we haven’t even nailed down our plans for the summer yet. We’ve got all these parties and you’ve got the awards ceremony. . . . It’s just a lot to pack in, that’s all.”

I turned my knees away from him in indignation. My insides felt crammed uncomfortably beneath my ribcage. Why couldn’t I get just a teeny bit of support for something that mattered to me so much?

But even as I fumed, I couldn’t help picturing the stack of assignments on my desk back in my room. And the dozens of unanswered e-mails and texts from my friends. Not to mention the fact that my calendar was so jammed I was running out of space to type in new events and appointments.

“And not that I want to be known for taking Noelle’s side, but this whole thing seems like it depresses her every time it comes up,” he said, looking off in the direction of Pemberly. “I almost feel . . . bad for her.”

That got my attention. No one ever felt bad for Noelle Lange. Least of all Josh. And he was right, of course. Noelle had been through a horrible thing. Was Josh that much more in tune with my best friend’s emotional state than I was?

Ugh. I loathed myself. Here I was, whining about how no one was supporting me, when all the while Noelle was needing my support.

I looked down at the mess of bulging bags and plans and papers and checklists and felt exhausted all over again, like I could just curl up in my bed and sleep for days. Maybe Noelle and Josh were both right. Maybe I’d taken on too much and lost sight of what was important in the process. Not just Noelle, but my other friends as well. This was supposed to be all about the Billings Girls, but other than at meals I’d barely seen any of them lately, and a lot of them would be graduating soon—Ivy, Tiffany, Rose, Portia, London, Vienna, Shelby. Wasn’t I a total hypocrite if I ignored all of them in the name of Billings?

In the distance a construction vehicle roared to life. Carolina waved her arms in the air, directing the driver, and the last ray of sun glinted off the lens of Christopher’s camera. It looked like someone was wasting no time in getting the project up and running again.

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t take a step back and take some time to deal with what was really important. Starting with my friendship with Noelle.

I narrowed my eyes and looked over at Josh. “I hate you, you know that?”

He smiled and put his arms around me. “Yes. But only when I’m right.”

ALL ABOUT NOELLE DAY

The lunch crowd at the Driscoll Hotel restaurant on a Friday afternoon was not exactly hip and happening. Occupying the prime tables near the windows were a few middle-aged men in business suits, locked in quiet conversation as they pushed their steak frites around on their plates. In the center of the room, where everyone could see them and they wouldn’t be tarnished by the sun’s harmful rays, were a few tables full of little old ladies in pastel suits, their legs crossed at the ankles, their lipstick perfectly applied, and their hair sprayed to a shine. The maître d’ led me and Noelle to a corner table, tucking us away from the rest of the clientele, and I surreptitiously slid my phone out of my Chloé bag and placed it atop my thigh under the linen tablecloth.

When I looked up, I caught a glimpse of auburn hair and saw Paige and Daniel Ryan just getting up from a table a few settings away. She shot me a scathing look and my palms began to sweat. I just couldn’t get away from these people. I prayed they wouldn’t come over to say hello to Noelle, and said a silent thank-you when they both turned and headed for the door.

“Taking the day off from classes to squire me to the Driscoll and a secluded corner table?” Noelle said, arching an eyebrow at me as she opened her menu. “I hope you’re not planning to propose.”

I laughed and scanned the specials menu, then placed the huge folder on my appetizer plate. “No, nothing like that,” I said, lacing my fingers together atop the leatherbound menu. “I just . . . I’ve noticed you’ve been kind of down lately and I thought it’d be cool to take the afternoon off and hang out.”

Noelle shook her head, an amused smile lighting her eyes. “I have not been down.” She lifted her thick hair over her shoulders and reached for her water goblet. Somehow her strong arms already looked tan in her white sleeveless dress. At least, for once, she wasn’t wearing black. “I don’t do down.”

In my lap, my phone vibrated. The text read:

IN LOBBY, CMING 2 U!

“Where in the world did you come up with that theory, Glass-Licker?”

I smirked, wondering how she’d react if I told her Josh was the one who had noticed it. “Whatever. The point is, I have a little surprise for you.”

I turned and looked over my shoulder at the double oak doors, thrown open wide to the lobby.

“Oh, God. It’s not a stripper, is it?” Noelle said, leaning sideways to see past me. She brought her fingertips to her temples. “Please tell me it’s not some cheesy stripper.”

“Oh, it’s way better than that.”

Just then Kiran Hayes and Taylor Bell walked into the room, spotted us, and let out a collective, but tastefully understated, squeal. Kiran grabbed Taylor’s hand and they rushed over to us in their high heels, catching curious and lustful glances from the men at the window tables. Kiran, at almost six feet tall, cut a stunning figure in a skintight royal blue dress and black heels, her short, dark hair tucked behind her ears. Taylor’s blond curls hung loose around her face, and her red cap-sleeve dress was belted by a black ribbon, accentuating her curves. Noelle’s jaw dropped when she saw them, and she rose from her chair.

“Oh my God! I can’t believe it!” Noelle gasped.

That was when I knew for sure she was surprised. Blurting without thinking was not Noelle’s way. They all double-air-kissed, clutching hands and grinning as I got up to h

ug them hello.

“What’re you guys doing here?” Noelle asked.

I held my breath, hoping neither of them would mention that they’d flown in for the Billings ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow, and that I’d added this lunch to their itineraries at the last minute. I’d rather Noelle believe it was the other way around.