Pure Sin (Privilege 5)

“Maybe a little, but this is weird,” Palmer said. His expression hovered somewhere between disgusted and concerned as he watched his ex-girlfriend toss the wipe aside and snag yet another. “I don’t know, do you think that maybe this rift between her parents is affecting her more than she’s let on?”

“Well, she is an only child,” Ariana replied. “It’s hard for only children when they start to see their family break up.”

“I guess.”

Across the room, Soomie leaned forward and took the wipe out of Lexa’s hand before she could remove another layer of skin. Lexa blinked and looked up, as if startled. Soomie placed her hands over Lexa’s and said a few words, and Lexa seemed to realize, for the first time, what she’d been doing. She slumped back into the couch as if exhausted, and stared down at her hands, which were raw, red, and trembling.

Ariana’s breath started to come quick and shallow. She had to get Lexa back on an even keel. If she didn’t, the results could be disastrous. For both of them.

“I’ve been thinking, maybe you, me, Lexa, and Connie should go out on a double date,” Ariana said, turning toward Palmer, suddenly bright-eyed.

His brows shot up. “You think?”

“Yeah. Why not? It could be fun,” Ariana said, turning her knees toward his.

“Fun. To go on a date with my current girlfriend, my ex-girlfriend, and her current boyfriend,” Palmer deadpanned.

Ariana took a breath for patience. “I know it could be weird, but she’s my best friend, and you and Conrad are friends too. Sooner or later we’re all going to have to hang out together. The sooner it happens, the sooner we can get past the uncomfortable part and start feeling okay about the whole thing.”

Palmer frowned, considering this, and took a long sip of his coffee. “Okay,” he said finally. “If it’s something you think we should do, I’m in. But let’s do it after parents’ weekend. Things are going to be insane for the next few days.”

“Thank you!” Ariana planted a kiss on his cheek and leaned back into him again. All she had to do was show Lexa some actual fun. Distract her with total normalcy. Make her understand that life could, in fact, go on exactly as it had been before, even after what had happened with Kaitlynn.

It was a truth Ariana lived every single day of her life. If Lexa was smart, she’d figure out how to live it too.

“All I know is, these bags are not going to fit in that car,” Soomie said, dropping her many paper shopping bags as she sat in a small Georgetown café on Thursday evening. “But I do so love that car,” she added, looking longingly out the window at Ariana’s gunmetal gray, classic Porsche 944 convertible, which had just been delivered that morning. It was parked out on the street below the flattering glow of a streetlight, and two college guys in backward baseball caps were just now stopping to admire it.

“Don’t you, though?” Ariana asked giddily.

When Maria had floated the idea of a Stone and Grave Ball–related shopping jaunt, Ariana had jumped at the chance to drive her friends to the chic merchants’ district in her new ride. Of course, the “backseat” was the size of a bread box, but it did come equipped with seat belts, so Maria and Soomie and crowded in, letting Lexa take the front. Everyone had enjoyed the drive, even Lexa, who hadn’t whipped out a single disinfectant wipe all afternoon. Still, Ariana sighed as she looked around at the four girls’ many purchases. Soomie was right. They couldn’t have fit this haul in the back of a Hummer.

“No worries,” Lexa said, slipping her phone from her purse. “I’ll just have Keiko call one of Daddy’s drivers and have him come pick it all up.”

Ariana grinned. Not only was Lexa with it today, she was even being proactive. Plus she had purchased a gorgeous black Marchesa gown for the ball, gabbing on about how Conrad loved her in black. Maybe Palmer was wrong. Maybe Lexa was simply going through a cleanly phase. Leaning back in her chair, Ariana decided to savor the moment. She was off campus, relaxing with her friends, and didn’t have a care in the world. She could have sat in that café all night long and been perfectly content.

“Hello, ladies,” a tall, blond waiter appeared at their table, pad and pen at the ready. “Can I take your order?”

“We’ll all have oriental chicken salad, low-fat dressing, and no nuts,” Maria said, handing him the menus. “And we’ll stick with water,” she added, gesturing at the four filled glasses on the table.

“Hey! I was going to get pasta,” Ariana said, grabbing in vain for her menu.

“Not if you intend to be bloat-free for the ball, you’re not,” Maria replied.

“Maria, please,” Lexa said, turning off her phone after her brief call. “Do not try to foist your eating disorder off on the rest of us.” Maria rolled her eyes and slumped back in her chair. “I’ll have a turkey burger and fries,” Lexa told the waiter.

“Ooh, me too!” Ariana said.

“I’ll stick with the salad,” Soomie told him.

“Okay. Let me know if you need anything else, ladies,” the waiter said with a grin. Soomie eyed him from behind as he turned and pushed through the doors to the kitchen.

“Checking out the merchandise, Soom?” Maria joked.

“I don’t think he’s on the menu,” Ariana added, earning a laugh from her friends.

Soomie blushed as she turned around again. She checked her BlackBerry quickly, then placed it next to her silverware on the table. With both hands she smoothed her already sleek black hair, then cleared her throat.

“He kind of looks like Jasper, don’t you think?” she said, ducking her chin toward the table with a giddy smile.