She Drives Me Crazy(36)

“Baywatch thinks she’s funny,” I say, jerking my thumb toward Irene.

“She is,” Danielle says.

Honey-Belle leads us through the merry house with its twinkling lights and pink-cheeked nutcrackers until we reach a sunroom with a Jacuzzi squat in the center. It’s one of those aboveground whirlpools with an insulated cover, which Irene and Honey-Belle pull off the top in a way that suggests they’ve done this a million times before.

“It’s … bedazzled,” Danielle whispers to me. There’s no need for her to point it out: The glinting gemstones catch the light on every part of the outer shell.

I can’t help laughing, because the more I hang out with Honey-Belle, the less any of this surprises me.

Honey-Belle fiddles with the controller until the hot tub roars to life, the jets glug-glug-glugging while bubbles pop at the surface. We sink into the hot water and stretch against the four sides of the tub.

“This is heaven,” Danielle says with her eyes closed. “Screw that party, we should’ve been doing this the whole time.”

Irene sinks low enough for the water to reach her chin. Her expression clouds over, and I think she must be ruminating on Charlotte’s cruel gag. I feel another stab of guilt in my chest.

Honey-Belle must be thinking along the same lines, because she affectionately scratches Irene’s head and says, “How about we play How’s Your Heart?”

Irene laughs. “You can, Honey-Belle.”

“What is it?” Danielle asks skeptically.

“It’s what it sounds like,” Honey-Belle says brightly. “Everyone goes around and shares how their heart feels right now. Mom and Dad and I play it all the time.”

Danielle meets my eyes with a look that says This can’t be real.

“I’ll start,” Honey-Belle says, undeterred. “My heart feels happy from talking to Gunther tonight. He’s so sweet and interesting.” She bites her lip demurely. “I didn’t know he was so funny.”

“Is he, though?” I mutter to Danielle.

Danielle doesn’t hear me; she’s staring keenly at Honey-Belle. “How do you admit that so easily?”

“What? That I like Gunther?”

Danielle twists her mouth, self-conscious. “Yeah. What if he doesn’t like you back?”

Honey-Belle shrugs. “That’s up to him, not me. I always say when I like things so the universe will hear me clearly. Actually, that’s how Irene and I became friends! I told her I liked her aura. It’s shimmery and bold, as I’m sure y’all have noticed.” She shakes Danielle’s forearm. “Why, do you like someone?”

“No, no, definitely not.” Danielle clears her throat. “I was just asking hypothetically.”

“That’s too bad, because there’s probably lots of guys who like you. You’re a natural leader and you’re super brainy and, to top it all off, you have Cleopatra eyes. You could rule a whole kingdom with a scepter and a necklace of rubies.”

Danielle blinks rapidly. “Er … thank you.”

“Anytime.” Honey-Belle beams. “Your turn: How’s your heart?”

“Um.” Danielle shifts to spread her arms wider. “My heart feels anxious. It’s like I’m always on the edge of something. The next test, the next big game, the next college acceptance letter. I have a hard time being happy where I am.”

I’ve never heard Danielle speak like this. A surge of affection shoots up through my chest. I want to reach across the hot tub and hug her.

“That sounds mega stressful,” Honey-Belle coos. “Thank you for sharing and helping to cement our bond of vulnerability. Okay, Ireenie, you’re next.”

Irene, who has been taking all this in as quietly as I have, shakes her head. “Not tonight, Honey-Belle.”

“Oh come on. We can tell you’re upset about the party.”

“I’m fine.”

“Your aura has gone dark and spiky,” Honey-Belle says pointedly.

Irene dips her head back so she’s looking at the ceiling. “Fine. My heart feels betrayed.” She pauses. “I’m also hungry.”

Honey-Belle smiles. “I was waiting for that. Nachos?”

“God, yes, please.”

“Coming right up. Danielle, will you help me?”

“What?” Danielle says. “But it’s so warm in here—”

Honey-Belle stares meaningfully at her and does an obvious head cock in my direction; she clearly wants me to have a moment alone with the angsty Irene.

“Yeah, yeah,” Danielle grumbles, following Honey-Belle out of the Jacuzzi. “Y’all better have jalape?os…”

Irene and I are left in a loaded silence as their voices trail out of the room. We ignore each other from opposite sides of the hot tub until a full minute has passed.

“It’s your turn,” Irene says suddenly.

“What?” I ask, even though I know what she means.

She stares expectantly at me, unimpressed with my feigned ignorance. I roll my eyes and stretch my arms across the top of the tub.

“I feel—”

“No,” she cuts me off. By the look on her face, I can tell she’s enjoying my discomfort. “Not ‘I.’ You know the format.”