Arranged(30)

“Are you showing impeccable manners when you point out someone else’s faux pas?” I asked her, tone deadly calm. The more vicious she became, the less it affected me. If debutantes were created to show impeccable manners, models were made to endure harsh criticism. This twit had nothing on any random savage casting agent I’d ever had a run in with. “Just curious,” I added pleasantly.

Three of the other girls started to speak at once, and at first I thought for sure that they were backing up their friend.

I was wrong.

“Calm your tits,” Camilla scolded Addison.

“What the fuck, Addie?” Veronica exclaimed.

“That was rude,” Millie said to Addison in a sharp tone. “Apologize.”

Addison rolled her eyes, glared at me, and stood up. “You know what? If you’re going to unload on me just because I’m the only one here that’s not being fake as hell, I’m going to dance. Peace.” She held up both hands in peace signs as she strutted away.

I watched her until she’d disappeared through the door that led to the actual night club with envy. It had to be more fun in there than it was in here.

Three of the five women left apologized for their friend’s rude comments, and I shrugged it all off.

Was I offended? A little. Was I surprised? Not at all. Snobbery was the least of what I’d expected from the rich girl club I was being forced to hang out with tonight.

I contemplated taking the Addison route—just ditching them all so I could go dance with some strangers—but decided against it. I was still at the point where I was trying to play nice with them just to prove to myself that I could. If I was honest, though, I was about one easy strike away from ditching the whole crew.

Things had grown quiet and awkward after Addison’s dramatic departure. Everyone had taken to playing on their phones.

I did the same, wondering if they’d notice if I dug out my headphones and started watching some K-drama. It sure would pass the time.

I was still entertaining the idea when Millie started bouncing up and down in her seat, making excited noises.

I looked her way politely, since she seemed to want everyone’s attention.

“We have company coming!” she squealed.

“Did you hire some strippers?” I asked deadpan.

No one laughed. I glanced at Chester, who was trying to hide a smirk. I smiled back. That was reward enough for me.

“As you know, our husbands,” Millie said slowly and dramatically, “are out drinking together tonight.”

I nodded, pretending that I’d known that, but of course I hadn’t.

“My Preston,” she continued, “just told me that all they can do is talk about their wives.” She beamed at me. “They miss us! How sweet is that?”

It didn’t escape my notice that the two single girls remaining at the table were rolling their eyes at each other. Who could blame them?

“It’s so sweet,” I answered woodenly. Millie seemed to expect it.

“That sounds like my Bradley,” the one I thought was Hadley said smugly.

Hadley and Bradley? Really? Had their parents planned that shit out?

“Of course they do,” Veronica said with unshakable confidence. “My Royce hates going out without me.”

Millie nodded emphatically. “My Preston is the same.”

“What about you, Noura?” Beatrix piped in. “Does your Banks hate going out without you?”

There was a certain something in her voice. Something catty and almost knowing. I wondered what she’d heard, and some part of me wanted to be brutally honest. Some part of me wanted to just spill the tea to the whole gossipy lot of them just to see how scandalized they’d be. No, my husband doesn’t hate going out without me, in fact he’s only gone out with me once.

But I knew I couldn’t do it. I’d signed away all my rights to being a truthful person when I’d signed that prenup. Hello, money. Goodbye, honesty.

I just smiled blandly and said that he did.

“You guys are basically still on your honeymoon,” Millie added without an ounce of irony. “God, I remember those days. I miss being a newlywed.”

That prompted the women into telling various romantic early marriage stories.

I listened attentively. Hearing about happily married people sure as hell beat out the gossip about random women I didn’t know.

This went on for a while and when they eventually tried to draw me into telling them a story about my marriage, I quickly redirected the conversation. “Did you say they were coming here?” I asked.

“Yes! The husbands are on their way. Isn’t it nice that they’re such good friends?”

I agreed that it was nice.

“We need to find Beatrix, Addison, and Camilla husbands that fit in with our men,” Hadley added. “It’s a small pool to draw from, though. Not many eligible, single men left from our circle.”

“They can only marry men from your circle?” I asked. I was past being offended and into honest curiosity. How these people thought was a complete mystery to me.

“I mean, they can marry anyone they want. It would just be nice if it was an insider instead of an outsider. No offense.”

I shrugged it off, but of course her saying no offense only made it more offensive.

There was a commotion at the back entrance, and I saw that several tall men had just entered the room.