“I have a trust fund,” she said quietly. “My father controls it until I get married or turn twenty-five. I knew I wasn’t stable enough to handle campus life without melting down.”
“Like I did.” That much, I understood. Sometimes the devil you knew was best.
“Not what I was getting at, I wasn’t sniping, but...basically. So I got a job at the bank and played good daughter, marking time.”
“You thought Rob might offer you sanctuary and financial independence?”
“I hoped so. I want out of that house so bad, you have no idea. But I have to be careful or my dad has the power to cut me off.”
“Is there any reason for him to object to you moving in with a friend?” I asked.
“Who? Jill still lives at home, and there aren’t any decent apartments in Sharon. If I suggest moving out, he’ll demand to inspect the place and then say, ‘No daughter of mine will shame me by living in filth and squalor.’”
“I hate your dad,” I muttered.
“Me, too.”
“Move in here. Rob already suggested it, and now that I know your situation, I want you out of there yesterday. Does your mom know?”
“She pretends not to and takes lots of antidepressants. I’ve considered dumping them, so she’ll have to deal with the ugliness like anyone else, but she’d just get a refill.”
“Spend the night, then I’ll go with you tomorrow. If your father says anything, I’ll play the excited, ditzy blonde while strangling the urge to kick him so hard in the balls that he’d have to pull them out of his nose.”
Avery took a startled breath and then laughed. “I’d pay to see that. But...are you sure this a good idea? We’re both pretty messed up. I snapped and went after your boss, for God’s sake. Though I’m sure if they’d traced the crime back to me, my dad would’ve gotten me off the hook and then shipped me off to punish me for humiliating him.”
“No more of that,” I said firmly. “You make enough at the bank to live on and rooming with me is no reason for him to do anything with your trust fund. A few more years and you’re home-free. You can travel, invest the money or apply to the college of your choice. Like I told you before, you don’t need a guy to save you, not even Rob. You’ve come this far on your own, and you’re going to be okay.”
“You think so?” She sounded so dubious.
I nodded, putting my hand over hers. “And in the meantime, I’ve got your back. I’m not letting your horrendous family hurt you anymore.”
“How in the hell are you the best friend I’ve ever had?” she demanded in a choked voice. “I fucking slapped you in the Stop & Go.”
“So? I smacked you back and threw nachos at your head. One moment doesn’t define us, Avery. We can be whoever we choose to be. I choose to be your friend.”
Happy raised her head and glanced between us with sleepy eyes, apparently troubled by the intensity of our tones, but she decided we weren’t upset with her and went back to sleep. That prompted a watery smile from me. Avery reached over the dog and hugged me. I held on to her, and neither of us cried. We’d done enough of that.
That night, we watched TV until we fell asleep on the couch. I woke up to a text from Nadia. Rob’s safe in Toronto. Thought you’d want to know. Jesus, based on my look at the map, I guessed he’d driven straight through. He must feel like shit. Well, it’s mutual.
Thanks, I sent back.
You okay?
Been better. Been worse. The night Max saved me from myself, for instance.
Avery stirred on the other end of the sofa. “What time is it?”
“Not quite nine. How’re you doing?”
“I feel like crap, and I have to pee.”
“Go ahead. Then let me brush my hair and we’ll get you moved.”
A frisson of fear flickered behind her green eyes, but she only nodded as she went upstairs. By the time she came out, I was ready to go. First, I fed the dog and patted her on the head. She had to be so confused with Rob leaving, and soon Avery’s presence would bewilder her more. It’ll be fine, dogs are adaptable, right? As long as I’m here to love her.
“I’m ready,” she said, squaring her shoulders.
It was amazing how put-together she could look after crashing on a couch. Before, I’d thought she must spend hours on her appearance, but now that I knew her, I understood her lacquered finish came from attitude as much as anything; it was the way Avery carried herself, chin tilted against the world as if daring it to take her on.
Since we’d been hanging out, I had dropped her off at her house more than once. I’d always thought the place had a creepy vibe, and now I knew why. I didn’t imagine I was psychic or anything but it wouldn’t surprise me if Avery’s misery had imprinted on the bricks. I parked the car and got out; I’d driven so they couldn’t try to keep her here. Her car was at the house, and I wasn’t leaving without her. I’d prefer for it to go easy, but I’d fight these assholes if I had to. Somehow I didn’t think her dad would let it get that ugly.
The neighbors might be watching, you fuckwit.
I followed Avery inside and up a curving staircase. When we were kids, I never visited because she was Nadia’s friend and I was kind of jealous and threatened by the whole thing, so back then, I always greeted Avery with a sneer and a lip curl. When they stopped talking, Nadia thought it was because her family didn’t have enough money. As it turned out, she couldn’t have been more wrong.
A maid came out of one of the bedrooms. I didn’t realize it was Avery’s until she went in. “I’ll only take what’ll fit in the car, my clothes and personal things.”
I nodded. “We don’t need furniture. You can sleep in the room I’m using as an office.”
The maid dropped something with a clatter and then hurried away. I tilted my head to glance into the hall. When I turned, Avery was already packing.
“We need to be fast. She’s reporting to my dad.”
“That is so fucking Victorian.”
But that was no exaggeration. Five minutes later, an older man with carefully dyed dark hair appeared in the doorway, wearing a smile that chilled my blood. “What’s going on, dearest? You should have told me you were bringing home a guest.”
“It’s my fault,” I said brightly. “I’m just so superexcited that Avery agreed to room with me. My housemate bailed on me, Thursday night, if you can believe it, and otherwise, I just don’t know how I’d make rent, and it’s such a great house, plus my mom just got married, and I’d die if I had to move home. Your daughter is just the absolute best!” Extrovert Lauren barely paused for breath, and I gave that performance maximum ditz, beaming up at him with such dim friendliness that he actually stepped back.