Chapter Fifteen - Ava

Cindy greets me at the door with a huge hug, and I let the embrace linger, so happy to see a normal everyday human being. Not that I don’t enjoy being with Dimitri, but all the other people around him seem so cold and aloof. If they’re not, it’s as if they don’t know how to let their hair down and act like normal people, but I guess they’re not. They’re high society and have to engage in some stupid game in order to maintain the status quo, which to me—coming from where I come from—is a load of shit.

“Girl! I’m so happy you got let out. Woo-hoo!” I step into Cindy’s house; the same one I’ve been in so many times before. We grew up together and have been best friends since primary school. There’s been pockets of time where we haven’t been as close, but we always end up falling back together again.

“Yes,” I reply, “I’ve been let out, but I get it. It’s not really like that. It’s just with all the changes and stuff, I guess….” Cindy knows some things, but she doesn’t know everything, and I don’t know if I can tell her. There are things I don’t want to admit. I park the idea, not wanting to put pressure on myself, instead deciding to have a nice night with my friend for old times’ sake.

It’s after eight, and I’ve arrived later than I wanted to, Dimitri almost backing out on giving me a ride here, but he had no choice unless he wanted me to complain and pout about broken promises for the entire night. “How about some hot cocoa and you can tell me all about your sexy new lover!” she drawls, making sexy eyes at me.

Giggling, I offload my overnight bag on her small couch, remembering Cindy’s like me, and trying to make ends meet by putting herself through college too. Except she has the lucky benefit of both her parents being alive.

“He is sexy. I can’t lie about that.”

Cindy’s eyes widen as she sweeps her black hair off her face. “What? You’re going to spill for sure. I want all the deets.”

I smile goofily as Cindy stirs in the hot cocoa, dropping white and milk chocolate duds into cream, her secret cocoa weapon. As she stirs, I start at the beginning of the story.

“You’re probably not going to believe me because it’s too crazy for words.”

Cindy scoffs, stirring with her wooden spoon, but stops to drag out two large mugs and a bag of marshmallows. “Then I want you to use all your words, including the adjectives. Please and thank you, because my life is snore bore.”

Laughing, I remember how funny Cindy is, and it makes me happy to be spending time with her. “Apparently Dad’s uncle was fond of me, and he left me Raven’s Peak.”

“Shut up! You got a land inheritance?” She flips around, her mouth open at the first tidbit of news.

“Yep, but that’s just the start. The land is about 10,000 acres.”

“Nooo! That’s huge. It’s got to be worth a fortune,” she squeaks forgetting to stir as I point to the smoking cocoa on the stove. She turns back, switching off the burner.

“Shit! My bad. Alright. So, you’re not poor anymore. Are you going to sell?”

Shaking my head, I frown as she pours the steaming hot liquid into the cup adding marshmallows that automatically melt into a sweet goo on top. Licking my lips, I can’t wait until it cools enough for me to drink it.

“No. Come on, let’s sit on the couch. I told you this part on the phone. About the property.”

“No. You didn’t! You missed this part. I knew you were going to the funeral, and you inherited something, but I thought it was like something small or whatever.”

“Probably right. Maybe I told Donna about it and not you.” I sigh heavily, trying to shake off the confusion. “My life has been turned inside out since going to Wisconsin.” Sighing, I hold on to the hot mug. “Yeah, so the property has natural resources which will gain me more in the long run if I hold on to it.”

“Shit! That’s cool. Does that mean you’re a rich bitch now?”

Twisting my mouth, I grin, nodding my head, but shrugging humbly. “Kinda!” We huddle together and clink mugs. Ah, this feels so wholesome. Relaxing, I take a small sip enjoying the rich drink, glad she didn’t offer me a gin and tonic like she normally would if we were going out together.

“That’s too amazing for words.”

“Yeah, well I’ve quit law school. Just for this semester until I figure out what to do?”

Cindy frowns. “Where does Dimitri come into all of this?”

“We met because of Raven’s Peak and came to an agreement because he knows what to do with the resources on the property and I don’t. And I guess we’ve been spending a lot of time together lately….” I smirk, not giving her all the sordid details. “And I thought it would just be business.”

Cindy shakes her head before sipping her cocoa. “You did a lot more than spend time. I can tell. You’ve been bumping and grinding.”

“Cindy! You are so extra.”

“Yes, but that’s why you love and miss me. So, what’s the problem? Sounds like a good deal to me.”

“I don’t know, Cindy. I feel like it’s not the right thing to do. Things are moving so fast, and I can barely keep my feet on the ground. I’m going to all these social events, mingling with all these high-powered, filthy-rich people and I don’t really fit in their world. It’s crazy.”

“Are you sure you need to fit? Just enjoy it!”

Sighing, I stare at the floating marshmallow in the cocoa, ruminating on it. “Maybe I want to be accepted. I think Dimitri and I are headed in the right direction, but I don’t know where I stand with him.” Pausing for a second, I think about whether I should say it out loud. If I do tell her about what I suspect, that means I have to deal with it being out in the open.

“Hey. I get it,” Cindy soothes, tucking her legs in under her on the couch. “We all want to fit in some kind of way, but standing out amongst a bunch of fake rich people might be the reason Dimitri fancies you in the first place. And by the way, how come I don’t have pictures?” Cindy scolds playfully. “You know I need a visual.”

Smirking, I recall that Dimitri tapped my phone at the start, and the fact he might still be doing it, even though he told me he wasn’t. I don’t want to risk sending photos of him through in case he becomes suss about it. He already has jealous tendencies, so it wouldn’t take much to tip him off. “He’s picking me up in the morning, so you’ll be able to see him then if you want.”

“Okay good, but I’ve never seen you so worried about a guy. But hey, granted this isn’t just any guy, he’s a business partner and other things, but is there anything else?”

I crane my neck back wanting so badly to tell her about the test I took, but I’m not ready to admit the truth to myself, so I tell her a lie. “No. I think that’s enough. Anyway, how about you? What’s going on?”

Cindy scrunches up her nose sniffing, and it’s good to have the attention on her and not me for a while. “Umm, same old, same old for me. Nothing new. Just school and crap, trying to make ends meet. It’s a fucking jungle in Chicago.”

“I’m sorry. When the money starts coming from our ventures together, I can help you out if you need,” I tell her, not wanting Cindy to suffer, my sympathies going out to her, as it wasn’t that long ago, that I was on the same struggle bus with her.

“Naw, you’re sweet, bestie. Drink up.” She smiles at me as I hug the cup, sniffing the cocoa.

“Your cocoas have always been like a warm hug to me, tonight this one tastes extra special.”

Cindy laughs laying her head on my shoulder. “Probably because you’ve been missing it and haven’t had it in a while.”

“You’re right,” I yawn, feeling super drowsy and wanting to sleep. All the worrying over my potential pregnancy is running pointless circles around in my head. “I think I might be coming down with something or whatever. My head’s doing a funny spinning thing,” I tell her, my brain whooshing around.

“Hey, friend. It’s probably all the events and stuff. We should turn in for the night. We can talk some more in the morning over breakfast.” Yawning, and seeing double, I blink, my eyes getting droopy.

“Shit. You’re right. Let’s turn in.”

We walk down the hall, and I head to the spare bedroom I’ve always stayed in bringing my duffel bag with me. I change into my pajamas and slide under the covers, and as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m in dreamland.

Prying my eyes open, I notice my head still feels a little furry, and I could do with a few more hours rest, but I want to get up before Dimitri arrives, so I spend the maximum amount of time with Cindy. We’ve been disconnected for a bit, and once I head back to Dimitri’s mansion knowing the information I’m sitting on, I might not see her for a while. I shower first, feeling more human once I’m done and heading into the kitchen.

The smell of eggs and bacon waft through the air making my mouth water as I sit at the table. “Great! You’re up. Did you shower?” Cindy chirps. She’s always loved to cook, but normally we would take turns when we stayed at each other’s houses.

“Yes. I’m a little sleepy still, but much better than last night. I don’t get what came over me.”

Cindy smiles handing me my plate and it’s loaded up with everything I like. “It’s probably just all the stuff like I said.”

“Yep.” We small talk, and I mull over telling Cindy about the impending pregnancy, but a nagging voice tells me to keep it to myself until I’m sure of what Dimitri and I are.

A beep sounds outside right after we finish eating. “Shit! Is it nine already?” Surprised at how quickly time has gone, I’m already missing my best friend in the world.

“Yeah, it is,” she says slowly, pulling the curtain back to take a peek. Dimitri waves as Cindy swivels in her Ugg boots.

“What the hell? That guy—”

“What?” I chuckle at her floored reaction. “Close your mouth. You’ll catch all sorts of bugs in it.”

“Fuck the bugs. I’m jealous. That’s him? He’s so hot! I am burning up here. I just know you’re having all kinds of sex with that man. I know I would be.”

“Cindy! Be quiet.” I shhh her as Dimitri gets out of the black SUV, waiting in front of it.

He’s so impatient. Why didn’t he give me more time with her?

Annoyed by him being on time, I hug my friend and profusely apologize for not seeing her sooner, then promise to keep in touch. “Bye. Take care of you. Love you, Cindy.” Waving, she pokes out her bottom lip, still in her pajamas.

“Love you too. Have fun with your man.” Her smile is sad as she says it, making me not want to leave. I should have told her. I need to tell somebody.

Once I reach Dimitri, he kisses me solidly on the lips. “Hi. Good morning.”

“Good morning.” Fuck. I have to tell him. Is now the right time? Maybe I should wait until we get home or whatever.

As the ignition starts and we pull off from the curb, Dimitri starts the conversation. “I missed you last night, but I’m glad you spent time with your friend. What did you chat about?” he asks out of curiosity, but I know he’s fishing to see if I spoke about him.

“You.”

“Me?”

“Dimitri, don’t act surprised. That’s what you wanted to hear, isn’t it?”

He grins, turning left onto the main road, waiting for a beat to rub my thigh. “Maybe.” He winks. “No, but really, what did you get up to?”

“We talked generally, nothing too special. It was just good to see her after so long. Cindy and I don’t need to talk so much; we can just be together and it’s nice to have her friendship. We’ve known each other for so long. She was telling me about school for her, and things in her life.”

“Oh. Well, that’s good. I always wondered what girls do at these slumber party things. I don’t stay over at my friend’s house unless we’ve been out drinking the night before. That’s all.”

Rolling my eyes, I chuckle, but my mind’s not completely in the conversation. “Typical, but no, just good conversation with a normal person. I’ve met so many of your abnormal associates lately that it was just nice to relax.”

Dimitri nods his head but doesn’t resist what I’m saying. “Glad to hear it, and good to see you this morning. I feel better.”

I can’t tell him now. What if I tell him and he wants to distance himself because he’s about to be a father now? I’ll k eep it to myself for now.