Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Vida
Walking into the party isn’t as hard as I was anticipating.
Tripp’s words are still ringing in my ears, and I’m starting to think he’s actually serious about us.
He’s not just waxing poetic about some fantasy future that will never unfold.
It hurts him when I reject his wealth. When I won’t let him buy me gifts or take me out to five-star restaurants or phone his associates at Yale.
I thought I was doing the right thing by dating only him, not his money, but maybe his money and power are something I can’t avoid. Or reject without hurting him.
My hand is held tightly inside Tripp’s as we walk out onto the deck where the party is in full swing. A group of girls sing along to “Pink Pony Club” while a scattering of young men take selfies on their phones. All activity ceases the moment Tripp and I walk out into the open.
“Guys, listen up,” Tripp says, his voice clear and confident. “I would like to introduce Vida. My girlfriend. I know you’re all going to make her feel very welcome.” He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses the back of it. “Vida, this is everyone.”
There are mixed reactions, but the common thread is stunned.
From the direction of the girls’ group, I hear, “Wait, how is she wearing Prada summer runway? I thought she was a maid.”
But I don’t think Tripp overhears the whispered comment, which, frankly, is an entirely fair one, so I maintain my smile. If one of them knows I’m a maid, they all do. And I’m not ashamed of my hard-working job. Might as well lean into it.
“Hey, everyone. Instead of making me feel welcome, you could try and keep your rooms a little cleaner.”
Silence lands heavily.
Until one of the guys laughs and they all join in, including the girls.
“Sorry, I’m a Libra,” one of the young women says. “I get a headache when everything is too clean.”
“I’ll skip your room, then,” I quip.
More laughter.
Is this going…well?
Tripp is beaming down at me, his fingertips stroking up and down my bare back.
And while I want to curl up against his side and stay there all night, I should make an effort with his friends.
They’re important to him. On the heels of our tough conversation, I want him to know I accept the most vital parts of his world.
“Um…” An idea strikes, and since everyone is still staring at me, I have the floor. “Did you say you’re a Libra?” I ask the girl who just spoke.
“Yes,” she responds cautiously, one eye squinted.
I take my backpack out of Tripp’s hand, quickly unzip the top, and take out the handheld travel telescope my aunt bought me for Christmas.
“You can actually see the Libra constellation in the sky tonight. It’s pretty clear out,” I say, hesitantly walking toward the group of girls.
They stare back at me over their champagne flutes.
I slow my gait and wait.
“Hold on, Libra is a constellation?” the first girl finally asks.
“It is,” I respond without a hint of condescension.
“Oh my God, show me.” She fumbles for her phone. “I need a picture.”
“What about Leo?” another girl asks, this one in a gorgeous teal cocktail dress.
I wince. “No Leo this time of year, but Scorpio and Sagittarius are a go.”
“That’s me!”
“And me!”
Everyone is scrambling now, looking excited. Over stars. Have I won them over with something I really love? Something that allowed me to remain true to myself?
I gesture for them to come over to the railing of the ship. “Who wants to look first?”
“This messy Libra has dibs,” the first girl shouts, clicking her way over to me in white stilettos. “This is so cool. Can you tell me my horoscope, too?”
“Ooh. That might be outside my wheelhouse, but we can Google it while you look. Make it a whole experience.”
“Someone Google Libra!” She gives me a little hip bump. “I’m Eliza, by the way.”
I turn and send Tripp a smile over my shoulder, only to find he hasn’t moved. He’s still standing in the same spot, watching me with something in his expression I can’t name because I’ve never seen it before. It’s wonder. Breathlessness. And maybe…
No.
It can’t be love, right? So soon?
With a heavy breath, I turn back around and point my telescope up at the sky, locating the shape I have memorized as well as my own name. Handing Eliza the telescope, I point out Libra, my chest tightening with pride when she gasps and everyone starts begging for their turn.
“How did you manage to snag Tripp Sterling, by the way?” Eliza asks me when someone else takes the telescope.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s been around the block.
We all have. But I’ve never seen him pay actual attention to a girl longer than two seconds.
And a girlfriend?” She looks impressed. “Never thought I’d see the day. ”
Tripp
I can’t take my eyes off her.
She…is killing it. I walked into this party ready to verbally slaughter anyone who even came close to hurting her feelings.
But she has charmed the girls so thoroughly, they’re eating out of the palm of her hand.
They adore her. And I grew up with these young women, so I know how rare an occurrence this is. They are not easy to impress.
“Um, Tripp.” Someone waves their hand in front of my face. “You in there?”
“Huh?” I attempt to focus on the conversation taking place with the boys, but not a single word has penetrated my lovestruck haze. “Sorry, catch me up.”
“We’re talking about that new freshman defenseman we met at training. Xavier. What did you think about him?”
They want to talk about lacrosse when I’m taking Vida’s virginity tonight?
I can’t think about anything else.
Yes, I’m thinking about how it’s going to feel to be inside her. How fucking sweet she’s going to smell and taste and sound. How good it’ll be to move on top of her.
Yes, I’m definitely thinking about all of that. A lot.
But I’m also thinking about how I can make her first time comfortable. How I can guarantee her pleasure, even though it might hurt a little. How I can make sure she knows it means a lot to me that she’s trusting me with something so important.
Making her cry was probably my first mistake.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I should go apologize again. I should—
“There is no freshman named Xavier,” Calder snorts. “You’re not even listening, man.”
Shawn chimes in. “He’s got something on the brain and it’s not lacrosse.”
“Hint,” Calder whispers. “It’s that sweet lower-class pussy.”
I snap out of my daze instantly, anger rendering me temporarily mute. “What the fuck did you just say?” I grab Calder by the lapels of his shirt, getting in his face. “That’s my girlfriend you’re talking about. Speak about her with respect or you won’t be able to speak at all.”
Calder has the good sense to look embarrassed.
Briefly.
But apparently not enough to apologize.
“Respect, you say?” Calder laughs, shoving his way out of my grip, lowering his voice for my ears alone. “Does she know you’re only dating her because of a bet?”
That statement is the equivalent of an uppercut to the jaw.
I haven’t spared a single thought to the bet since we made it in the gym.
Did I shake on it? Yes.
Did I only take the bet so this fucker would stay away from her? Also, yes.
But I shouldn’t have. I feel sick to have gambled on something so precious.
My Vida.
“The bet is off,” I rasp. “There’s no fucking bet.”
Calder chuckles, but the sound is bitter. “What’s wrong, worried you’re going to lose?”
Here’s the thing. I wish I would lose. I wish Vida would ask me for anything of value. I wish she’d let me spoil her rotten. But she won’t.
“Do you really want to call the bet off?” Calder asks near my ear. “Because I think that makes her fair game.”
“I don’t think you heard me. Vida is my girlfriend.”
“Sure. As if that’s realistic. Is she going to clean your mansions for you?”
I deck him clean across his smug face. He goes down hard and in disbelief, clutching his nose while blood seeps down the side of his face.
I’m not done, though. I’m seeing bright, murderous red.
No one is going to talk about Vida like that.
Not now. Not ever. I throw myself down on top of him and land a vicious right cross before I’m hauled off by several of my friends.
“Deep breath, Sterling.”
“He had that coming, but let’s stop before we do too much damage.”
“Go ahead, say one more stupid thing, motherfucker,” I bellow down at Calder. “So I can finish you off.”
Wisely, he says nothing. And then Vida appears in front of me, splaying her fingers on my chest, her beautiful eyes brimming with concern.
“Are you okay?” she asks me, stroking my hair.
Her worry is centered solely on me. There’s no shock or judgment or curiosity.
Just her expression that says I’m here for you.
“I’m in love with you,” I say. Right there. In front of all my friends as one of them screams into his phone, demanding someone fly in his personal doctor from Boston. “It happened overnight. Or maybe it was instant. I can’t help it, Vida. I fucking love you. It just is.”
She looks up at me, so still, but moisture is gathering in her eyes.
“I love you, too,” she whispers, blinking rapidly. “It just is.”
“It just is,” I repeat on a ragged exhale, so relieved and grateful and happy, I don’t know what else to do but scoop my girlfriend up into my arms, holding her like the survivor of a shipwreck.
Cradling her and rocking her, resenting every second of my life I’ve been forced to live without my angel. “Everyone, get off my goddamn boat.”
With that, I turn on a heel and carry Vida downstairs, into the living area of the yacht, nodding at my security guards as I go. Without saying a word, they know I want everyone gone.
Everyone but her.
She stays.
She stays forever.