Page 55 of Rivals

At the bottom of the steps, Nina hesitated. Perhaps her mamá’s voice was echoing in her head, or perhaps it was all her years of Sunday school. Love thine enemy, right?

“I can give you a ride home,” she offered.

Daphne narrowed her eyes, swaying a little. “Should you be driving?”

“I barely had two beers.” Nina started to say more, but Daphne cut her off.

“I know, I was with you! You dared me to get that second drink!”

“What are you talking about?” Nina asked, bewildered.

“When you told me you were going back to the bar and asked if I wanted another vodka soda!” Daphne’s sentences were louder than normal, punctuated with clear exclamation points, and she was twirling a strand of hair around one finger.

Nina realized, stunned, that Daphne Deighton was drunk.

“When I offered to get you another drink, I was trying to be nice,” Nina said slowly. “I wasn’t trying to challenge you to some kind ofdrinking contest.”

Daphne’s mouth fell open in a pink O of surprise. Thenshe laughed. “Well, I saw it as a contest, and I had to drink because I couldn’t let you win!”

“Daphne, not everything is a competition.”

“Luckily for you!” Daphne said cheerfully. “You would lose at so many things! Dancing, standing guard at Gabriella’s door, wearing heels.”

Nina bit back a smile as she glanced down at her flats. “You think wearing heels is a core life skill, don’t you?”

“Of course it is,” Daphne said solemnly. “That’s how you can tell a lady, because she’s great at walking in heels, no matter how high they are. Like this!” She glided forward for two steps, only to trip on the third. A sheepish expression stole over her face as she righted herself, smoothing her dress as if nothing had happened. “Now you know why I couldn’t go home with Jefferson. I can’t let him see me like this.”

“You mean, a drunk mess?” Nina asked, almost amused.

“I prefer the termoverserved.”

“That’s it. I’m taking you home.” Nina shoved Daphne rather inelegantly toward the Jeep.

Daphne hesitated, then seemed to reach a decision. “Fine. But only because I can’t afford to let this dress get rained on.”

“Right. Becauseyou’redoingmea favor, letting me drive you home,” Nina deadpanned.

“Of course I am. I’m fantastic company.” Daphne said it in such a breezy, matter-of-fact tone that Nina choked out an unexpected laugh.

She pulled down the driveway and onto the Madisons’ street. Here, the houses were set so far back on their lots that all you could see as you drove past were hedges and iron gates.

“Take a left at Tanglewilde,” Daphne said at the stop sign, and Nina obediently hit her blinker.

A sound echoed through the car. It took Nina a moment to realize that it was Daphne’s stomach growling.

“When did you last eat?” she demanded, and Daphne bit her lip uncertainly.

“I had an iced latte this morning. Oh, and half a banana!”

“No wonder you got wasted off two drinks! Didn’t anyone teach you to carbo-load before a party?” It was something Nina’s parents had told her before she left for college:Always eat pizza before you go out,Isabella had said, and Julie added,Or a sandwich! Or frozen waffles! Anything with bread, lots of bread!Nina had laughed, and told them that they were welcome to send her a weekly delivery of bagels.

She had a feeling Daphne’s parents never gave her advice like that. If anything, they were probably buying her a scale and helping her count calories.

“Take a right here,” Daphne went on, but Nina ignored her and kept driving. “Nina, what are you doing?”

“We’re making a pit stop.”

Daphne’s green eyes widened. “We can’t—I don’t—”