Page 40 of Strings

She faces me once we stop moving. “Okay, topic diversion coming up. Let’s discuss Isabella, the princess.”

I snicker. “Let’s.”

“This conversation stays here. My car is like Vegas. What happens in Cherese’s car stays in Cherese’s car. Deal?”

“Totally.”

Cherese takes a deep breath as if she wants to get it all out without having to stop for air. “She’s a two-faced, hoity-toity bitch-ass cunt with a fairy wand shoved up her ass and entitlement written on her forehead.”

“Have I mentioned how much I like you yet, Cherese?”

“Don’t fall in love. I don’t swing that way.”

I laugh out loud.

“That bitch had the nerve to tell me how to play my instrument. Do I tell her how to flute? No. But for some reason, she thinks because Mommy and Daddy control half of the Sym, that means she can boss people around like she owns the damn place.”

“That makes sense. Sebastian told me she had contacts.”

“Oh yeah, she does. But you know what? I don’t care. I do my job and I do it well. She can shove her opinion up her ass.”

“Ooh, let’s send some of your muffins to her.”

Cherese points at me. “They are shit, aren’t they?”

I laugh. “You tried.”

“Girl, I try too much. And a couple of years ago I went out on a date with this guy from the tech crew, and Bella opened her big mouth to everyone. We were over before we started.”

“Sounds like the Bella I know.”

“I would stay away from her if you can. I pretend to play nice because we work together, but that’s the only reason.”

“I try, believe me.” I swivel slightly in my seat to face her better. “Back to Sebastian’s parents.”

She rolls her eyes and huffs. “Right, well, let’s just say they didn’t think I was good enough for him.”

Traffic moves and she faces forward once more.

“So you’re telling me that you two were in love and his parents made one comment and he dropped you?”

“Who said we were in love? We fucked—a lot. But nobody ever said love.”

I try not to picture Sebastian and Cherese being intimate, but the image is already there. I’m not sure how it makes me feel, so I make myself stop thinking about it. I almost ask her how he was in bed, but I remember I’m supposedly screwing him too, so I can’t.

“And I’m pretty sure it wasn’t one comment. My parents were middle class. We weren’t poor, but we didn’t struggle, either, if you know what I mean. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth, and apparently that’s a requirement to date a Corronov.”

“I’m really sorry. I almost feel bad for being with him. Maybe I don’t know him at all.”I know I don’t.

“Don’t feel bad. I don’t blamehim. His parents were extremely hard on him, and from what I’ve seen these last few years, I think they still are, regardless of all the success he’s had. Even though he never said anything negative about them to me, and I only met them once, I could tell by the way they spoke to him back then, he wasn’t doing enough to make them happy. I think the pressure was too much and it put a wall between us.”

“They sound lovely.” I adjust my seatbelt and face forward again. It’s digging into my neck.

“So yeah, black middle class girl dates rich white boy. A match made in heaven.”

I feel myself getting angry. “You’re extremely talented and beautiful. If Sebastian judged you by the color of your skin, then he’s—”

“Oh God no! Never. He’s not like that. It’s just one of my many unconfirmed theories on why his parents didn’t like me. He’s actually a decent guy. He’s a bossy dick at work, but underneath, he’s okay. He did me a favor when we broke up. I almost stayed in New York for him and missed an opportunity to really gain some experience. I have no regrets. It was a lifetime ago.”