Page 2 of Sugar (Gilded #1)

John did something in finance with investments or hedges or something. He’d tried telling Wren, who’d then relayed it to Greer and me. But like all games of telephone, a lot got lost in the process. We might not have understood what his job was, but the gist was clear enough.

The dude was loaded.

“Okay, and?” Greer prodded.

“And now we’re going to move into his stupid giant house.”

I leaned forward, my brows lowering. “I thought you said it was plain and boring.”

Her mom had been dating John for almost a year, and every time we asked about his place, Wren dismissed it. Even when we were invited over, she would change the plans because she said there was nothing to do there.

The word giant was certainly never mentioned.

“It’s… I don’t want to talk about it,” she snapped, putting her head in her hands.

I shook my head. “Too bad. I changed my mind. I am forcing you to talk. What’s the deal?”

Keeping her gaze down, she sighed. “He lives in a mansion. A legit one.”

She might’ve been keeping that tidbit to herself, but I didn’t get the big deal. It wasn’t like our houses were exactly dilapidated shacks. “This is California. You can’t kick a can without it hitting a mansion. What does that have to do with us?”

“Money changes people. It’s stupid and causes problems.”

A lightbulb went off in my head. “Do you think we’re going to be upset that they have money?”

Wren gave a small, jerky nod.

My jaw dropped.

We’d never really discussed money. We all made the same allowance, so in my mind, it was even.

Sometimes, we bought each other food or a movie ticket or whatever.

Truth be told, it was usually Greer covering for us because she was way better with money.

But we never kept track or considered it a loan.

It all equaled out eventually. No biggie.

Or so I’d thought.

Worry tightened my chest. “Are you upset that our parents have more money than your mom?”

Her head shot up, and she shook it. “No way. But Robert was.”

Robert… Otherwise known as Wren’s dad.

“Why do you think that?” Greer asked.

“I don’t think it. I know it. He said it to Mom during their last blowout fight. When he was trying to use it to justify sleeping with Bobbi.”

Ugh. Robert and Bobbi. So stupid. Even her name is bimbo-y.

I didn’t bother to say that out loud. The dumb couple had been together for four years, and we’d been making fun of them just as long. “We’ve been over that fight a million times, and you never told us that.”

Guilt coated her face. “I know. It’s a mess. Old news. Whatever.”

“It can’t be old news if it’s bothering you now. So what happened?”

“When Robert tried to put the blame on Mom, he said he only cheated because she stressed him out. That he worked so hard because Mom resented that he wasn’t as successful as your guys’ dads.”

“That’s bullshit!” I hurriedly looked around to make sure no teachers overheard me.

“That’s what my mom said. That his issues were his own, and then she told him where he could shove them.”

Good for Dina.

The practice my dad owned with Doug made good money—as far as I knew—but it wasn’t like Robert had been a door-to-door sand salesman in the Sahara. His bitterness didn’t make sense.

“Did they used to have money trouble?” I asked.

Wren shrugged. “I was ten when they split, so I wouldn’t have known.”

“You never heard them argue about it?”

I’d totally overheard my mom bitching at my dad about how much he spent on golf clubs and lunches. He would turn around and remind her about the extensive collection of purses and shoes that filled her custom-designed closet.

Then they would burst out laughing and say they loved each other.

Wren gnawed at her bottom lip for a moment. “They used to fight about money, but…”

When her words trailed off, I pushed. “But what?”

“Promise not to be mad.”

“Promise,” I shot back instantly.

Putting her hand on the table, Wren extended her little finger. “Like, pinky-promise.”

Again, I didn’t hesitate as I hooked my finger with hers.

“Robert hates your parents.” She glanced at Greer. “He isn’t big on yours.” She zeroed back in on me and forced the words out quickly. “But he really hates yours.”

The feeling is mutual.

I kept that to myself. “Why?”

“He thinks your dad is uptight and judgmental.” She rushed to add, “He isn’t. And Mom always sided with your parents and told Robert he was the judgmental one, but that just made things worse.”

My thoughts bounced around to connect the dots as I picked up the Diet Coke before changing my mind and giving the last of it to Greer.

She needed it more. Her homemade drink had stuff floating in it.

“So, you’re worried that since money weirdness broke up your parents, it’ll do the same to our friendship? ”

Pressing her lips into a thin line, tears filled Wren’s eyes again as she nodded. “Your house is only a little bigger. Your cars are only a little more expensive. If that tiny difference made them split, what’ll happen with John making crazy money?”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” I told her honestly.

“Gee, thanks.”

I rolled my eyes. “It is. No offense, but your dad’s a jerk.”

“No offense taken to the truth.”

“ He broke them up, not money. And since I don’t plan on cheating on you by becoming best friends with Bobbi, our friendship is solid. Nothing will change that.”

She laughed at my cringey joke. “But think of the deep, inspiring conversations you can have about whether you can feel Wi-Fi.” I opened my mouth, but before I could ask, she nodded. “Yes, she legit thought the air felt and tasted different in rooms with a router.”

“Oh God,” I wheezed, laughing so hard, I was worried I would snort. “Okay, I take back what I said earlier. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Right? So bad.”

Getting control of myself, I shook my head. “Seriously, though, money won’t change us. First of all, it’s our parents who have it. We’re broke as a joke.”

“Speak for yourself,” Greer cut in. “My piggy bank is stocked and awaiting our next mall trip.”

I hooked a thumb to the side toward her.

“Okay, other than Scrooge McDuck diving into her pool of gold coins, you and I are broke. Beyond that, you’re not gonna turn into a spoiled brat who demands they return a Ferrari because you want a Maserati.

Even if he wanted to buy you something to match his sports car, your mom totally wouldn’t let him.

You’ll be lucky if you get one from this decade. ”

“This is true.”

“Third, we’re not jerks who… what was that word Ms. Slayer used? We don’t grudge you happiness.”

“Begrudge,” she corrected.

“Yeah, that either. Point is, we would have to be real assholes to throw away our amazing friendship because we’re jealous over something as stupid as money.”

She hesitated before muttering, “My dad threw away his marriage.”

“Yeah, but we’re smarter than him.” Taking the last thing from my lunch bag, I tossed it over to her. “Maybe having money means you’ll start bringing your own cupcakes.”

“Don’t count on it.” She grinned at me as she ripped open the package and took one out before handing the other back. Without a word about it, we each broke part of ours off to share with Greer. “Like you said, money won’t change us.”

“Fine by me.”

Taking a big bite of the delightfully artificial treat, Wren tried to smother a smile. “But, uh, remind me to help you study for the upcoming vocab quiz.”

“You supply the Diet Coke.”

“Deal.”

A small smile tipped Greer’s mouth. “I can bring?—”

“No!” Wren and I cut in. As similar as we were in most ways, we had very different preferences in snacks. She was all about whole foods and greens.

I preferred mine of the junk variety.

Wren fidgeted with her fingers for a moment. “I’ll ask John if we can study over at his house. We’ll sit by the pool.”

“There’s a pool?” I asked.

“A big one. And a jacuzzi.”

Greer scowled. “Well, now I am mad. We could’ve been using a jacuzzi all this time?”

“That’s not even the best feature.”

“Tell us everything.”

As we listened to our best friend, my focus was split between her words and how much happier she was compared to the start of the conversation. I couldn’t believe she’d thought something so stupid would come between us.

Money doesn’t change anything.