Page 41 of The Spare

"I might be late. It takes me a little while to do my makeup and stuff," she huffs, beginning to run.

I contemplate her reservation and shyness for a moment. Knowing that's why she's late everywhere. She obsessively makes sure she's perfect before she's seen anywhere, always scared of paling in her sister's shadow.

Her feet hit the pavement, and I hear her work to control her breathing. A muscle in my jaw twitches because she sounds like she'sbeing fucked, and I really want to be the reason why she sounds like that. I grunt, swallowing the last of my oatmeal.

"No, you'll be on time. There's no reason to be late. Your last class ends atfour;you don't need to spend an hour smearing shit on your face. You don't need it anyways. I want you outside the library at five-thirty, Melody."

"I want you outside the library at five-thirty, Melody," she mocks me lightly. "Fuck, you're so uptight sometimes.Loosen up."

"Don't piss me off," I say quietly, frowning, quickly realizing I'm not in the mood for that today, as does she.

My patience is literally hanging on by a thread, and I'm so on edge that I don't think I can tolerate any teasing today like I normally can with her. The silence swells between us, and her footsteps slow just slightly making me feel like an ass at how sternly I just put her in her place.

"Sorry, that was childish of me," she says.

"Well, we're done with that," I say smoothly, getting up from my seat and grabbing my phone, heading towards the elevator of my penthouse.

"What?"she huffs.

"Nevermind. I'll be there at five-thirty sharp."

I hang up the phone and make my way to my area of the parking garage, sliding into a sleek Mercedes and taking off to the office.

Chapter thirteen

Here We Go

"Ugh!" I groan, throwing my makeup brush onto the small vanity in frustration. I take the makeup wipe and smooth it over my eyelid, praying that it doesn't irritate my skin as this is my fifth time trying to redo it.

"What's wrong?" Karissa, my roommate, walks over to bend down to look at my reflection in the mirror. Her blond brow arches as she assesses my handiwork.

Sighing, I hold the pencil up to my eye again, trying to go slow.

"I keep fucking up my eyeliner," I mumble. The pen slips again, smearing the wing at theedge.

Karissa tsks and takes it from me, rubbing the edge where she starts to carefully draw in my liner with her tongue between her teeth. "Why are you putting on so much makeup anyways?" she asks.

Heat fills my cheeks at her judgemental question. I can't tell her it's because I want to appear more grown up, womanly in front of my sister's brother-in-law. "I just want to start taking better care with my appearance. My sister's in-laws are throwing a dinner party for my birthday today."

She pauses, putting the pen down to look at me. "What? It's your birthday?" My face heats up in earnest now as she glares at me. The room becomes almost as icy as her ice blond platinum hair. "Bitch, why haven't you said anything?"

"I just…"Because I don't want the attention."Because I don't want to make it a big deal."

"Melody, I would have loved to celebrate you!" Her eyes go wide. "Can I come tonight? To the dinner?"

I pause. She must see the look on my face because hers turn pouty. "Come onnn, Melody!" she whines. "I want to help celebrate your birthday!"

"Fine," I sigh.

Pulling out my phone I send a text to mine, Isobel's and Hendrix's group chat, letting them know I'm bringing someone to dinner tonight. I know they won't mind because I never ask for anything. Sure enough, Hendrix texts back quickly, giving me the go ahead.

Why wouldn't you bring someone? Is it a guy? -Henny

I snort.

I wouldn't dare. The family is strictly forbidden from bringing random love interests into the fold. For good reason, I know, due toall the legal paperwork that goes into drafting NDAs, but it makes me wonder why he'd ask if he knows that's one of thefirstfucking family rules.

"You can come," I tell Karissa, seeing her do a little wiggle dance and shout with happiness.