Page 151 of Trapped With You

I joined them both on Darla’s bed. “I saw online that you spent some of August in Europe.”

Dacia nodded, playing with her blond strands and casting Darla a meaningful look. “Yeah, we decided it would be good to get away from Montardor for a bit.”

Darla bit her bottom lip. “I have to tell you something, Ella.”

“What is it?”

She touched the pulse at her wrist with her thumb, taking a deep breath. “I hadn’t been feeling well for the last few weeks of senior year and I got diagnosed with a small benign tumour shortly after graduation. I ended up getting surgery for it and it was relatively quick and successful. After that, Mother suggested we take a vacation before university starts to reground myself. Get a change of scenery. All that jazz.”

My throat was tight. I wanted to cry. “Darla, are you serious?”

“Yes.” She smiled sadly. “The doctor said it could have been caused by stress and inflammation. Anyways, I was lucky it was small and non-life threatening.”

I hated the way she was downplaying this. I hugged her again, kissing her temple. “Darla, I don’t know what to sayexcept that I’m so sorry to hear you went through this. I wish I was there for you.”

“It’s okay.” She patted my back. “You’re here now and that’s all that matters.”

She was right. We were back. That’s all that mattered.

“While we’re being honest with each other, I want to tell you both something.” I played with the strings of the friendship bracelet Darla gave me eleven years ago. “I was five weeks pregnant and miscarried the night of Josh’s party.”

More gasps and curses echoed in our little circle. Suddenly, I was enveloped by both sisters. They hugged me as I recounted my miscarriage and how I recovered slowly, one day at a time, after that night.

Darla’s voice trembled as she pressed a kiss to my head. “I’m so sorry, Ella. This is heartbreaking. I know how badly you’ve wanted to be a mom.”

It would happen one day when the time was right. I wasn’t worried.

But hearing these words of comfort after spending the entire summer dealing with this on my own filled me with warmth and healing. For the first time in weeks, I felt good on the inside. Like everything would finally work itself out.

Dacia wasn’t one for emotions, but she did caress my shoulder in an affectionate gesture to show her support.

“Thank you for hearing me out,” I said. “And thank you to Berto for letting me through the doors.”

We shared a short chuckle.

Growing up, I never felt the lack of sisters because I had these two. I was a firm believer in counting my blessings. The Hill women were probably one of the best gifts the universe had given me.

I was grateful that we got this second chance.

Before I left for Initiation Night, I begged the universe for areprieve. This was it. Divine timing. It threw many obstacles my way but look at me now—a better version of myself than when this entire mess started.

“All right, that’s enough emotional talk for today.” Dacia stood up and stretched her arms. “It’s Saturday night and we should do something fun to celebrate.”

“What do you have in mind?” Darla asked, going over to her vanity to fix her appearance.

Dacia and I shared a knowing look.

There’s only one thing we’d be doing tonight: gathering dirt on Callie.

Before setting her aflame.

“How about we pay a little visit to the Mackowski household?” I offered with a grin.

“You read my mind, Ella.” The thing nobody knew about Dacia? Behind her ice princess front hid a ball-busting bitch.

“I’m texting Hera.” Darla typed on her phone. “Whatever we’re doing, she’ll want in on the fun.”

“Good.” I stood up and adjusted my cropped leather jacket. Tonight, the back of it was adorned with justice scales, stitched carefully with a gold thread. “And I know just the person who can help us execute this plan.”