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“Well, it’s not Nordstro”

I seethed inwardly Showing any sort of outward emotion in my mother’s presence was futile She only sahat she wanted to see

So I skipped over it and asked, “To what do I owe the honor?” My tone held a biting edge that I couldn’t disguise Perhaps it was her air of superiority that grated on my nerves, in addition to the way she’d treated both my dad and me

My ht hair, the perfect pallor, the tiny frarance toHer crocodile leather handbag—Prada would be er at , Aria Lynne You never come visit me”

She always usedShe’d truly ed debutante I could see her delivering thean entire rooloith her UV-ray smile Serious overkill on the bleach, but it was all part of the Kathryn DeMille Big Top circus

“I’ve been a bit busy, Mother Sorry”

She surveyed my s room beyond The corner of her ive in to a frown for fear she’d wrinkle

Setting her large tote on my table, she extracted two items The first was today’s Arizona Republic, the Phoenix paper It was already opened and folded over to reveal pictures froanza at the Delfino estate

“I had no idea you kept such prestigious company these days,” she cooed

In the center of the page was a photo of runt of oh, shit, please don’t let Dane see this But he would Seeing me with Kyle would create a bit of friction No need to delude myself

“I planned Meghan Delfino’s wedding,” I told my mother

“And you’re now BFFs? Darling, that’s fab-ulous!” She drew out the last word as though I’d miraculously procured the Hope Diamond

“Just friends,” I mumbled as I moved past her “Do you want some water? There’s no Evian, just tap, but—”

“You really should be uests, Aria Lynne”

“I don’t get h a million tiny spiders had suddenly crawled under my skin?