I lean forward on the chair, noticing the change. Before I can ask her about it, cold drops of water hit my bare feet and I see Daniel standing over me, wiping his hair with a towel.
“Hey,” he says to Lourdes. He’s charismatic, and I watch as Lourdes practically melts under his attention. “I’m Daniel.”
“Nice to meet you.” Lourdes stares at him a second and then turns back to me without introducing herself to him. “So, Audrey,” she starts, “a bunch of us are going to the roof tonight to celebrate my return.” She rolls her eyes, looking embarrassed that she’s the center of attention. “You should come too. Meet everybody.”
“Oh.” It takes me a minute to realize that I’m the one she’s inviting and not my brother. “Sure,” I say. “But there’s a party in the ballroom. You don’t go to that?”
“The staff’s not invited,” she answers quickly. “Which is okay with me, since I hate most of the guests here.” She laughs. “Believe me, the roof is better. We go at sundown. You’ll be there?”
I don’t really have to give it much thought—I’m not invited to the fancy party either. “Count me in. Sounds fun.”
Lourdes smiles broadly, standing from the chair. “See you tonight,” she tells me. She runs a long gaze over Daniel and then waves before turning to walk back across the lawn.
“She doesn’t like me.” Daniel pulls his face into an exaggerated How is that possible? expression. “I thought everyone liked me.”
“They do,” I say. “Except for me, right now, because you’re being obnoxious.”
Daniel laughs and whips me with his towel. “Oh, stop. I’m joking. Mostly.” He shrugs. “She liked me.”
“I’m going inside,” I say, rolling up my magazine and tying my towel around my waist. Daniel joins me on the walk back, and just when we get to the patio doors, the sky starts to clear. “It’s going to be a beautiful night,” I say, looking up. “Are you coming to the roof with me?”
“Don’t think I was invited,” Daniel says, not sounding terribly upset by it. The air of the Ruby is chilly on my skin, and Daniel shivers and brings his towel around his shoulders. “I’m going to explore other options.” He pauses and points ahead. “Such as . . .”
Across the lobby Catherine waves, pageant-princess style, and starts toward us. She’s no longer in a gown, but she’s still too fancy for midafternoon. A bright white blouse with layers of necklaces glittering in the window-filtered sunlight. Short cigarette pants with spiked black heels, ornate silver bracelets. I sigh and swing my head toward my brother.
“Are you kidding me?” I ask him. She’s over the top, even for his taste. He laughs, fully aware.
“Dan,” Catherine says, out of breath when she reaches us. She places her palm on my brother’s cheek, dramatic and entirely too affectionate. “I was so worried,” she murmurs, letting her hand fall away. “I thought you’d left.”
“No,” he tells her. “Just found out we’re staying until Friday. Isn’t that awesome?” She casts an annoyed glance in my direction, speculating what part of “we” I fit into. “Oh, Cathy,” Daniel says quickly. “This is my sister, Audrey.”
She smiles politely. “Nice to see you,” she says disingenuously, and immediately turns back to Daniel.
“Likewise,” I say closemouthed.
Catherine runs her gaze over Daniel and then touches the towel at his neck. “The pool is gorgeous,” she says. “Were you swimming?” I resist the urge to answer, “Duh.”
“Yeah,” Daniel responds, a little prideful. “I was practicing my dives, but my sister was entirely unimpressed.” He knocks his elbow into my side, and I groan and take a step away. I’d rather be spared their idea of small talk.
“I can’t even swim,” Catherine says. “I would have been impressed.”
“I’ll teach you,” Daniel says, puffed up and self-important. When Catherine excitedly tells him she’d like nothing more, he pulls her into a playful hug, pinning her under his arm in a way that might suit a campus girl but is out of place in high society.
Catherine turns up her face and they both smile, and I know exactly what my brother sees in her: Adoration. Attention. Catherine’s feeding his inner boy, giving him the validation he craves. The idea that he’s still so desperate for attention sends me into another guilt spiral, proving once again that I’m not living up to what my family needs. It makes me hate Catherine a tiny bit more . . . although I already summed up how terrible she was within two minutes of meeting her.
Catherine glances behind us and her expression falters. She pulls away from my brother with a longing sigh. “I’ve got to run.” She tilts her head like she hates the idea of leaving him. “Promise me you’ll come see me before tonight’s party,” she says.
“Promise,” Daniel responds. Catherine doesn’t acknowledge me before walking purposefully toward the garden doors, shooting a quick glance at the front desk. My brother watches her until she’s out of sight, and when she’s gone, he turns to me with a shit-eating grin on his face.