“Hi, Sam.”
I readied myself and squared my shoulders back. I turned and saw Cass. She wore a slinky white dress that showed off her cle**age. The rest of the Elite stood with her. Mark and Peter were to the side. While Mark had a smile plastered on his face as he scanned the crowd before him, Peter wore a sullen frown. His arms were crossed over his chest. When Miranda passed in front of him, the frown sunk lower. He now looked like he was pouting, but his ex-girlfriend sailed towards us with a gracious smile on her face. She wore a white dress as well. It clung to her shape in a sophisticated manner. It made Cass look slutty, which was probably Miranda’s intent.
Cass glowered at her but moved aside for her.
Emily gave me a friendly wave and Amelia was eyeing Mark like he was candy. She licked her lips when his eyes met hers, but he stiffened and turned away.
I sighed. “Hi, Cass.”
She linked her elbow with mine and drew me closer. “Thanks so much for asking Bella to cater Peter’s birthday tomorrow night.”
I stiffened. “It was the least I could do.”
Miranda never stepped closer to hear, but her eyes were alert.
“And thanks for charging me triple the rate.”
My smile froze. Oops.
Cass’s eyes grew heated in anger. “I’m not a dumbass, Sam. I know the rate. I thought you were a friend.”
“Since when are we friends?”
“You’re in the group. You’re a part of the Elite.”
“I don’t want to be. I never have.” Not to mention, I didn’t want to foot the bill for whatever lunch was going to be my turn. These people ate like queens and kings. I couldn’t afford that, even if I got a job.
Cass unlatched her arm from mine and looked down her nose at me. “You weren’t complaining when we’ve had your back. I know there’s been a few of those times.”
I sent a withering glare at her. “If that’s the one benefit I get, then forget it. I’ll have my own back from now on.”
“Yeah.” She laughed. “You and nerd girl. Quite an army.”
Miranda stepped closer. It seemed to glide with that same gracious smile. Her tone was so warm it made me nauseous from how fake she sounded. “Oh, come now, Cass. You’re forgetting about Logan and Mason.”
Cass went still at her words but then rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. What are those two going to do to me?”
“That’s what I thought six months ago.” Miranda’s tone was quiet but effective. Her eyes held a warning in them.
Cass sucked in her breath before pushing away with an irritated growl. Emily and Amelia followed behind her. Mark had already left, but Peter watched us. He made no move to follow his current girlfriend. He seemed transfixed by Miranda.
She gazed after her friends and then sighed. “If only she were smart.”
“Then what?”
When Miranda looked back, I was struck by how focused she seemed. She’d been a shadow of her former glory after Logan had ground her heart into the ground. But now, with a shiver, I knew the former queen was back.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Miranda’s smile turned cold. She lowered her voice and moved even closer. “I know why Logan dated me. It took me awhile to figure it out, but I finally got it. When I figured it out, I couldn’t believe it. I really couldn’t, but then it made me evaluate Mason in a whole new way. I mean, really. I never knew the boy was capable of such cattiness, but he’s earned new respect from me.”
Everything shattered inside of me, but I asked through clenched teeth, “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, you know.” She sounded so casual.
I wanted to punch her.
“How he manipulated Logan into dating me. I know now that Logan thought he was doing it to protect you. I would look the fool after publicly going against them both and calling my friends whores for sleeping with him. He made me look like a hypocritical bitch. Yes, he did. I lost my place with the Elite. I almost lost the entire group and you were swooped up. Adam got you in, he got his way, and you were protected while I was in the cold. It would’ve been a marvelous plan if that had been the real intent, right? But that wasn’t it. Logan didn’t really date me to protect you, did he?”
I couldn’t look away, and I knew I should’ve ended the conversation then and there. I felt sick to my stomach again.
She kept going. Her laugh grated against my ears. “That was the thing. I couldn’t figure out Logan. He liked to screw me, but he never really liked me. He never took me on dates. He never did anything that told people I was his girlfriend. I was the only one telling people, but then I almost missed it one night.”
Dear Lord, help me now.
Miranda lifted her head. Her eyes narrowed and the purpose that reflected in them had me looking as well. Logan was in the same room as us. He was in the corner with his arm around a girl. As she nuzzled her way up his jaw, he watched us. He reminded me of a hunter, with his gaze on the prey, biding his time.