“I mean that in the best way possible of course,” I said with a smile.
“It’ll heal,” Jenny said, taking a sip.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Karen, you should really get Mark in here to look at her. She’ll probably need reconstructive surgery,” I said.
Karen rolled her eyes. Apparently, she didn’t care about Jenny like I did.
Jenny clapped her hands together. “Let’s begin book club.”
“Actually, this month it’s a Vogue club.” I pulled out my fresh copy of Vogue from my bag. “Top five worst outfits, go,” I said, pointing at Crystal. She looked as though she was going to cry, and I didn’t know why.
“Are you okay, Crystal?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yeah. But shouldn’t we wait for Shannon?” Crystal looked around at the rest of us for approval.
“Is she even going to show up? I mean after last night . . .” I grabbed a mimosa and brought it to my lips to extinguish the impending laughter.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Karen piped in and took a mimosa of her own.
I pulled out my phone. “You’re kidding, right? I got it all on video. It’s hilarious.” I pushed Play. “I’m thinking about submitting it to WorldStar.”
Karen scowled at me. “Turn that off, Olivia.”
“What? It’s just a joke. Lighten up. Keisha, you’re probably the only one who knows what WorldStar is anyway.” I winked at her.
Keisha furrowed her brow. “You are something else,” she said, shaking her head.
“Thank you.” I smiled wide.
Karen downed her whole glass and refilled it with just champagne. “Why the hell did you tell Shannon that she wasn’t chairwoman anymore, Olivia?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
“I did?” I placed my hands against my chest. “It just slipped out. I’m so sorry. I know we agreed to wait. I must have had a little too much to drink.” The lies came extremely naturally. They just rolled off the tongue one by one.
Karen exhaled deeply and then took a drink of her champagne. “She’s pissed now. She’s not even talking to me.”
I shook my head. “That’s awful, but you know how she can be. I’m sure she’ll get over it. You two are friends,” I said with a small smile.
Crystal leaned forward and filled a plate with cheese and two croissants. She stuffed the bread with cheese and ate it like a sandwich. How repulsive. What did Bryce see in her?
“I didn’t get a chance to apologize to Shannon for Bryce’s behavior last night, so hopefully she comes,” Crystal said with a mouth full of food. Uncultured swine.
“His behavior was appalling,” Karen confirmed.
Crystal’s eyes moistened. “I still can’t believe how he acted.” Her voice cracked at the end.
Little Miss Country sure put the pathetic in sympathetic. How dare she not stand behind her man? Bryce did nothing wrong. It’s not his fault Shannon is like a case of herpes: hard to treat and never truly goes away. The only way he’ll ever get rid of Shannon is via a death certificate.
“I agree with you both. Bryce was out of line last night,” I said, biting my tongue.
Crystal gave me a pleased smile. Keisha’s eyes widened and then relaxed when she made eye contact with Jenny. Probably because it was hard to look at her. It was as though someone had taken a mallet to her face. It really put Glow in a bad light.
“Are you sure you’re okay to be here, Jenny?” I tilted my head.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She took another sip of her orange juice as her eyes bounced around the room and then back on me.
“Well, anyway. I think Bryce owes Shannon an apology.” I piled the bullshit on thick.
“I agree,” Karen and Keisha said in unison.
Jenny gave a slight nod and then rubbed her bruised neck. She should be wearing a turtleneck.
“I’m going to make sure he does apologize,” Crystal reassured.
“I’m so glad we’re all getting along again,” I said with a smile as wide as a six-lane highway.
“Not everyone. Like I said, Shannon hates me,” Karen said while sipping her champagne.
“You two will work it out,” Jenny said. Her voice was soft and raspy.
There’s a wedge I could push in further. “It’s not your fault that Shannon got drunk and made a fool of herself. And it’s not your fault that I accidentally spilled the beans on the whole chairwoman thing,” I said with so much conviction in my voice.
“And how Bryce treated her isn’t your fault either,” Crystal added. I smiled at her.
“Hate to say it, but I agree with Olivia.” Keisha gave me a curt smile.
“I appreciate that, Keisha.” I smiled back.
The front door chimed, and through the curtains walked Shannon, dressed head-to-toe in designer clothing. Her face was puffy, probably due to the alcohol she drank in excess the night before. Aside from that, she looked rather pulled together. That’s probably why she was late, trying to make herself appear strong when we all knew she was like a compact of pressed powder: ready to fall apart.
“Sorry, I’m late. What are you hens talking about?” Shannon waltzed in and grabbed a bottle of champagne. She poured herself a drink and took a seat. Her voice was light and forced.
“You,” I said.
“What happened to the window?” Shannon asked, ignoring my comment.
“Break-in,” Jenny said.
Shannon looked to Jenny. “Oh my God! Are you okay?” Her eyes and mouth went wide.
“She doesn’t want to talk about it,” Keisha said, placing a hand on Jenny’s shoulder.
“Yeah, let’s just focus on the book club.” Jenny’s voice was quiet.
Shannon closed her mouth and nodded. “Okay, sure.”
“How are you doing this morning, Shannon?” I asked.
It took a moment for Shannon to look away from Jenny. She immediately looked back at her. “Are you sure, Jenny?” she asked again.
Jenny nodded.
“Shannon, I asked you a question,” I said, swirling my mimosa.
She shot daggers at me. “I’ve got some things I need to take care of now, thanks to a recent betrayal.” Her eyes flickered at Karen.
Jenny and Keisha exchanged worried glances. Usually I never noticed those two, but I knew I needed to be observant of everyone if I intended to gain power over this group of women. Shannon’s reign was over. All hail Queen Olivia.
“Shannon, if you have something to say, just say it,” Karen said.
“Is someone talking?” Shannon held her hand to her ear. “Sounds like an ex, backstabbing friend.”
Karen rolled her eyes and took a sip of her champagne.
“Listen, Shannon,” Crystal turned her body toward her. “I want to apologize for Bryce’s behavior last night. I’m truly appalled by it, and I, too, am upset with him. You planned a wonderful gala, and people are only going to remember how incredible your event was.” Crystal smiled.
Shannon nodded slightly but then raised her chin. “There’s no need to apologize for Bryce. He and I are having dinner tonight to discuss what happened between us.”
Crystal leaned back. “Oh, I didn’t realize he had arranged that.” She took a gulp of her mimosa, finishing the rest of it.
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Karen asked.
Shannon grabbed a few grapes and popped them in her mouth. “Not sure who’s talking, but yes.”
This exchange between Shannon and Karen reminded me of how Shannon used to treat me when I first arrived in Buckhead. At first she pretended like I didn’t exist, and then she bullied and ridiculed me. It was nice to see it happening to someone else for a change.
“It’s inappropriate to go out to dinner with another woman’s husband, Shannon,” I said, knowing full well that I, the pot, had just met the kettle.
“He was my husband first,” Shannon shouted. She took a deep breath and pretended to straighten her jewelry.
“So, which outfit did you guys like most?” Keisha asked, holding up her copy of Vogue and trying desperately to change the subject. She was being the peacekeeper since Jenny surely couldn’t handle it now.
“Page fifty-three,” I said, throwing poor Keisha a bone. She quickly flipped through the pages.