Page 17 of Power Play

Aura looks away before the gesture finishes. Bliss sees it too but waits until Aura reaches us before speaking.

“You’re allowed to poison one drink. Choose wisely.”

“I don’t care what he does.”

“Your eye twitched,” I say.

“It’s dry.”

“The other one isn’t.”

Aura gives me a look. “You came here upset. Focus on your own emotional disaster.”

“It’s an elective,” Bliss tells her. “She doesn’t need it, but Crystal and Lance think it will add beautifully to her résumé.”

Aura rolls her eyes and makes a gagging motion. “Who cares what adds beautifully to a résumé when you’re getting a degree in fashion, for fuck’s sake?”

“She’s terrified Klein will personally revoke her diploma if she doesn’t graduate with a four-point-oh.”

Aura sets the tray against the bar. “You already have enough credits to graduate without an elective summer course.”

“I need an upper-level elective.”

“You have other options.”

“This one matters.”

“To whom?” Aura asks.

“To me.”

She watches me long enough to make the answer feel thinner. My fingers find the delicate gold chain at my throat, and I slide the pendant back and forth before forcing my hand down.

“My father knows my cumulative GPA,” I say.

Bliss’s face tightens. “Your father knows the blood types of our future children.”

“That isn’t true.”

“He definitely takes an interest,” Aura says.

“He conducts surveillance,” Bliss corrects.

“He’s proud of me.”

Aura leans one hip against the service station. “Nobody said he isn’t. Your parents love you, Charm. We know they do. They’ve always loved us too, and your mom once sent my father a PTSD specialist’s number before he even knew he needed one after my senior video launch. Loving you doesn’t make every expectation they put on you healthy.”

“My mother thinks I should enjoy my final year.”

“Crystal loosening the pearl buttons. Impressive for a woman who thinks a cardigan is casual rebellion,” Bliss says.

“That doesn’t mean she doesn’t try.”

“I know she tries.” Bliss reaches across the bar and takes my hand. “We aren’t asking you to hate them. We’re asking you to stop measuring whether you deserve happiness by how impressed they are.”

“I don’t do that.”

Aura’s gaze drops to our joined hands. “You haven’t eaten a fry since Bliss stopped watching.”