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But eight years is a long time to dopenance.
18
Runninga marketing and PR company has its glamorous moments—events, awards dinners, the occasional travel and weekends like the Vanes’. But a lot of it is days like today. Reviewing client files, ensuring we're not just keeping up but anticipatingneeds.
“The charity campaign isn’t doing what we expected, but we made some adjustments and donations are up this past week,” Kendallsays.
I check that off my list as we go around the table. Serena and Kendall give updates on their customers. When we're done, I feel more on top of things, which I know is thanks to the women leading accounts and notmyself.
“I appreciate you both taking on more while I’m overseeing this wedding. You’re both getting a cut ofthis.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Kendallinsists.
“But we’re glad you are,” Serena quips, throwing a pencil at Kendall, who catches it, laughing. “Especially since you’re living the high life. The Vineyard with Ben? Can’t be allbad.”
“It wasn’t,” I admit, unable to hide asmile.
A knock at the door has me looking up to see my sister holding a cake-sized whitebox.
Rena beats me to the door. “Damn, you’re the cutest thingever.”
Lily grins. “You’re saying that because I broughttreats.”
My sister comes and puts the box in the center of the table, opening thelid.
“Oh, no. Those are the lavender cupcakes? Rory goes crazy over them,” Kendall says of her son, who loves cooking and baking. “He tried to replicate them but can’t and he refuses to let me bring them into the house because he’sirritated.”
“What’s the writing on them?” Renaasks.
I tilt my head to read the script that runs from each of the six cupcakes to the next. “You were a dick…but I was too…Let’s not fight… because you pay the rent.” The final two cupcakes have a smiley face and a heart onthem.
“I want a little sister,” Rena decides, reaching for the cupcake with “Because you pay the rent” on top. “Kendall has a cute kid, you have a cutesibling.”
“You have a brother,” I remindher.
“He’s in college, and he’s all drama. Literally. He’s in performing arts school.” But she smiles. I know she adoresBeck.
Lily clears her throat. “Can we talk asecond?”
“Yes, we were just finishingup.”
Kendall says, “I’ll send you the summary for that client thisafternoon.”
“Thanks.” I opt for the cupcake bearing, “You were a dick.” It’s probably best if that doesn’t wind up in thekitchen.
I follow my sister back to my office and close the glass door afterus.
“So I know we haven’t had much time to talk this past week because you’ve been working to pay my tuition. Which again—appreciated.” Lil threads her hands together in front of her as if she’s been rehearsing this. “But I wanted to tell you, it wasn’t what it lookedlike.”
I pick up the cupcake and swipe a finger through the icing, then suck it off. The sugar hits my veins in a heady rush that can only do so much to offset myskepticism.
“I paid him to take myvirginity.”
OhJesus.
“Not… what I thought you were going to say,” Iadmit.
“He’s a guy from class. I tried to find the market value for a similar…service.”
