Chapter 151

Chapter 151

Leanne toggled her Twitter settings to exclude Curtis from her updates.

No sooner had she done so than her phone buzzed with his rapid-fire texts.

Curtis texted,

[You blocked me?]

[Leanne, are you being childish?]

[Turn my access back on.]

Resigned, Leanne tapped on his profile and muted his notifications.

She was sharing dinner with Joy, digging into juicy steaks when Grace called.

“Why’s she ringing you?” Joy muttered, cutting into her meat, “Bet it’s nothing good.”

“Leanne,” Grace sounded chipper, “I’m thrilled to say my spa resort is ready to launch, just in time for Spring Break.”

“Congrats,” Leanne replied out of politeness.

“I want to host a soft opening for friends to thank you for the support all these years. It’d also be great to get honest feedback and see if there’s anything to improve.”

Grace was Skyler’s girlfriend, and the resort was his pet project for her. The soft opening would include Curtis and his crew.

Leanne wasn’t keen on bumping into them.

“Appreciate the invite, but I haven’t helped you much.”

“Oh, don’t be modest, Leanne. You’ve been a huge help. Out of all Skyler’s friends, yo been kindest to me. I know the others look down on me, but not you.”

Initially, Leanne had extended some friendliness to Grace, feeling a kinship in their

outsider status.

Curtis had warned her, “Keep your distance. Her ambition could swallow you whole.”

Since then, Leanne had indeed kept her at arm’s length.

Grace had tried to hang out multiple times, but Leanne always found a way to decline. Still, on the rare occasion Grace needed a favor, Leanne obliged out of courtesy.

“I owe you one. Please, come to this opening. Give me a chance to return the favor.” Grace was insistent, adding, “I checked. Mr. Curtis is off to Kostter this weekend, and he won’t be there, and Devin and the gang won’t show up without him around. Skyler plans to invite them another time. So, don’t worry. There’s no chance of running into them.”

11:28

Chapter 151

Joy, eavesdropping, pinched Leanne hard and whispered, “Let’s go! This weekend’s free from work, and I’m dying to flaunt my new toned waist!”

“Okay.”

For Joy’s hard-earned figure, Leanne accepted the invitation. “I’ll go with Joy.”

Grace cheered, “That’s fantastic! Selina will surely join if you come.”

Selina wasn’t close with Grace. Their connection was through several degrees of separation, and like Joy, she was skeptical of Grace’s quiet demeanor.

“She’s just pretending to be all posh and polished to fool outsiders,” Selina revealed in the group chat in the evening. [Her family’s business is tanking, and she’s using Skyler to climb the social ladder.]

Joy slapped her thigh. [Knew it! She’s no saint.]

Selina scoffed. [Skyler’s just as blind as Curtis. Thinks she’s some pure, untouched. beauty.]

[No wonder he gets along with Curtis,] Joy quipped. [Both are as blind as bats.]

Despite Grace’s blanket invitation, Selina hadn’t planned to attend.

[You two are going? Then count me in!]

Joy teased, [You’re my shadow.]

Selina retorted, [Cut the crap!]

The following days were all about bikini shopping sprees and a fierce battle of one-upmanship, leading to a surplus of competitive spirit.

Selina spent her days exercising at the gym, and Joy stuck to a strict diet.

Caught up in work, Leanne found the escalating frenzy in the group chat overwhelming. The drama was enough to make her lose her appetite.

[I’m out of the group. Peace out.]

11:28