Still, I send her a text just to be sure.
Me
How’s it going?
I can’t even see if it’s delivered by the time Danny swings the door open, so I pocket my phone and try to avoid the feeling in my gut that something’s off.
44
ROSIE
I freezehalf way through the door, my shoulders locking and my stomach sinking to my feet.
“Glad you could make it.” Cleo sends me the look I’ve been greeted with every day since I can remember. A smirk pulls at the corners of her lips, her eyes glittering with the laughter I know will be cruel.
I turn to my mother, questions that don’t even need to be asked heavy in the air between us.
She doesn’t look at me, her gaze darting around as if she can look at every other person in the room before she can look me in the eyes.
“What’s going on?” I ask, hating the way my voice shakes.
“It’s your baby shower, silly,” Cleo says, turning to me and placing her arm through mine. She tugs me out of the doorway and further into the room. Her phone is in her hand, held up and snapping a picture before I can even blink.
I glance around, finally taking in the surroundings of myown personal hell. Pastel everywhere, fake pink foliage dotted around the room and dozens of tiered cake stands on doily-covered tables filled with finger food and cold cut meats. There’s a guy dressed in black with a camera in hand, zooming in and out of the puff pastries before spinning his camera towards the window.
I skip over the sea of women I’ve never seen before in my life, desperately searching for a friendly face.
Whoarethese people? And where the hell are my friends?
I glance over my shoulder to see my mother smiling with two women who might have just wandered in off the street for all I know, but she doesn’t glance in my direction. Cleo ushers me into an oversized pink armchair that’s so soft I basically collapse into it before she turns back to the camera team with a smile.
“Make sure you get a clear shot of the collagen water,” Cleo orders them. “The brand wants it to be the thumbnail.”
I struggle to get off our sofa at home without Jackson levering me off, so I have no hope of getting out of this contraption.
I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart.
Okay, Rosie, this is fine. Anya will be here soon, I just need to text her?—
I groan under my breath as I remember exactly where my phone is and I stare mournfully at the door.
The blonde woman to the right of me shifts in her seat, her leather trousers crinkling against the fabric and I turn to her as if maybe she could help me get up. I’m not above begging a stranger at this point just to help me get out of here.
“Hey—” I start, but before I get any further she standswith a graceful hair flick and teeters away from me on six inch wedges before walking over to Cleo.
I see my sister glance at me before she turns her attention back to the blonde with a giggle.
My face heats as I glance around desperately. Where is Anya?
My back aches from the awkward position I’ve found myself in, and I move around until it eases slightly, shifting my weight further into the chair.
I tilt my head back in the armchair and stare at the ceiling, willing the tears to stay in my eyes.
What did I really expect? I should have seen this coming. Why did I think there would be one day where my mother would actually do something nice forme?
Now, I’m literally trapped in a room full of people I’ve never met, as Cleo takes photos holding a bottle of collagen water for what I’m sure is a hefty brand deal, and I’m already blending in with the armchair that’s holding me hostage.
I don’t know how long passes without anyone crossing my path. I gave up trying to get Mum’s attention after her first fly-by without even glancing in my direction.
