Page 6 of Waves of Time
“What?” Aria asked.
“It’s just that, back then…” Violet stalled.
“I know. His reputation wasn’t great,” Aria shot, feeling defensive. “But that’s just because his family doesn’t have money. People are weird about that. But it’s not like he can help it.”
Violet dropped her gaze for a moment, as though she wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how. Aria returned her attention to the stain, then said, “I can drive us out to the party later if you don’t mind leaving a little bit early or grabbing another ride home.”
Aria had a little white Chevy with a dent in the back from a fender bender that hadn’t been her fault but had made her cry for two hours. Aria could be overly sensitive, which was something Hilary called her “superpower.” Aria got into the driver’s seat as Violet buckled herself in the passenger, then drove them out to the house party. Already, thirty cars were parked down the block, and islanders who Aria and Violet had gone to high school with straggled in or hung around the front porch. Some of them had taken up smoking, which Aria found disgusting. When she mentioned this to Violet as they walked up, Violet said, “Thaddeus smoked in high school.” Aria had forgotten that.
“He quit,” Aria said hurriedly.
“Maybe just in front of you,” Violet teased.
Aria and Violet entered the house and stumbled into none other than Rachelle and Darcy, Aria’s cousins. Rachelle hurried forward, ecstatic, and hugged Aria close.
“Our girl!” Darcy said, waving her over. “I wondered if you would make it tonight.”
“Since you’re leaving tomorrow,” Rachelle finished.
“I probably won’t stay long,” Aria explained as she scanned the faces of the party, telling herself she wasn’t looking for Thaddeus.
“Gosh, did you hear about the drama today?” Darcy asked.
Aria cocked her head. “Uh oh. What happened?”
Rachelle and Darcy exchanged glances.
“Our mom got this chandelier from an antique dealer outside of Boston,” Rachelle said. “And she couldn’t wait to show it to your mom.”
“Oh no. I’m guessing she hated it?” Aria asked.
“How did you know?” Darcy demanded.
“Mom’s taste is very particular,” Aria explained. “And she’s almost never into chandeliers.”
“It gets worse,” Rachelle explained, telling Aria about how Hilary had guessed it wasn’t actually antique and then accidentally broken it. “My mom isn’t too happy right now.”
“Ugh! That sounds terrible. I hope they didn’t cut themselves?” Aria asked.
“Only their egos are bruised,” Darcy said.
Aria grimaced. “I love them so much, but let’s never carry our mothers’ pettiness to this generation, okay?”
“Deal,” Rachelle and Darcy said in unison.
Suddenly, from down in the basement came the sound of a drumbeat followed by a loud shriek from a speaker. Aria’s soul jumped out of her body. It was time.
“Let’s go!” Aria said, grabbing Rachelle’s wrist and hurrying them to the staircase to grab a good spot.
The basement smelled like wet dog and cement and hundreds of years of beer-filled parties, which made it the perfect basement for a house party show. Aria grabbed a place far up in the crowd, where she could see Thaddeus strumming his guitar lovingly, his curls in his eyes. When he raised his mouth to the microphone, the basement filled with the sound of the crowd’s cries. Everyone adored Thaddeus on stage. Nobody was immune to his charms.
“This is a new one,” Thaddeus said, his eyes finding Aria in the crowd. “I hope you like it.”
ChapterThree
Hilary and Aria were seated in airline business class, headed from Boston to San Francisco. Just after take-off, the stewardess passed out mineral water and an array of cheeses, meats, and breads, along with glasses of champagne. Aria held her champagne flute with glazed eyes, staring into the mid-distance, her thoughts thousands of miles away.
“Aria? Earth to Aria?” Hilary laughed as Aria startled awake and turned to face her.