Izzy

Not even 9 PM, yet the party was in full swing. Izzy slipped around the edges of the foyer before making her way to the grand dining room, a black wrap over her dress. With the main banquet table cleared away, it functioned more like a ballroom. A small stage had been set up against the far wall for the event. Along the other walls, the sideboards held an assortment of canapes.

She hung back as the crowd gathered, at least 50 in this room alone. Most of the guests appeared to be middle-aged and older, dressed formally. Not quite black-tie, but close enough with black as the reigning color.

Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten in hours. Lowering her head, she kept to the room's edges, picking up some scallops, stuffed mushrooms, and vegetable dip before retreating to a standing table in the back alcove. Here she waited, partially hidden behind an extra-leafy potted plant. 9:15. That's when Jack would make his speech. That's when she wanted them to notice her.

Finally, the room hushed as the lights flickered and her father took the stage. Right on time. She snagged a glass of bubbly when he began to speak, hovering beside the door. Blah, blah, duty. Something, something, investors. When he began repeating things he'd already said at dinner the other night, she completely tuned out. After a few minutes, she heard clapping, and then Jack stepped up to the podium.

Showtime.

Izzy dropped her wrap, stepped out from behind the plant, and strode into the room so Jack couldn't miss her entrance. His speech faltered for a moment, failing to hide the spark of annoyance. Jack thought he could put her in her place like some meek little girl? Not a chance.

Heads turned as she flashed a smile at him and joined their family, many of the guests probably unaware he had a younger sister. Well, they knew now. She was a Sinclair just like him.

Only her father didn't turn to look as all his attention was focused on Jack, though he patted her back when she materialized next to him. Ryan appeared from the bar with a hip-check when he slid beside her. "Nice dress. Can't believe Jack got that for you."

Izzy smiled. "He didn't."

Ryan smirked and shook his head. Even he'd donned a suit for the occasion, though he wore a t-shirt under his jacket. Formalish, but still him. On the other hand, Mãe looked rather reserved. Maybe Jack had chosen her dress, too, since it was a flowy, dark grey, floor-length gown with a high cowl neckline. No cleavage. No slit up to the thigh. Not even a hint of lycra. In other words, not Mãe's style at all. Quite the miracle she'd been talked into it. She still had the dog, though. Beleza squirmed in Mãe's arms, anxious due to the crowd. As it quieted down, Beleza began to emit a low grow.

Jack waited until he had everyone's attention again. Then his eyes slid over the crowd and he began to talk. And talk. And talk. After fifteen minutes with no end in sight, she began to fidget. Ryan nudged her. "Hopefully not much longer."

Beleza let out a little bark, drawing Jack's gaze. Izzy suppressed a smile and tried to pay attention.

"Shhhh," he mother cooed, but Beleza squirmed more. People began craning their necks at them when the dog started barking again.

Jack smiled at the crowd, but his eyes were hard. Score one for Beleza. "Perhaps we need security to escort this unruly guest out?"

A few people laughed as her father caught the eye of a security guard and nodded at him. "Ana, he'll crate the dog. Beleza shouldn't be here anyway."

Her mother didn't even get a protest out before the guard lifted the growling, wriggling Maltese from her arms and out of the room. Mãe watched until they left the room, then brushed herself off nervously. "Vai pro caralho," she muttered.

Izzy bit her lip. That was fun while it lasted.

"Thank you so much, father." Jack paused. "Just one little example of how he's still there for me as an adult," he said to the crowd. "Tight-knit families support each other, making our communities stronger, and that's why I promise a return to more traditional family values." Ugh, seriously? Speaking of which, she didn't see Liz anywhere. "As I'm sure many of you agree, we've lost our way as a community and as a country. It's time to remember the sanctity of marriage." He held his hand out, and Liz appeared from the far door dressed conservatively in a black polka dot 50s-style dress.

So he was using her as a prop. How sacred.

"It's time to clean up the homeless drug addicts that plague our streets." Like they were trash? He paused so people could clap.

Izzy tensed up. Not all of the homeless people were drug addicts. Related problems, sure, but a lack of family values wasn't the issue. James would have had something to say about that. Her body sagged at the thought, and Ryan nudged her again.

"I know it's tough, but try to stay awake," he whispered.

"It's time to stop allowing these dangerous beliefs to poison the minds of our youth," Jack continued. "To keep them safe from transgender ideology and the exploitation of women. To prevent sexualization of children!"

Wait, what?

"To stop confusing our young people with liberal propaganda, allowing parents to review school curricula and remove offensive books and ideas."

Again, what?

"And to hold teachers and librarians accountable for advocating tolerance of deviant and immoral lifestyles, purging these woke culture warriors from our schools."

Fuck. Holy crap.

"Finally, to endorse the sanctity of life by choosing life and preventing the death of millions of unborn, innocent children. We must prevent the deceitful mindset that confuses women, and preys upon their fears. Instead, we shall help mothers make the only moral choice, the heroic choice."

He paused, closing his eyes before taking a deep breath and raising one hand. "Our Founding Fathers deeply believed in the pursuit of happiness. In other words, to live freely as our Creator intended. We will find that freedom and prosperity in God, and each other, by returning to the values that He intended."

That hypocrite didn't even go to church! No one in their family did!

"Your support here tonight is truly something remarkable." Jack opened his eyes and beamed at the crowd. "As an elected official, I will fulfill my responsibility to guide us back on course, which I can only accomplish with the grace and generosity of your support." He bowed his head quickly. "I am honored by your attendance tonight. Now please, stay a while and enjoy yourselves! The evening is just getting started." He waved as people began to applaud. Then a patriotic song swelled while he escorted his wife off the stage. The whole time Liz had not shown a single flicker of emotion.

Izzy finished her bubbly, seething while the crowd broke up. She trampled down her emotions and turned to her father. "What was that all about?"

"Oh, just politics." He gave her a quick smile before looking over to Jack in the corner of the room, where he'd paused to speak with a handful of people. "Nothing you need to worry about."

It didn't sound like "just politics" to her. "But... his platform."

"Will appeal to the conservative base around here. Don't worry about it. Politics moves slowly, and most of it's just talk. By the way, that's a nice dress Jack got for you." Then he moved off to join her brother.

She turned to her mother. Mãe shrugged. "You know I care nothing for politics in this country." Her eyes appeared blurry, unfocused.

"Do you think he's got any shot at winning?"

"Pode ser." Mãe swayed, a little unsteady on her feet. "Doesn't matter to me." Then she noticed one of her friends and toddled away.

Pode ser. Maybe, then.

"For what it's worth, I think his platform sucks." Ryan approached with a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries, one of her favorites.

"Thanks." She bit into the strawberry, almost sweet enough to chase the bitter taste of his speech away. "His platform more than sucks. I didn't realize it was that bad."

Ryan shrugged. "It's not like we can do much about it. Probably won't affect us anyway."

Valid. Nothing she could do about it tonight, and Jack may not even win. Plus, she'd made a resolution not to mope.

While they'd been talking, a middle-aged DJ in a black suit had taken the stage. He faded the patriotic music out. "Now who's ready to dance?"

She and Ryan shared a look. "Buy-in or retreat?" she asked.

"Depends on what they're playing." "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang started up. His shoulders sagged. "Retreat."

She laughed as Ryan slinked off. But even if she disliked the song, this was not a night for retreat. That's when she spotted Burns, half in profile across the room, looking in the opposite direction. He must have noticed her before. Must have. She squared her shoulders.

"Izzy?"

Perfect. "Sebastian!" The oldest son of one of her mother's friends. "I haven't seen you in forever." Not since she was an awkward-looking 13-year-old with a hopeless crush on a boy almost four years older.

He gave her a quick hug and stepped back. "I can't believe how different you look."

Damn straight. He didn't look so bad, either. Sleek black hair. Olive eyes. Strong jaw. He'd matured into his features, appearing older than the college student she knew him to be. "What are you doing here? I mean, besides the obvious."

"October break."

That explained why Burns was home, too. Speaking of Burns....

"Want to liven up the party a little?" Izzy bobbed her head back and forth to the music.

People began to fill in the floor around them. He leaned over. "Why not? Let's show them how it's done." He grabbed her hand and spun her around. While she twirled, she caught Burns watching. She tilted her head back and laughed. And then they danced their asses off.

𓄿𓄿𓄿

Another hour and half a glass of bubbly later, Izzy pleaded for a break. No doubt about it. They'd put on a show, the evening far surpassing her admittedly low bar. It felt so easy to talk to Sebastian – probably due to the complete lack of attraction she felt towards him. In deference to her younger age, he remained a perfectly detached gentleman. Of course, he may be laying some groundwork for when she got older, but so what? All the boys in her parent's social circles were taught to think like that, and she was an heiress, after all. The sour expression on Burns' face was the cherry on top.

Plus, she'd gone several minutes at a time without thinking about Caleb.

Before Sebastian left with his family, he passed his number to her in case she "wanted to add James Madison University to the college tour next fall." Yep, probably laying some groundwork there.

She said goodbye and grabbed one of her mother's cloaks from the entryway closet, heading outside to the pool to finish her bubbly before disappearing for the night. Only a handful of people mingled outside, mostly smoking cigars. She pulled her hood up and wandered over to sit near the rock wall at the back of the grotto – the most tranquil corner, even during a party. She looked up at the sky, shoving her hands in the coat pockets for warmth. Her left hand brushed against the pill bottle immediately. Anti-anxiety, this one from the July trip to Brazil. Her mother left the bottles everywhere.

Within two minutes, Burns approached. Of course, he did. She shoved the prescription back in the coat pocket before he noticed.

"Izzy, hey!"

She pushed down her annoyance before turning toward him. Turns out, making him jealous from afar was her only interest in him now.

"Sorry I didn't say hi earlier. I didn't want to bother you on the dance floor."

"Oh, Burns! I didn't realize you were here." They both knew that was a lie, but she sold it. He'd overdressed in last year's prom tux.

He dropped into the chair beside her. Like Sebastian, he was objectively good-looking. But unlike Sebastian, his looks were bland, like one of those frat boys in the background of a college movie scene. Ridiculous to think she'd been the least bit upset about their breakup.

"I should probably apologize," he said.

You think? Izzy cocked her head toward him but didn't respond.

"Babe, I'm sorry about the text." Babe? She snorted. "You have no idea what college is like and I, I guess I got scared."

She raised an eyebrow. How rehearsed he sounded! How insincere. He scooted closer and tried to grab her hand, but she dodged by reaching for her glass.

"Don't be like that. I know I messed up, but I'm still thinking about you. I made a mistake." The lies oozed out of his pores like oil. "I was so afraid of losing you, I think I ended up losing myself. Can you forgive me?"

She bit down on her lip, hard. He must have misunderstood, because he tried to reach for her hand again. That's when she started laughing.

"Oh, please. So scared you lost yourself!" She laughed harder. "What a load of crap. And to think, I might have even believed that a couple of months ago." The dancing must have gotten to him. Her attitude must have gotten to him. He'd banked on the fact that she'd be waiting around, hoping for another chance. But he'd never kissed her like she'd been kissed earlier tonight. If there had been any lingering feelings for Burns at all, Caleb had removed them. Thoroughly. That put a twinkle in her eye. Tilting the last sip of champagne back, she stood up, leaving the glass on the table. "Apologies only land when they're sincere. Tchau."

He popped up to his feet. "Hold up! You're not letting me explain. I'm serious."

"Seriously out of your mind if you think I'm falling for that. Get over yourself, Burns. Find some other girl to scratch your itch when you're home 'cause it ain't gonna be me." She turned to walk away.

"You sure? Cause I heard school's been a mess for you this year, and you know I boost your clout." What an ass. Even more so because it was true. He followed behind her. "Word reaches me in Durham."

"Rumors," she said with a dismissive wave. "I wouldn't put much stock in them. Besides, if you cared at all, you would have texted ages ago. See you, Burns."

"Didn't think you'd want to talk about the video over text." She stopped walking. "I see that got your attention."

No way. There was no way. It had to be a different video. She crossed her arms and tried to force a neutral expression onto her face before he caught up with her. Annoyed would have to do. "What video?"

"You know, that viral video that's been making the rounds. I'm sure you've seen it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." That wasn't even a lie.

He searched her face, confusion evident in his expression. "The one where those two boys disappear at the creepy mental hospital. Some of my crew at Duke think it happened in the area."

Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm. Luckily, her hands were crossed under her arms so he couldn't see her nails pressing into her palms. Izzy squinted and looked off into the distance as though she were thinking, shaking her head. "Sorry, haven't seen it." Retreat. "Excuse me."

He grabbed her elbow before she could leave. "You sure? 'Cause I think that's you in the video."

She jerked her arm away. "Thought you said it was two boys."

"Actually, there's another person in the video, but she's not on screen for some reason. Here's the thing, though. At one point, the camera zooms in and you can see her black backpack with a little green stress ball keychain. It's pretty quick." He paused and crossed his arms. "But, you know, it looks an awful lot like yours. In fact, I'd say it looks exactly like yours."

Damn Austin for turning that camera on her. "And?" She shrugged. "Both the backpack and the stress ball are super common. Sorry, but it's not me. Now I really need to get back inside." She turned and started walking away again. How had that video gone viral? She thought Caleb had scrubbed it. Caleb. Argh.

He followed on her heel. "I'd hate to suggest to anyone that you might be connected to two missing teenagers. Or almost as bad, that you're part of some elaborate hoax because that's what I think it is." He lowered his voice. "Where'd you guys go, anyway? Couldn't have been above board."

How dare he? She spun around so fast he almost fell. Narrowing her eyes, Izzy took that anger and aimed it like a knife at her ex-boyfriend's heart. "Excuse me, was that a threat?"

He actually took a step back and held his hands up. Coward. "Of course not. Just concerned about you."

She took another step in his direction. "I don't know what you're trying to accomplish here, but you listen to me because I'm only gonna say this once." She pointed her nail at his chest. "Don't you dare threaten me! Don't touch me. Don't approach me. Don't even talk to me. And I better never hear you've been spreading baseless accusations or ridiculous rumors about me. You got all that?"

This time he stood his ground. "Or what? Are you threatening me?"

"You better believe it." Then she turned her back on him and stalked away. She palmed the pill bottle before returning the coat, just in case.