Mara tried to insist on visiting a few more bars, but Tinsley had already ordered the cab. After we had settled our bills, we stood outside waiting until finally, our cab turned up. I wanted nothing more than to get back to the mansion, wrap myself in my thick, fluffy robe, and stretch out like a princess in that four-poster bed.

Everyone’s jolly moods had dissipated quickly, but I was still feeling the perfect blend of euphoria and control.

Perhaps when I got back to my room at the mansion, I would take some naked pictures of myself with all my makeup and fancy hair and send them to Asher. A little drunk sexting from across the country with the man of my dreams sounded pretty fun. I was usually too shy for that sort of thing, but I knew Asher would like it, and the liquid courage I was feeling made me feel like a whole new person.

Chapter Twenty-One

Mara

The best friend

The house seemed like it was waiting for us, lit up like a big, glowing jack-o-lantern in the dark when the cab pulled up the drive of the Leblanc-Landry estate. Tinsley assumed I was stupid, and that I didn’t know the gruesome history of this place. But, perhaps, that was part of the appeal for me.

Turn something dark and ugly into something beautiful and bright. The mansion had come with a heavy discount because of its sordid past. If I’d known from the beginning that I could get Tinsley to foot the entire bill, I would have chosen somewhere even more luxurious to stay.

Every last one of us was drunk, but Bri and I seemed to be holding our own. We both had more experience with alcohol than the others, the night’s festivities on Bourbon only kicking off when the others were already ready to leave.

The long, traffic-filled ride back to the mansion had given everyone a bit of time to sober up. I needed them alert so they could enjoy my next bit of fun.

“No one can go to bed yet!” I declared as we walked through the French doors. “Out to the courtyard first,” I told them, motioning the drunken herd to follow me.

“I’m tired, Mara. I’m not in the mood for swimming,” Bri said, tripping over her own feet and dumping out half the contents of her purse on the floor. Several pill bottles rattled on the ground, and she bent down quickly to scoop them up.

I guess the pill-popper is going to be a party pooper, too, I thought, wearily.