“That’s not quite how the game works, Elizabeth. First, you have to ask one another truth or dare,” I said, rolling my eyes at the obnoxious, know-it-all woman. Even though she was sitting, she was practically draped over Bri’s lap, clearly still drunk.

I tried to catch Bri’s eye for back-up, but she was unusually quiet tonight and had been for hours. Perhaps she was simply too drunk and messed up on all those pills I saw in her purse.

“That’s okay. You can ask me about it,” Tinsley piped up, scooting forward in her chair, shimmying up to the flames. Unlike the others, it struck me for the first time that she looked stone-cold sober. “I choose truth, Elizabeth. So, I’ll tell you,” Tinsley said, with her self-satisfied grin. This was what Tinsley had been waiting for all weekend. A chance to expose me, to get back at me for screwing her out of so much money, I thought, angrily.

“There’s nothing to tell,” I said, poking a stick I’d found earlier in the nearby shrubbery at the crackling pit of flames. Just shut up, bitch, I wanted to scream at Tinsley. As much as Rosalee cared for her, I couldn’t understand why. She was strange and rude. Not to mention dull.

“Oh, there is plenty to tell,” Tinsley said. “You see, ladies, Mara did most of the planning for this party. But she hasn’t paid a single dime for any of it. Apparently, she’s having some serious money troubles. And I can’t help feeling taken advantage of. So, that’s what the tension is about. I’ve racked up a mountain of debt in order to meet her ridiculous demands for this weekend. And she isn’t even the least bit sorry. Sounds to me like she’s grown accustomed to taking advantage of others. Thanks for the question.” Tinsley shot Elizabeth a quick smile, then sat back in her chair and crossed her arms, looking rather pleased with herself.

“Tinsley, I didn’t know that,” Rosalee said, shooting a worried glance at me. “I didn’t want you all to do this much for me. I never would have let you do this if I’d have known you’d have to pay for all of it. I know you can’t afford that…”

“And how would you know, Rosalee? You always make assumptions about my life. That I’m poor and broke, just because I didn’t go to college. Just because I’m not like you doesn’t mean I can’t be successful,” Tinsley snapped.

“Whoa.” I could feel the sting of her words. As bad as I felt for Rosalee and her crumpling face, I was glad to have the heat off me and my money problems for a brief moment.