“That’s not what I meant. I just didn’t want you to have to pay for everything…” Rosalee raised her eyebrows at me, waiting for me to explain myself. But there was no way I could tell her the truth.

“Truth or dare, Georgia,” I interrupted.

Georgia looked like she was caught in the headlights, shell-shocked and leery. I couldn’t blame her.

Georgia poked out her chin. “Dare,” she said, firmly.

I leaned back and crossed my arms, visibly disappointed. I’d wanted to grill her with questions about Asher. But she probably wouldn’t have told the truth anyway.

“I dare you to get lost. Go inside and take a bath and put yourself to bed. You don’t belong here anyway. You barely even know Rosalee,” I said, voice laced with the venom I felt.

Georgia surprised me with a loud, abrupt chuckle. Then she curled her lips and narrowed her eyes. “Fuck you, bitch,” she said, boldly, “and the horse you rode in on. You don’t know anything about me, but that didn’t stop you from trying to kill me last night! I told you three separate times in our group emails that I was allergic to coconut.”

I shrugged. “Must have missed that one,” I said.

“Must have,” Georgia said. “I’ll gladly ‘get lost’, Mara. But not until you tell the truth. Why did you give me coconut on purpose, huh? What if it had killed me? Who put you up to it, huh?”

I swallowed, my short-lived bravado wearing thin as I scanned the other faces—everyone looked sickened by me. Well, join the club, people. Sometimes I even disgust myself with my own choices and actions.

“No one put me up to it, Georgia. You are just paranoid. It was a joke. I didn’t mean to hurt you, and that’s the truth.”

“So, it was deliberate! How dare you?” Rosalee said, squinting at me in the dark. “You don’t need to go anywhere, Georgia. I’m sure Mara didn’t mean it, and I want you here. You belong here.”

I groaned at my oldest friend. Always the people-pleaser! “What a joke! Why don’t you tell everyone about the anonymous notes in your basket, Rosie-Poo? Who do you think wrote the one about keeping Asher sexually satisfied? You and I both know it was her.” I pointed a finger across the flames at Georgia, the fire singeing the tip of my finger.

“How do you know what the notes said, Mara? I didn’t tell you about them.” Rosalee pushed her chair back and stood. If looks could kill, I’d be dead already.

“Because I’m the one who handed you the basket, remember? Everyone sent me their well wishes in envelopes before the party, I just loaded them into the basket and decorated it for you…”