“Brooke!” Landon’s Irish accent is brimming with barely controlled anger. Well, at least I managed to put on a nice long sleeve dress. Although my hair is a mess. I push my hand through the thick tresses and open the bathroom door.

“What is taking you so long? We have guests,” he barks. His eyes look me up and down. “Are you drunk?”

“No,” my voice comes out a horse rasp, and Landon curses.

“You look a mess. What have you been doing all this time if not getting ready?”

Vomiting.

“Honestly, napping at weird times of day, this groggy pale look. Do you have a drinking problem I need to know about?”

I have never drunk a day in my life before. I mean I have Wilson’s disease—I would have to be a special kind of stupid. Not to mention I did not even turn twenty-one until two months ago. Not that Landon remembered or even cared. “No.”

“No what?”

“No, I don’t have a drinking problem.”

“Then what is your problem? You know what, we do not have time for this. We’re going to go downstairs, and you’re going to smile and act the perfect host, got it?”

I nod even though the thought of seeing people right now makes me dizzy.

Descending the staircase practically depleted all my energy, but I forced a smile on my face and entered the dining room with my head held high. Taking a seat between Landon and a raven-haired beauty, I make up some lame excuse to go with my apology.

Mrs. Fanny sets out salad and states she will be back with the main course in ten minutes. Putting a tiny portion on my plate, I push my food around to appear like I am eating as Landon and his friends fill the room with conversation. The raven-haired girl introduced herself as Sonia and informs me she came here with Jared. I have never been particularly fond of Jared and do not think he deserves someone as nice as Sonia. I make idle conversation with her quietly. It is nice having her there. Normally, I just sit quietly at these things as these are not my friends, but Sonia’s as much an outcast as I am.

She tells me she currently models but want she really wants to do is design. “Do you have any completed pieces?” I ask her.

She nods her head excitedly. “Oh yes. I’ve managed to put together a whole portfolio. It’s just that I have no one to photograph it.” Sonia’s tone turns somber toward the end of her sentence.

“Well, I’m not a professional and never had any formal training, but I do love to photograph, and it’s become quite the hobby of mine. If you would like…err…that is, if you would not mind an amateur, I could take them for you.”

“Oh, really? That would be great!” Sonia’s voice gets loud, and I wince as it draws the attention of the others.

“What would be great?” Jared asks.