CHAPTER THIRTY

GWEN POV

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," I complained.

I looked at myself in the big mirror. I didn't even look like myself. The red, shiny dress was tight. It held my body  so closely it seemed like I had been dipped right into the fabric. My long hair usually just dried naturally, but April had spent ages on it. Now it was a big, wild shape around my head. I had tried to do my own makeup, but then April came in. She made my eyes much darker and put bright red lipstick over the soft color I had chosen.

"You look amazing, Gweneth. Truly fabulous," April said. "Every man at the club tonight will be staring at you. I'd be shocked if Aaron didn't notice, and he always has his head buried in a computer."

I didn't want every man staring at me. I was not the kind of woman who liked a lot of attention, especially the flirty, sexual kind. The only man's attention I ever really wanted was from my friend's father, Nolan. But I knew that part of my life was over. I quickly pushed all thoughts of Nolan away. Thinking about him always brought a feeling of guilt when April was nearby.

Since I got home the day after Christmas, April had been trying to get me to go out with her, Cole, and Cole’s brother, Aaron, for New Year’s Eve. I finally gave up and agreed. Sometimes, it was just easier to do what she wanted than to keep fighting her endless nagging.

April stood next to me. Her dress was silver and sparkly. It made her look like a beautiful actress from an old movie. She had pulled the hair from the sides of her head back, and the rest hung down in wavy pieces. There were even pink streaks in her hair. I thought, maybe if I stick close to her tonight, I won't have to worry about men looking at me. They will all be looking at April.

"We look so good," April said, smiling widely. "Maybe I should cancel on Cole and Aaron. We could go out just the two of us."

"I don't think Cole would like it if you went out alone just to attract other men," I said, a little worried.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe he would care about me more if he knew that other men wanted me."

I frowned as I looked at her reflection. "Are things not good between you two?" I asked.

"I just feel like he sometimes doesn't appreciate me. That's all," she said, sounding a little sad.

"You talk like you two have been a couple for a long time, but you haven't," I pointed out. I was worried that April was getting too serious about Cole, but he didn't seem to feel the same way about her.

She ignored what I said. "Come on, Gweneth, let's go have some fun."

I slowly put on my warmest wool coat. We headed out into the cold night air. April had arranged for a car to pick us up. It took us to the most expensive club in the city. Where I came from, people with 'black blood' were considered high-class. But in this city, 'black blood' meant rich, old money. Of course, new, rich people could also be found here. Money was the most important thing in this place. I knew it was unlikely I would see anyone from my old neighborhood here.

As we walked up to the large, strong men standing at the door, April leaned closer to me. "I'm using my dad’s name to get us in, okay?" she whispered.

My stomach felt tight. “Is he here?”

“No. I don't think so," she said, shaking her head. "He’s too old for club parties.”

After April told them her father's name, we showed our ID cards, and the bouncers let us walk past. April and I had been to clubs before. But this one smelled like money, even though it was dark and the music was very loud, just like the others. Maybe it was because everyone was wearing very fancy clothes, or that most of them looked like they had just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

"Look, there are Cole and Aaron. Let's go," April said, pulling my arm.

“How did they get in?” I asked out loud, surprised. I didn't know much about Cole, but I was quite sure he didn’t have the kind of money April did.

“They used my dad’s name too,” she said simply.

I followed April through the crowd. We went toward the bar where Cole was standing with another man. April introduced us. I could see that Aaron looked like his brother, but less careful about his appearance. I didn't think he tried as hard as Cole to look good. His hair was a bit longer. Before we arrived, he was looking down and tapping on his phone. Cole, on the other hand, was busy talking and smiling with everyone near him.

"Gweneth, this is Aaron. He's studying to get an advanced degree in cybersecurity. Aaron, this is my roommate and best friend, Gweneth. She is the smartest person I know."

I couldn't help but smile a little bit at April's high praise. She was always like that—always so positive about me.

Aaron reached out his hand. "It's good to meet you, Gweneth."

"You too, Aaron," I replied, shaking his hand. His handshake was firm but quick.

"Come on, let's find a table," Cole said, looking around the crowded room. "April, do you think you can use your dad’s name again and get us a private room? Or at least a good table?"

Aaron frowned at his brother. I wondered if he thought Cole was taking advantage of April, just like I was starting to think.

April didn't seem to notice Aaron’s unhappy look. "I can try," she said, shrugging her shoulders again.

"Hey, April?" A large, bald man walked up to us. He looked like a bouncer, but he was wearing a fancy suit.

We all turned to look at him.

"Uncle Watt!" April let out a small, happy cry and threw herself into the man's arms, giving him a big hug.

The man looked at all of us and then back at April. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low and rumbling.

"I guess the same as you. Celebrating the New Year," April replied, smiling up at him.

He folded his arms across his big chest and made a serious face, though it seemed like a joke. "Since when are you old enough to be coming into a club like this?"

She smiled and nudged him gently with her elbow. "I'm twenty-two, Uncle Watt. Meet my friends. This is my roommate and best friend, Gweneth, and this is Cole and his brother, Aaron."

It was interesting to me that she did not explain how close Cole and Aaron were to her uncle Watt. I had never met him, but I had heard April talk about the man who was like a second father to her.

Watt held out his hand and shook all of ours to say hello. His handshake was strong. "Your dad is in the private room," he said, looking at April. "You should go say hello."

I froze completely. Nolan was here?