Chapter 53

Lance stood there, watching Claire drive off, and honestly, it stung. She really just left with some random blond guy? He couldn’t believe it. What was she even

thinking?

Shirley didn’t waste a second before she started in with her usual sarcasm. “Is that blond kid supposed to be Claire’s new boyfriend p>

Rose rolled her eyes. “Did you see the car he was driving? It looked like it hadn’t seen a car wash in months. What, is he from the sticks too p>

Rose added, “Come on, Claire just left the James family. No way she’s already looking for a boyfriend p>

“Maybe they’re just old friends or something,” someone else suggested.

But Shirley’s eyes sparkled with gossip. “Or maybe they’ve actually been dating all along, just keeping it quiet because of York p>

York frowned. “Shirley, stop making things up p>

She shrugged. “How is it making things up? Claire never really liked hanging out with us anyway. Who knows what she’s been up to p>

“And even if that was her boyfriend, he’s nothing compared to you, York. Did you see that car? Total junk p>

Shirley couldn’t help repeating herself, clearly trying to drag Claire down. She’d already decided she was getting a Panamera for her eighteenth birthday and liked reminding people about it.

Abner, who was always into cars, surprised everyone by speaking up. “Actually, I’m not sure that’s just some junker p>

Shirley snorted. “Are you kidding? That thing was so filthy, the mud was practically covering the mirrors. If he can’t even spring for a car wash, you know he’s cheap p>

Abner wasn’t interested in whether the guy was cheap. He’d noticed something about the car that looked almost identical to the Beast the kmd of Cadillac the president of Cascadia rode in. Top-of-the-line, bulletproof, the works.

He’d just read about it in a magazine, so he knew what he was talking about.

York, who prided himself on knowing luxury cars, scoffed. “No way. That can’t be the Beast. You can’t even buy one of those here p>

Abner fell quiet. Just because York couldn’t get one didn’t mean nobody could. Abner’s family was well-off, but his aunt had married a really wealthy businessman, and his cousin’s family was loaded. Be remembered his cousin saying two Beasts had arrived in Solenia six months ago. One was in Cabinda. The other just disappeared.

Abner couldn’t help wondering if this was the missing one. He’d even heard a rumor

it showed up at some amateur race, though he wasn’t sure if that was true.

Shirley laughed. “What, so now that mud-caked car is a secret luxury ride, and Claire’s some hidden heiress from a mysterious family p>

Rose shook her head. “Please. Cindy’s story at least makes sense – her real parents found her. But Claire p>

“She’s just a fake who got caught pretending to be someone she’s not p>

“Yeah, and who knows where she rented that dirty car from — probably just trying to look important p>

The group burst out laughing, and Shirley looked way too pleased with herself as everyone joined in putting Claire down.

Cindy overheard and frowned. “You guys shouldn’t talk about Claire like that. She’s just… not used to everything yet p>

Not used to what, exactly? Not used to her new life, so she had to rent a beat-up car to keep up appearances? The idea hung there, unspoken but obvious.

As Shirley and the others started

planning what to do that afternoon, Octavia pulled York aside. “Wherever you guys go take cindy with you

okay? She’s a little shy and doesn’t know everyone yet. Look out for her p>