Jessie's Pov
I stare at the fake watches on Oliver's watch stand. I've dusted his collection enough to memorize how they look and feel, so it's obvious Gina replaced them.
Should I tell Oliver or let him figure it out on his own?
My thoughts are interrupted by my phone buzzing. I glance at the message:
Oliver: I'll be late. Don't wait up.
I sigh, disappointed. I came home early just to spend time with him. Lately, it had become our unspoken routine.
Frustrated, I text Grey: I was your mother today. If my evening is ruined, I might as well ruin his too.
Placing the watches back in their spot, I leave Oliver's closet. I'll figure out what to do later. For now, I need something to eat.
The silence in the kitchen is deafening. Gina is rarely around, but today, of all days, she is. I turn at the sound of voices and footsteps. Minutes later, Theo, Gina, and Sebastian walk in, engrossed in conversation.
Theo spots me and smiles. "Jessie, you've become a stranger. I hardly see you," he says, as if we've ever been more than acquaintances in our limited interactions.
"I've been around," I reply, suddenly losing interest in finding food.
"We're heading out. Would you like to join us?" Theo offers.
Gina shoots him a sharp glare. "What the hell, Theo?" she snaps.
"I'd love to," I say, enjoying the horror on Gina's face. "Let me change."
I hurry back to the bedroom. It's been a while since I've gone out, and I'm not even sure I have the right clothes for the occasion. They're dressed casually, so I pick a red chiffon off-shoulder top and blue denim jeans.
When Theo sees me, his smile widens. "You look good," he says.
Gina rolls her eyes as Sebastian drapes an arm around her shoulders. I wonder if he knows Gina is also sleeping with Theo. The last time I saw Gina and Theo, they were at each other's throats, but now they seem cordial. Their trio is messy.
Sebastian drives, and after what feels like forty minutes, we pull into a massive parking lot. I step out and take in the towering building.
I've never been here. I don't even know where here is. The structure looks like a mall.
"Don't act surprised," Theo teases.
"What is this place?"
"Las Vegas," he says with a smirk.
"But it's not."
"It's as close as you'll get," Theo replies, starting to walk. I follow him while Sebastian and Gina lead the way.
Inside, the building is packed. It is a casinoâdefinitely not my kind of scene.
Gina takes us to an elevator that descends to the basement. As the doors open, loud music assaults my ears. Two bulky men at the entrance nod at Gina and Sebastian, handing us small pills.
I recognize it instantlyâit's a K pill.
Without hesitation, Gina, Theo, and Sebastian toss the pills into their mouths. I pocket mine. I've experimented before and have no curiosity left for drugs.
"The dancefloor or drinks first?" Gina asks.
"I'd rather dance drunk and high," Sebastian says.
"Aren't you already high?"
"Not nearly enough," he retorts.
Theo starts dancing as we make our way through the chaos. I don't know where we're heading, but I follow.
We end up in a quieter corner of the club. I slide into a booth, the cool leather pressing against my legs as purple neon light bathes the space.
Theo sits beside me while Gina and Sebastian settle across from us. I watch Theo closely. His gaze lingers on Gina, who pretends not to notice.
"Here are your specials," a scantily clad waitress says, placing a bucket of drinks on the table.
"Let me enjoy myself," Sebastian says, pulling out a small plastic bag filled with pills.
Theo pours himself a drink and sets one in front of me.
"I don't remember you being this quiet," Theo remarks.
"She's not," Gina chimes in. "And it's not cute."
I take a sip of my drink and decide it's time to address Gina directly. "What's your problem with me?" I ask.
She rolls her eyes. "You're just a spoiled daddy's girl who cosplayed as a cleaner in some rebellious phase and got rewarded with marriage to my cousin."
"Daddy's girl? Sounds like jealousy talking," I counter.
"Why would I be jealous?"
"Where's your daddy, binky?" The words slip out before I can stop them.
"What did you just call me?" she asks, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I don't like this energy. Let's dance," Sebastian says, already on his feet, clearly too high to care.
When I look back, Gina is still glaring at me. I should probably start sleeping with one eye open.
"You have no idea what you've just started," she warns, following Sebastian to the dancefloor.
"What's going on between you and Gina?" I ask Theo once we are alone.
He lets out a nervous laugh. "We're just friends."
"At your dad's graduation party, I got a different vibe," I say.
He sighs, taking another shot. "She drives me insane, and that idiot Seb is just another rich kid." He bangs the table.
"You're a rich kid too."
"Not a loser like him. He has no idea who Gina really is. I do. The raw, unfiltered Gina. If he saw her, he'd run."
He's clearly in love with her. It's messy.
"She's practically your cousin," I point out.
"There's no blood relation. Neither she nor Cara is related to me."
"But..." I trail off, trying to piece the situation together. He cuts me off.
"It's complicated. Welcome to the messy lives of the Nickels."
"You want to talk complicated? I sued my parents at sixteen and took a quarter of their wealth," I say.
It must be the atmosphereâor maybe there's something in the drinks. Only Grey knows that secret, and now I've told Theo.
"You must've been trouble," he says, intrigued.
"You have no idea," I reply.