Page 37 of Hades’ Revenge

“I guess.”

“Don’t mope.” She stood from her chair. “We’re going to have mimosas and that stuffed French toast you like.”

“The one with enough calories for two days?”

“We’re not going to worry about calories today.” She put her mug in the sink. “We’re going to go birthday shopping too, and we have to plan a dinner for your big day.”

“I don’t need a party.”

“Not a party, but a special dinner. You can invite your friends, and we’ll get that banana cake with the chocolate frosting you love.” She stood behind me and gathered my hair in her hands. “I’ll curl your hair before breakfast.”

“I’d like that.”

“And you can tell me all about this fantastic guy you met.”

“He’s cute and treated me well.” I closed my eyes when she began braiding my hair. “We went boating, swimming, and to his club.”

“His club?” She stopped twisting my hair. “How old is he?”

“Older than me, but I never asked how old.” We needed to change this conversation and fast. “It doesn’t matter.”

“As long as he treated you well.”

“He did.” My insides tingled when I recalled the night we went skinny-dipping. I had no idea what was coming next after that night, but I was glad I took him up on his offer. “Very respectful.”

“An older, sexy man who buys you a dress and shoes.” She went back to doing my hair. “Too bad he lives so far away.”

“I’m thinking I might go back for a few weeks before school starts.”

She didn’t say anything as she undid the braid and started over.

“Maybe after my birthday?” That didn’t work with Sebastian’s five-day timeline, but if he wanted me to come back, he’d have to compromise a bit. “I’ll have a few weeks before school starts.”

“Why don’t you let things settle? You just got home.”

“Because I don’t want things to settle,” I said. “Can you help me with Dad?”

“Capri, don’t put me in that position. He wasn’t happy with me when you didn’t come home right after the summer semester ended.”

“Mom, I’ve been working so hard at school.” I turned and looked up at her. “I’ve done everything Dad wanted. You know I wanted to major in fashion.”

“I know you did, but this is going to work out for you.”

“I gave in.”

“You don’t have to give up on your dreams. You can still design your dresses.”

“If I had a degree in fashion design, more doors would open for me.”

“Your father is Leonardo Ferrante.” She tucked some of the stray hairs that fell from the messy braid behind my ear. “Any door you want will open for you.”

“That’s not the same.”

“Your father has a trip planned for the Hamptons after your birthday. He wants you to see the progress they’ve made on the hotel.”

“Can’t we go in the fall?”

“Remember I told you about the associates that are coming tomorrow night?”