How To Salsa in a Sari (8 page)

“You asking me out?” Ishaan resumed staring straight ahead, smile on his lips.

“No!”

Mortifying. He'd saved her from her hideous ex-boyfriend and now it sounded like she was hitting on him. And did he have to look so amused at the thought?

Hmph.
“I mean. Not for me. For Gigi. I figured. You're single. She's single—”

“Gigi wants to date me?”

“No!” Issa practically choked. This was not going well. Why did she agree to this? “I figured, you're both my friends. You're both nice people. Why shouldn't you guys date?”

Ishaan said nothing as if waiting for her to go on.

“So, what do you think?” Issa prodded. He was not making this easy. Gigi owed her big-time.

“Uh. Okay.”

“Okay, you want to date her, or okay you're both nice? Ishaan, quit bein' all ghetto and give me a real answer.” Issa was growing more and more exasperated. She could feel her bangs start to frizz from the nervous perspiration on her forehead. Ishaan was one of the most straightforward guys she knew. He hated games. She couldn't understand why he wasn't giving her a straight answer here. Either he wanted to date Gigi or not.

Ishaan slowed down the car as they entered the neighborhood of the Morena mansion. “Listen, Gigi's a nice girl. And she's cute, but I'm not looking for a casual fling right now.”

Fling? Gigi was going to be
pissed
if she ever found out she was considered to be fling material rather than take-home-to-Mom material. Hopefully Ishaan would keep that tidbit of info to himself. But even Issa had to agree that she had a hard time imagining fun-loving Gigi dealing with day-to-day fights and a long-term commitment. Especially with someone as intense and loyal as Ishaan.

“You could get serious about Gigi,” Issa protested halfheartedly. “She acts like a ditz, but she's really sweet and—”

“Iz.”

“But she is!”

“Iz.”

“What?”

“There's someone else.”

“Oh.”

That shut Issa up. Not what she'd been expecting. Ishaan had never shown any interest in a particular girl. Sure, he'd discreetly check out any pretty girl who would walk by, but never a second glance. Now there seemed to be someone real on the horizon. Issa didn't understand why he'd never mentioned her. Especially to her, one of his best friends. She never kept anything from him. He knew her every pathetic, silly secret. So why not the other way around?

After a second, she dared to look at Ishaan again, slightly stung that he was so casually keeping things from her. “Who is it?”

“Just someone.” Ishaan sighed. “She's not available to me right now, though. But maybe one day. Till then, I don't want to waste anyone else's time, you know?”

“Yeah. I know.”

Actually Issa didn't know. And that was really bothering her. How could she not know? Had she been so cocooned in her own little Cat Morena–Adam Mitchell world that she was now oblivious to her friends' problems?

“Look who's home.” Ishaan parked the Jeep in front of the mansion next to the Lotus. “She must have ducked out to avoid you.”

“Yeah.” Issa's mind was somewhere else. She thought she knew Ishaan, but she'd never had even an inkling about this secret crush. This didn't speak much for their friendship. Issa noticed Ishaan's eyes passing over the Lotus again.

Hmm.

What if Ishaan was lying about it being “just someone”? What if it was Cat? His having it bad for Cat would definitely explain him not telling her and making it a point to keep his crush a secret.

It would also explain him breaking up the scene with Cat and Adam with the ferociousness he'd demonstrated that morning. Jealousy.

She glanced over at Ishaan. Was he one of the legions of guys at the high school who were dying to get into Cat's hot tub?

“You okay?” Ishaan broke into her thoughts. “What's up?”

“Nothing. I need go in and deal with Her Highness.” Issa watched him carefully. Was that a wince in his eyes?

“Good luck.”

“Uh, thanks for the ride.”

“No prob. And, Iz? Tell Gigi I would love to go out with her, but I was afraid she'd break my heart, okay?”

Iz smiled. Ishaan could see right through her pathetic covering for Gigi. She wished she had the same gift and was able to see through him. “Sure, I'll tell Gigi. She's going to be disappointed, though.”

She closed the door of the Jeep and glanced at Cat's bedroom window in the Morena mansion. Was Cat Ishaan's secret lady love?

When Someone Steals Your Man, There Is No Better Revenge Than Letting Her Keep Him

“Oh,
hello, Issa.” Diego was sauntering down the swirling staircase as Issa swung open the front door.

“Have you seen my mom?” Issa blurted out. She still didn't know what to say to Diego. He made her nervous, as if she should curtsy in his presence or something.

“Alisha is in my study. I recently acquired some sketches by one of her favorite artists. Matisse. Some of his early works, it seems.”

Lured in Mom with Matisse.

Issa wondered what it cost him to get those sketches. No way would original Matisse sketches be cheap. Or for sale in the open. He had to be dabbling in black-market art prints.

“Also, I have some rare books you might be interested in. I have one of the first-edition copies of
Pride and Prejudice
among others. Your mother says that's your favorite book.”

A first-edition Austen! Issa's breath caught. She didn't give a damn where or how Diego had managed to get his hands on one. She had to have a look.

“It's my absolute favorite!” Issa blurted out. More and more, she was realizing that maybe this little setup at the Morena house wasn't too bad. A first-edition Austen? She could only dream of such things.

“I am most happy I picked it up, then. Also, Cat arrived home a while ago,” Diego continued, his eyebrows knitting together. “She said she tried to look for you after school, but wasn't able to find you. Is this true?”

Issa gritted her teeth. It would be easy to snitch on Cat, but she would save her complaints to Diego about much more serious issues. Right now she was too excited about
Pride and Prejudice.

“Oh, that's okay. I asked a friend for a ride and—”

“There you are, Iz!” Cat suddenly appeared from the living room. “I looked for you! But you were absolutely nowhere to be found. With your new boyfriend again? Naughty, naughty!” A sly smile crossed her face.

“Boyfriend?” Diego's eyebrows immediately separated and rose straight up. “I wasn't aware you were seeing someone. We have yet to meet this young man. Rule number two, Issa.”

“What? I'm not seeing anyone!” Issa eyed Cat. What was she up to?

“Oh, really? Then
who
was that dashing guy who was so possessive of you this morning?” Cat continued, a huge smile on her face.

“Ishaan's just a friend.” Issa's cheeks burned. She was sure Cat wouldn't want her to mention
what
Ishaan was saving her from. What game was Cat playing?

Cat giggled. “Daddy, don't you think it'll be so fun if Issa and her boyfriend double-dated with me and
my
boyfriend this weekend? The two almost-sisters, out together!”

Issa could feel all the heat leaving her face and her hands turning clammy. Suddenly she was freezing despite her sweatshirt.

Cat's boyfriend? She'd already brought Adam home and gotten him Diego-fied? So it was officially official. Cat Morena and Adam Mitchell. The year's junior class power couple.

“That's very thoughtful of you, Catalina. I think it's an excellent idea. But first we would have to meet Issa's new boyfriend, right, Issa?”

“But I don't have a—”

“Adam is here now, we're studying. Why don't you join us, Iz?” When Cat used her nickname it sounded malicious and exaggerated.

“I don't have my books and I need to find Mom, so, uh, maybe later.” She prepared to turn on her heel and run far away.

“Why don't you join them, Issa?” Diego placed a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe you can help my Catalina understand algebra finally? Her friend is helping her also.”

Issa swallowed. So this was what Cat was up to. She couldn't let Cat see that the thought of her and Adam,
together,
was shredding up her insides. She nervously wiped her hands on her worn-out sweats and grimaced realizing how grubby she looked. Cat was in a micromini skirt and a baby-doll T-shirt, looking adorable. Issa standing next to Cat would just reaffirm to Adam why he broke up with Issa in the first place.

Diego was staring at Issa curiously. Calling out Cat would only make Issa look petty. Especially now that Cat had convinced Diego that Issa already had a “naughty” new boyfriend.

“Okay. Why not?” she managed to choke out.

“Come, come!” Cat grabbed Issa's hand and dragged her into the living room, Diego looking on and smiling.

Kill me now, kill me now.
Issa squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. She was standing in the doorway of the living room. Adam was sitting on one of the white leather couches, algebra book open on his lap, his mouth open even wider.

“Look who's here!” Cat said enthusiastically. She plopped down on Adam's lap, tossed the algebra book onto the floor and nibbled Adam's ear. “Iz wants to study with us. Isn't that cute?” She ran a hand down Adam's neck to the top button of his shirt.

“Uh, yeah.” Adam's freckles started to pop up like they always did when he was nervous. He attempted to shift slightly away from Cat and eyed Issa. He was no doubt remembering the scene from that morning.

Don't worry, Adam. Ishaan's not here to save me now.

“Don't be embarrassed, baby. We're all friends here,” Cat purred. “You're so sexy. I don't know why I didn't see it before.”

Issa made a choking sound in her throat and managed to blurt out with a quiver, “Actually I need to find my mom.” Before she turned her back to hide the tears in her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Cat kissing down Adam's neck. “Let's go up to my room,” Cat murmured.

I'm going to be sick.

As Issa dashed down the hallway to Diego's study, she was haunted by the sound of Cat's giggling as she heard two sets of footsteps hurry up the stairs.

How had Adam moved on so fast? She couldn't go for more than a few hours without thinking about him. She kept having imaginary conversations with him, telling him in her head all the silly little things that happened to her that day. She saw his face in her dreams every night. But Adam saw only Cat.

Issa took a deep breath outside Diego's study, wiping the tears off her cheeks. Last time, she promised herself. Last time Cat would ever see her cry.

She pushed the door of the study open silently. Her mother sat in Diego's high-backed chair, holding a cell phone to her ear. Issa could hear the conversation clearly in the well-insulated room.

“Roy is not coming back, Helen. I'm sorry this is hard for you to face, but it's a fact. The man has been gone for five years now.”

Strict Aunt Helen. Her father's sister was convinced something terrible had happened to Roy Bradley and he would magically appear one day. Issa wished with all her heart that was true.

After a silence, Alisha sighed. “I am marrying Diego. And that's it. I've been divorced for—”

Issa could hear the voice on the other end of the cell phone growing more insistent.

“Diego will be good for Issa. He's kind and generous and—Helen, please. She's my daughter and I am doing the best I can for her.”

“Mom?”

Alisha whirled around, her cheeks coloring.

“Give me the phone.” Issa held out her hand.

Alisha hesitated.

“Let me talk to her. Please.”

Alisha handed over the cell, her expression defeated.

“Auntie Helen. It's Iz.”

“What is she doing to you?” Issa could hear Aunt Helen sobbing. “Marrying some ignorant spic when your father is looking for you? Don't worry, child. You come and stay with us. We'll take care of you and—”

“Please listen to me?”

“Child.” Helen was quiet after that.

Issa glanced at Alisha. Her mother was staring at her hands, twisting her engagement ring around and around on her finger. It was time for Issa to be an adult and take control of her life.

“Diego's real nice to us. He's decent. Real decent. And I know Daddy's not coming back.”

“Child, you don't know that.”

“He wouldn't leave me for this long if he was comin' back. You know that. I'm still your family, right? I can still come for Kwanzaa to see Jessie and Robbie and li'l Bo?”

Helen said nothing and Issa glanced at Alisha again. Alisha was blinking her eyes in the way she always did before she had a breakdown.

“Nothin's gonna change. I promise you. Please give Mama your blessings, because you know she won't marry Diego without them. Please. For me.”

Helen continued to be silent. Issa started counting the seconds. “If she wants to marry that man, fine. But, child, if you ever run into problems with them rich types, you take the first plane to Atlanta. You hear?”

“I hear. Thanks, Auntie. I love you.”

Aunt Helen sighed. “You too, child. Too much.”

Issa realized her eyes had tears, as well, as she handed the phone back to Alisha. For the past five years, being with her father's big, boisterous relatives made her feel like a part of his life still. Like he was on vacation and would be back any day. That would be over now.

Issa kissed Alisha on the cheek. “I need to do something.” She rehearsed what she was planning to say as she trekked up the stairs to Cat's room. True, Adam might still be in there with Cat, doing God knew what, but it was time to call the truce.

I'll stay the hell out of your life. I'll get my own car and not try to take the Lotus away from you.

In return, you'll get off my back. You'll keep Adam out of my sight. You'll lay off me and my mother. Or I'll turn your father against you so fast, your fake orange tan will slide off.

That sounded good. She paused outside the closed bedroom door that could only be Cat's. A huge neon pink sign declared Entering the Princess's Palace. Prepare to Curtsy.

Issa raised a hand to knock on the door.

“I know!” Issa heard Cat's distinct giggle from inside the room. “You should have seen the look on her face. I just grabbed that ex-boyfriend of hers and practically jumped on him on the living-room floor. Yes! Right in front of her! She almost died. I'm telling you, Jewel. It was the single greatest moment ever!”

Issa's ears burned. How could Cat take so much pleasure in her pain?

“She ran off to cry to her mommy, what else? No, seriously. I bet you my stack of Green Day CDs that she's packing her bags right now. And if she's not, this is just the beginning. Wait till you see what I'm going to do next week.”

Issa bit her lip, the tears threatening to return.

“No! It's a surprise. Let's just say, Miss Issa is going to never show her face at Athens again!”

Cat's laugh echoed in Issa's ears as she pulled away from the door. She had no desire to see what Cat was going to do next week. That was it. She was going to tell Alisha there was no way they could stay in this house. No way could she face Cat again. Issa willed her feet to move, carry her away from this place, but they refused. She stood, as if statue-ified, outside the door.

“Anyway, so did you see Rake today?” Cat continued to squeal.

Rake? What Rake?

“I know! Oh my God, he's so hot!”

Hmm, interesting. Rake…who was this Rake? Issa's foggy mind started to clear. Something told her this was important. She had to pay attention and remember this.

“I'm telling you, when I get crowned Snow Queen, there is only one guy who's going to be my Snow King. Rake Robinson.” Cat sighed dreamily.

Rake Robinson. Not Adam Mitchell. What the hell did Cat want with Adam, then, anyway?

“Not yet, but I will soon.” Issa could just hear Cat smile. “Adam? Whatever, as soon as I get this algebra midterm over with, I'll get rid of him. Daddy said if I don't get at least a B, the car's gone.”

Cat was using him, Issa realized. Of course, she'd been so stupid. Cat was just using Adam. Not just to make Issa crazy, but also to get her work done.

“Whatever, Jewel! Adam's gotten a taste of me. He can never go back to Little Miss Kiss-Ass again. Do you know what he told me? That one afternoon with me was so much hotter than two years with her! I know!”

Though she'd never felt it before, that jab in her chest had to be her heart breaking.

“God! Have you seen her clothes? I snuck into the guest house and looked in her closet. It really is what you said the other day! Stuff I wouldn't even garden in!”

Issa counted to ten silently. Cat wasn't going to get away with this. No way.

Cat caught a fit of giggles over something Jewel said on the other end. “I can promise you, by the end of the year, Issa Mazum-whatever is going to change schools. And she'll take that slutty mother of hers with her.”