“You made it our business when you invited us and told us your sister was hosting.”
Another guest, Mia, spoke up.
“I would’ve been happy to meet for pizza. I thought this was a celebration Natalie wanted to do.”
Vanessa gripped her napkin. “Can everybody stop acting like I committed a crime?”
I looked at her. “Then tell them why you did it.”
She stared back. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“I didn’t arrange this dinner, Vanessa.”
“You knew I couldn’t afford it.”
“Exactly. So why did you order it?”
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Rachel asked, “Did you honestly think Natalie would pay just because all of us were here?”
Vanessa slammed her napkin onto the table.
“Yes! I thought she wouldn’t want everyone seeing what she’s really like.”
The words landed harder than I’d expected.
“What I’m really like?”
She was crying now, but she kept going.
