ONE TO WATCH

DELYAN: BACK HOME

Back at the house, Delyan poked his head into the living room. A movie played on the large flat screen TV. Shortie sat cross-legged on a cushion, whilst Iman perched above her on the window seat, braiding her hair. Thankfully, there was no sign of either Bibiana or Nick. Across the room, Charlie lay on the couch under a mohair throw blanket, her hair strewn across the pillow.

Delyan greeted her. "Settled in, okay?"

Charlie nodded and pulled herself up on the sofa. As the blanket slipped off her shoulders, he averted his gaze. She was wearing a light pink spaghetti strap top, showing a lacy bra strap and more skin than he'd been prepared for. She was living with them now, and with Violet arriving soon, he'd need to think about that.

"Hey, can you come in for a moment, D?" Shortie asked.

He stepped into the room. "What is it?"

"How was your date with Nicholas this morning?" Iman intercepted like a mischievous elf.

Delyan rolled his eyes.

"Just kidding. How'd you go today?" Iman asked.

"Good. They got what they needed right away." The lie rolled off his tongue with ease.

Iman turned to Charlie. "Delyan was shooting with Tyson Ballou and Kaia Gerber at Lake Como today."

"Oh wow. Who for?" Charlie pointed the remote at the movie and pressed pause.

"ASOS. Their fall/winter Topman collection." Delyan hovered, unsure if he should sit down.

"Was it fun?" Charlie asked.

"Fuck no!" he responded. "It was work."

Charlie beamed at him—she had the kind of smile that could floor a man.

"What's up with B?" Shortie interrupted. "She said you had a fight."

Delyan wrinkled his forehead. "I wouldn't say that."

"What then?" Shortie sounded edgy.

"Is she home?" he asked.

"No, she's gone out. She was distraught."

"That's strange," Delyan said. "She seemed fine when I left. What time was this?"

"A couple of hours ago," Shortie said. "She said she needed to walk and hasn't been back. I'm worried. She's not answering her phone."

Delyan sighed. Now was as good a time as any to talk to the girls about Bibiana. He scanned the space for a place to sit. Charlie shifted her legs, and he crossed the room to sit next to her on the couch. His gaze settled on Shortie and Iman.

"I think we might have a problem with B," he said. "I don't know if you've noticed, but she's not doing so well."

"Do you mean she's ano?" Shortie asked.

"Well, is she?" Delyan raised his eyebrows. "Do you know that for certain?"

"I know she's been in clinics before...when she was younger," Shortie said. "Carmen told me. But she thought she was over it."

Bibiana's sister Carmen had shared her room up until a week ago when she'd left for a job in Paris. If anyone knew the truth, it would be her.

"She has lost a lot of weight," Iman said. "Even in the few weeks I've been here. And she's exercising heaps."

"She eats quite a bit for a skinny girl," Shortie said. "I've seen her."

Delyan rubbed his forehead. "I think she's purging. I've been hearing something through my wall."