Page 70 of Axe Backwards
She wore a floral caftan and a large diamond necklace that glinted in the sun as she surveyed the patio and her guests. I wasn’t sure it was wise to tempt fate by wearing several carats’ worth of diamonds so close to the deep lake, but she didn’t seem concerned.
With the warmest expression I could muster, I held out the bouquet. “Your home is beautiful.”
She gave me a forced smile. “Thank you. It was a steal. We’d been looking on the coast, but everything up here in the sticks is so cheap. It was hard to pass up.”
Vic winced next to me, as if she, like me, was steeling herself for a painful afternoon.
Outside, a somewhat snoozy party was in full swing. Kids were splashing in the pool while adults chatted over cocktails.
Miranda, the trained hostess she was, I was certain, showed us around, introducing us to various guests. Several people I knew from town were here, while others, including some of Vic’s aunt and uncles, had come to visit from Downeast.
“This is Victoria’s boyfriend. She married a bond trader, but now she’s dating a firefighter.” She infused so much disgust in the wordfirefighter, one would think I was a petty criminal or cleaned port-a-potties for a living.
“Don’t worry, Mommy.” Alexandra, clad in a ruffled bikini, sidled up next to her mom. “I married the bond trader.”
The circle of older ladies sipping prosecco laughed like it was the funniest joke they’d ever heard while Miranda beamed at Alexandra, who was rubbing her belly. It had grown a little since the wedding, though now it looked like she’d eaten one too many cheeseburgers. Though I doubted the woman would deign to eat such pedestrian food.
My gut sank. Were these people for real? Beside me, Vic had pasted on a strange smile. I wanted to shake her, to scream at everyone here, and then, with my hand in hers, jump into the lake and make a swim for our freedom.
Instead, I steered her over to a pair of lounge chairs. My timing was impeccable too. The moment our backs were turned, Alexandra had pulled up ultrasound photos of the baby she and Graham—her sister’s assholeex-husband—had created.
I guided Vic to sit, then snagged two bottles of water from a server passing by before I joined her.
For a moment, I let her sit in the quiet. But when she hadn’t moved an inch for more than a minute, I scooted my chair closer to hers and squeezed her hand.
Sunglasses lowered, she looked at me, her eyes rimmed red.
“Thank you,” she mouthed. With that, she slid them back up and rested against the back of her chair, never letting go of my hand.
I squeezed her hand three times and looked out at the water. The lake was pristine and the forest surrounding it thick. The only signs of civilization were a few mansions and the town marina on the far end. The rest of the expanse appeared untouched, wild. Katahdin and the Appalachian Trail created a serene backdrop. It was the perfect reminder that no matter how fancy the house, we were still in Maine.
We’d spent our childhoods in this lake, jumping off tree limbs, skinny dipping, and all kinds of other stupid stuff. It made me strangely happy to be here with Vic.
Elizabeth wandered over, along with a little boy wearingBlueyswim trunks who darted straight to Vic and looped his arms around her waist.
“Look how grown up you are,” she said as she stood and ruffled his hair.
Head tipped back, he launched into a monologue about what he was learning in kindergarten, bouncing on his toes the whole time.
While I watched, not even bothering to hide a chuckle at his excitement, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I inhaled and stood as well, bracing myself for a conversation I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
Instead of being met with scrutiny, I found Elizabeth smiling widely. “So good of you to come.”
“It’s a lovely home,” I replied, letting my shoulders fall a fraction.
“Can I get you anything?”
I shook my head.
She stood there smiling at me, the moment getting more awkward by the second. Eventually, blessedly, her son led her away.
Vic sat and adjusted her chair so she was reclined fully, giving me an eyeful of her swimsuit.
The lake view was amazing, but nothing compared to the sight of my fake girlfriend.
Thank fuck I’d worn sunglasses. It meant I could ogle Vic without looking like a total perv. Though now that I was studying her, I could see the tension radiating off her.
I flagged down a server and took two more bottles of water before I sat. With the backs of my knuckles, I brushed her jawline, then used my thumb and forefinger to tip her chin up so she met my eye.
