Page 54 of Your Two Lips
We finished our ice cream and walked down the dock. A couple was standing close, having an animated conversation ahead of us. He was facing the other direction, and I didn’t recognize the woman. She was older, petite, and platinum blonde with a bikini top working hard to hold up the load. I’d certainly seen my share of women like her. She wasn’t my type, so, thankfully, not someone I had any firsthand knowledge of. That would have been awkward as balls, and I was already a little on edge.
Emily stopped suddenly and pulled me aside between two large catamarans. She ducked her head low.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“That woman, up ahead.” I looked. “That’s Joel’s mother,” she said.
Was that shitbag too?
We could partially see them over the boats moored in the slips between us from our new position. The man turned quickly to glance behind him. “Son of a bitch.”
Emily hunched lower to remain unseen. “What! What is it?”
“Evan.”
“What Evan? What do you mean?”
“She’s talking to Evan Larson,” I said, and Emily popped up to see Joel’s mother slide her hand along Evan’s shirtless shoulder and not in thethanks for helping us dock the boatsort of way. They were lovers.
“I can’t believe this.” Emily’s nostrils flared.
“What do you want to do?” I asked.
She stood to her full height. “Walk down to slip twelve and greet my dad.” She grabbed my hand and walked with relaxed purpose toward the still talking couple.
“Mrs. Carter,” Emily greeted, and the woman’s eyes widened before shuttering.
“Emily.” She glanced at our connected hands and the edges of her smile curved up like a cartoon villain.
“Finn, Emily. How do you all know each other?” Evan asked.
“My family and Emily’s were in the same social circle until ... well, I live in an exceptionally challenging world. Some people belong, and some don’t.”
What? That was how Joel’s mother explained how she knew her cheating son’s ex-fiancée? By making a thinly veiled claim that Emily couldn’t cut it? Fuck this woman.
Her expression was a little Cruella de Vil. She just needed the black streak with her platinum hair. “I heard you had a new friend. Good for you, finding someone more … on your level.” That sounded like an insult.
Emily gripped the straps of the big leather bag over her shoulder and shifted closer to my side. Standing tall, she pulled my arm into the softness of her body. “You’re right. Not everyone could tolerate the compromises you’ve had to make. Thankfully, my life no longer requires those kinds of compromises. You’re so brave.” Her tone was fake and condescending. It matched Cruella’s but wasn’t Emily.
Cruella’s face hardened, but her stance remained casually still, something simmering right below the surface.
“This is my boyfriend, Finn.” Emily beamed at me as she caressed my arm. I was glad to see the light still in her eyes, and boyfriend sounded good to me. “We should go. Dad’s mooring at slip twelve.”
With a glance down the dock and then a big smile for Evan, the woman asked him, “Could you grab my wrap from inside?”
“Sure.” Evan’s eyes held more questions, but he waved back at us before boarding the yacht nearby. “Good to see you two.”
Cruella leaned in. “I wanted to ask how you are now, your health.” She reached out to touch Emily on the arm, a big ring sparkling in the evening light. Her actions were soothing. Her tone was not. She glanced at me. I knew Emily had been sick, and this woman’s dickhead son cheated on her at the same time. I clenched my jaw before I said it aloud.
“But … I know how much you protect your privacy. Some matters call for discretion to prevent needlessly upsetting those we love, don’t you agree.”
“Absolutely, Mrs. Carter.” Her smile was cold.
What the hell were they talking about? I was definitely missing something.
“Like son, like mother,” I said as we walked away.
“I guess so.”
