But I look happy.
That’s what matters. I like the picture and stash my phone in a cubby to keep it dry. I stretch out my legs, feeling the heat of the sun.
“Sorry if I blind you with my albino skin,” I say to Ben.
“It is hurting my eyes,” he says and shields his face with his hands. “You’re glowing.”
I elbow him. “Shut up.”
He grabs my arms. “You’re two different colors. Tan arms, tan face, but pale legs.”
We laugh. “I know. I used to be super tan all the time living by the lake. I don’t lay out or go tanning now, so this is the best I can get.”
“Maybe you’ll even out after today.”
“Maybe. But probably not. Is it bad I don’t care?”
“Not at all. I’m glad you don’t care.”
“Really?” Because I do care, just a bit. I want to look good head to toe, even though I know that’s a bunch of bullshit. People don’t really look like that.
“Really.” He seals it with a kiss. “I haven’t been out on the lake much,” he admits. “Even though I’ve lived in Michigan most of my life.”
“That’s kind of sad,” I tell him “I love the lake.”
“I don’t remember it being this big.” He looks out at the water. “And with traveling for the military, it made family vacations hard to plan. We went to Disney World a few times, but that was kind of it.”
“I’m glad you’re here with me now. We can make up for it.”
“This definitely helps,” he says with a smile. “And my childhood wasn’t bad or anything. Just different, I suppose, than most.”
“It makes me feel like I took mine for granted. As many times as I wanted out of this town when I was a teen, it would have been ten times harder to start over multiple times.”
He nods. “You get used to it. Well, I assume most people do.”
Jake stands and waves to Danielle as she comes into view. Ben is still talking about the lake and something that has to do with his childhood, but his words go in one ear and out the other.
Danielle leads the way down the dock. She’s wearing a bright-red bikini with a white scarf tied around her waist. Her sandals are jeweled and sparkle in the sun. Her hair falls in loose waves around her face. She smiles behind oversized sunglasses, looking ridiculously put together for someone in a swimsuit. Her friend Zoey, who I recognize now as the tall girl who scoffed at me during the shower, is next to her. She’s too done-up too, but she’s nothing compared to the tan woman walking next to her.
White wedge heels cover her feet, attached to lean legs, smooth and golden. My gaze travels up to her thin waist, tight and small with just a hint of muscle. Her bikini top is as small as her bottoms, hardly covering large, perfectly round breasts.
Her face is hard to see behind large sunglasses and a floppy hat. But I know who she is right away.
Mindy fucking Abraham.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I blink. I’m still drunk. Got too much sun already. I’m dreaming. No, I’m having a nightmare.
I can’t stop watching Mindy walk toward us. My blood boils and my skin prickles as the devil herself nears. My heart skips a beat. Mindy is Zoey’s sister. Holy fuck, the universe really does hate me, doesn’t it?
My mind immediately goes into stupid compare-mode. Mindy is tall, thin, toned, and tan. Her breasts, though fake, are perky and shaped like beach-balls, holding themselves in place. Her makeup is flawless and not a strand of hair is out of place in the fishtail braid that falls over her shoulder.
Wait a second. Her hair isn’t really that long. Seriously? She put in extensions just for today?
I blink again.
No. No, no, no. And why the fuck is Erin not getting here until after noon?
“Felicity?” Mindy says, literally stopping in her tracks. Our eyes have met. I should turn to stone or something, right? She flicks them to Ben. “And Ben?”
Ben turns, looking confused to see his secretary standing before us.
“You guys know each other?” Jakes asks, helping Danielle into the boat.
“She works for me,” Ben says matter-of-factly and my head shakes, still wishing I would lie and say I have no idea who the fuck this blonde bimbo is.
“What are you doing here?” Mindy asks, and I’m not sure if she’s talking to me or Ben. She looks at her friends, my brother, Ben, and then me, playing the Which One of These Does Not Belong game.
Clearly, it’s me.
“This is my boat,” I say and blink. Jake helps Danielle and Zoey into the boat, unaware of the complete nuclear disaster that’s taking place right now. Mindy takes her sunglasses off and looks at Ben.