Episode 88
EPISODE 88
MISTY CONUNDRUM
Emily
Misty’s eyes narrow and she glares at me, her jaw tense and her cheeks beginning to redden. Her lips are pressed tightly together, and for a moment I expect her to snarl.
I play my own words back in my mind.
I’ve sucked his cock and he’s eaten my pussy. We’ve showered together and fucked each other bloody raw. Many times. And it’s been a splendidly good time. What do you say to that?
What the hell was I thinking?
Misty has basically claimed River. Who does that?
Easy.
Someone who’s a bit…unhinged.
My flesh goes cold. This woman could be deranged. She could be dangerous. God knows she has enough money to crush anyone she wants, and right now her wrath appears solely focused on me. Sure, we have a non-disclosure agreement that covers all of us and what goes on here on the island, but that won’t matter to a person who thinks I’m cutting in on her territory—territory she feels entitled to.
Damn it.
I was acting like an overindulged little nipper. I was feeling jealous and I wanted to throw it in her face that River and I have been intimate.
I, of all people, should know better than to let ego get involved in any part of my life.
“I’m kidding, of course,” I say, willing my voice to stay calm. “You look as if you want to rip my hair out.”
She says nothing.
Deny it, Emily. For God’s sake, deny it!
“None of that happened, but what do you expect, Misty? Do you want the rest of us to think you’re some kind of arsehole? We’re all on equal footing here. River isn’t yours any more than he is mine. Or Ariel’s. Or Heather’s. Or anyone else’s.”
Misty’s demeanor remains rigid as she turns and walks to the davenport which was only moments ago covered with her designer garments. She falls quietly into a sitting position.
At least she’s no longer staring me down.
I could leave. Make my escape from this woman whose sanity I’m questioning. Is she simply a spoiled little rich girl who may not get her way? Of is there something deeper at work here?
Why River?
And why do I even care?
The answer to the second question is simple. As much as I’d like to deny it, River has gotten under my skin. Do I want to move to Montana? Of course not, but I also don’t want to see any of the other women with their claws in River.
I’m being ridiculous, and I know it. He’s not mine, and until now, I wasn’t even sure I wanted him.
I breathe in deeply, get my ego under control. Is it River I want? Or is it just that I want him to choose me ?
A little of both, I fear.
“Why did you say it then?” Misty finally asks, casting her gaze toward me. She seems better now. Not so tense.
“Say what ?” I ask.
“That you and River were together.”
Right. That . “I told you why. You were acting as if you own River, and you don’t.”
Misty looks away for a moment but then turns back to meet my gaze. “I don’t believe you, Emily. You were very specific.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. She thinks that was specific? That we fucked and ate each other? Lord help her. We did so much more than that, and every bit of it was sumptuous.
I tentatively take a seat next to her. Right now she’s as pliable as a rag doll. In fact, she looks almost defeated or resigned. How could I have thought she was threatening mere moments ago? She sighs and looks at me with eyes so lost, I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. But I know one thing. Misty has a story. And I’d like to be the one to root it out.
“Level with me,” I say.
“About what?”
“Why are you here? You don’t need a billionaire husband, Misty. You can buy and sell the rest us, including June, who’s a successful model.”
“Is that why the rest of you are here?” she asks, her brow furrowed as if she’s genuinely confused.. “For the money?”
Bugger. I can’t give too much away. I swallow. “Of course not. Evangeline made sure we were all independent women who take care of ourselves. It just begs the question, though. Why? You could have met any of these men through conventional means. You have the connections.”
“I don’t care if you fucked River,” Misty says.
I raise my eyebrows. Is she bloody serious? That is her response when I ask her why she’s here? After she said River is the only one for her?
I keep my jaw from dropping. I honestly don’t know what to say to her.
Turns out I don’t have to say anything because she continues.
“I don’t care if every woman here fucks him. All that matters is that I have a chance with him. A real chance.”
Her tone seems to exude sincerity, but I’m still flummoxed. Is she dangerous, as I previously thought? Or is she simply a lovesick schoolgirl worshiping a man from afar?
Or she could be both, I suppose. The look in her eyes when I first told her I’d fucked River made my blood run cold. Now, though? Misty just seems pathetic.
I actually do feel sorry for her.
“You truly don’t care if he fucks all of us?” I ask, keeping my voice steady.
She sighs. “I care, of course. But I can’t stop it. What I can do is spend time with River. Help him to get to know me. Make him fall in love with me.”
“Misty, you can’t force a person to fall in love with you. Are you in love with him ?”
She doesn’t answer.
“Have you met him before now?” I badger.
Again, no answer.
I rise and let out a soft scoff. “I’ve truly had enough. I don’t believe you. I believe it eats at you that River might be fucking someone else. You made it clear as soon as you got here that River was off limits. Do you see how that looks? Rachel was on River’s radar the first night, and then, after you laid claim to him, Rachel had a mysterious accident.”
Misty gasps. “You don’t think?—”
“How are any of us supposed to trust you, Misty?”
I can’t quite read the look on Misty’s face. It’s not rigid anger as it was when I first blurted out that River and I had fucked, for which I’m grateful.
She finally shakes her head. “You think I had something to do with Rachel getting hurt?”
I draw in a breath. I may as well be honest with the woman. I don’t believe in treating anyone with kid gloves. Though I felt a bit threatened a moment ago, I never walk away from a fight. “It’s not just me, Misty. It’s the others as well. We’ve all considered that you may have been involved with what happened to Rachel. River took an interest in her the first night, and the next day, she’s gone. How can you blame us for putting two and two together?”
Misty rises and rushes toward me. I stand my ground, and she stops before she comes close enough to touch me.
“Please, Emily,” she says. “You have to believe me. I had nothing to do with Rachel’s accident. Or with her and Ginger leaving. Or with Sienna leaving. I had nothing to do with any of it!”
I cock my head. Why would she mention Ginger and Sienna? Those two weren’t on River’s radar, at least as far as I know. “Why should I believe you?” I ask. “Why should any of us believe you?”
Misty goes rigid again, but she doesn’t close the distance between us.
My palms go sweaty. “Are you going to answer me?”
She turns and walks back to the davenport.
I don’t think she’s going to get violent, but everything else seems to be on the table. She could yell at me. She could burst into tears. She could go to her closet in the bedroom and tear into that gorgeous red Herrera sheath.
I have no idea what to expect.
I turn to leave the room, but then Misty makes her decision.
She chooses tears.
I turn back, and her head is buried in her hands.
I go to her as if she were Ariel or one of my models, a friend who needs a shoulder. I can never resist a younger woman who brings out the maternal instinct in me.
“What is it?” I ask gently. “We talked earlier about you maybe needing a friend. How can I help?”
“You’re not my friend,” she says.
“Maybe I could be.”
She lifts her head, and her cheeks are streaked with tears. “I…I can’t escape it. No matter what I do… Whoever I love, whoever I get close to… Somehow they always get hurt, Emily.”
Her words themselves move me, but her tone?
It sends a cold shiver down my spine.