Episode 195
NEW KID IN TOWN
Sienna
Seriously? Emily, June, and I were just dismissed? By River?
And Emily went for it?
That doesn’t seem anything like the woman who had a threesome with Zion and me mere days ago. That Emily would have stood her ground, told River where to get off.
And Brett…
He hardly glanced my way after River and that other guy showed up.
Jake.
Who the hell is Jake?
He’s supposed to be dead.
Brett’s words.
I returned to this island for Brett. He loves me. I have to remember that. Just because someone from his past returned and he’s visibly shaken doesn’t mean his feelings have changed.
But I can’t ignore the nagging voice in my head reminding me of how quickly things can change.
Of how fickleness often masquerades as love.
It only took one stripper at a bachelor party to turn my relationship with Leroy upside down.
In an instant, he fell out of love with me and left.
Granted, he says now that it was all a huge mistake, but what’s done is done.
How much time did I spend pining for something that was never what I thought it was? When I saw him again, to say goodbye to Lavonne, I knew it was over.
Brett is the one.
We reach the deck, and June makes a beeline toward the bar where Sebastian stands alone. Heather is talking to Darby, the new doctor who just arrived.
Emily and I stand together by the doorway.
“Are you okay?” she asks me.
“Fine. Why do you ask?”
“Brett seems odd,” she says. “So does River.”
“A friend of theirs apparently just came back from the dead.” I shrug. “I suppose they’re allowed to act a little odd.”
Emily’s lips tighten in a thin line. “I suppose. But something doesn’t feel right.”
Before I can respond, Heather waves us over to where she’s standing with Darby. “Join us, ladies!”
I like Heather, even though she’s friendly with June, who I’m ambivalent about. Funny that I really don’t know anyone very well, other than Emily.
It’s my own fault. Before the men arrived, we were superficially friendly with each other, but since then, I’ve really only spent time with Emily. Of course I was just interested in chasing orgasms those first days, so I have only myself to blame.
My instinct is to retreat, to wallow in my uncertainty and confusion. But even as my mind churns with thoughts of Brett and his estranged companion, I follow Emily over to Heather and Darby. Socializing might be good for me. It might take my mind off things.
Darby offers a warm smile. She’s polished but approachable, her green eyes sharp with curiosity.
“Where’s that hunky surfer god you were hanging on earlier?” she asks, flicking her gaze toward the doorway.
Okay, maybe not so approachable.
“He’s otherwise engaged,” Emily says before I have a chance to reply.
Fine by me. “We’ve got a new visitor,” I add. “An old friend of Brett and River’s, I guess. His name is Jake.”
Heather widens her eyes. “There’s a new guy here?”
Emily nods. “I’m sure you’ll meet him soon. Right now, though, they’re not talking.”
Heather scoffs. “I don’t know why men think it’s okay to shut us out. Like we’re just supposed to sip cocktails and wait for them to decide what we need to know.”
Darby lets out a laugh. “I know I just got here, but I’m good with sipping cocktails.”
I nod, but my thoughts drift back to Brett.
The way he and Jake were holding each other—Jake with tears in his eyes—twists something in my stomach.
I want to march back inside and demand answers.
From the look on Emily’s face, she agrees with me.
She demanded that River tell her everything.
Instead, he told her to usher June and me away.
And she did it. Emily fucking did it!
Heather nudges me. “You look like you’re about to explode. What’s wrong?”
I don’t answer. I’m not even sure what the answer is.
Darby studies me for a beat and then tilts her head. “I know we just met, but she’s right. You look sort of angry.” She turns to Emily. “And so do you. What’s going on?”
Emily sighs. “We’re fine,” she says quietly, as if she doesn’t want Sebastian and June, at the bar, to overhear. “Apparently, Jake was their childhood friend. But as far as Brett and River knew, he was dead.”
Heather’s brows shoot up. “And now, surprise, he’s not?”
“That about sums it up,” I say. That uneasy feeling in my chest expands. I can’t deal with this anymore. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get a drink.”
“That’s the most brilliant thing anyone’s said today.” Emily grabs my arm and we walk the several yards to the bar where June is talking to Sebastian.
Sebastian’s eyes light up when he sees Emily. “Hey, English Rose.”
“Sebastian,” Emily says without emotion, not meeting his gaze. “Kir royale, please,” she says to the bartender.
“Make it two,” I say.
“That’s a haughty drink for my rose,” Sebastian says.
Emily turns to him, this time with a gorgeous smile on her face. “You think so?”
June’s jaw goes rigid. Can’t say I blame her. Here she stands, clad in only a towel, and Emily is taking Sebastian’s attention away from her.
The bartender mixes our drinks and hands them to us. “Cheers,” I say, and clink my flute to Emily’s.
“Right,” Emily says and takes a sip.
“What are you two ladies up to?” Sebastian asks.
“We were banished,” Emily says dryly. “Didn’t June tell you?”
June flashes a smile. “We were talking about more pleasant things, like a naked walk on the beach.”
But Sebastian isn’t stirred by her words. He’s focused on Emily. “Banished? By whom?”
“River,” she says. “He and Brett are out front with the new guy.”
Sebastian brings his glass to his lips and raises his eyebrows. “New guy?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Apparently there’s a new kid in town. His name’s Jake.”