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Everyone’s in their finest beachwear, but even Father’s lost his shirt and the sun glints off his tanning oil. Mother leans in to give him her standard peck on the lips and she takes a seat directly under the sun with only her giant hat to shade her.
Fuck. The sun. I was distracted by evil Scott and didn’t lather Logan in sunscreen. “Sit here,” I direct him and place him in one of the only shady spots available. I want him to leave with a tan, but that’s something you build.
“Something happen to your lip, son?” Father says.
Forgot about that, too. I have to get my shit together. “Had a run in with a scorpion,” I say, taking my seat beside said scorpion. My sister and Richard are at the table.
“Where’s Mav?” I ask. I know he got in some time last night.
On cue, he climbs out of the water, fat droplets slide off him as he takes each step up the ladder, attempting to weigh him down. His bare feet reach the stone landing, and he smooths his drenched hair back like he’s a supermodel.
Maverick Elkington, second eldest. He’s every bit as rebellious as you’d imagine him to be with a name like that. He gets to be. Father would have shipped me straight off to boarding school if I’d done a third of what he has. Like that tattoo on his left arm. It’s not a sleeve, but it’s a dragon wrapping its way up to his shoulder. I’ve never been allowed a tattoo. Technically neither has he.
He’s the one joining Mercy’s hockey team this year. I’m only sorry I won’t be there with popcorn. Maverick looks Logan up and down, focusing in on his plethora of tattoos. Then he laughs. “Nice, big brother. Finally sticking it to Dad, eh?”
“I’m right here,” Father says, reaching for a gluten-free carrot muffin.
“And I didn’t want to be,” Maverick says. He dries his hair, taking his time.
They’re too much alike.
Mav walks over to the tray of mimosas with his towel in hand, downs one and takes another, sitting in the wicker chair across from me, reaching over to shake hands with Logan. The urge to stop Mav from touching him is high.
“Pleasure to meet you. Your dad is going to be my coach, I hear,” Maverick says.
“My older brother.”
“Meh. Same thing by the sounds of it.” Maverick smiles wide, showing all his teeth. Charm like that is born, not made. It’s how people become Mayor.
Even Logan can’t resist him, and I move my chair a little closer to block them from each other.
Breakfast commences and it doesn’t escape my notice how little Logan’s put on his plate. “What are you doing?” I whisper into his ear.
“Not that hungry.”
“Bullshit. I thought we told each other the truth?” Except when it’s to do with his safety, I add in my head. I added that little clause because I knew he wouldn’t agree to it. I’m willing to risk him hating me for his safety.
He forks a bite of the egg whites Mom ensured we had at the table for him as if to say,see, I’m eating, asshole.
If he thinks we’re not talking about this later, he’s wrong.
“Children, your father and I have an announcement to make,” Mother says.
I glance between them, frowning. Announcement? Usually there’s some bit of foreshadowing before their announcements. Her tone doesn’t give anything away. She might as well be discussing the weather.
“Our divorce has been finalized, but don’t worry. Nothing’s changed.”
“Thank fucking God,” Maverick says.
“Which one of you is moving out?” Angelique asks.
“Can I have my own apartment like Rhett has?” Richard says.
“Yeah, me too,” Maverick says.
“No one, no, and definitely not,” Father says.
“Finalized?” I’ve finally caught my breath from that whirlwind. “I didn’t know it was happening. Ijustsaw you two kiss.”
