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I glared after him.Were they friends of Isabelle?I needed to find her.
Isabelle had exaggerated the size of the yacht. And there wasn’t a sign for East Coast Cruise anywhere. I walked down to the opposite end of the dance party and stopped by a small circular pool and jacuzzi. More beautiful young women in Isabelle’s suits mingled with older men. Some of the men had to be in their sixties. Isabelle had already handed out the swimsuits.She lied. But why? What the hell is going on here?
I spotted Isabelle talking with Sophie and waved to her. She looked everywhere but at me. Still, I approached them. “Hey, birthday girl. Do you know where my bag is with my clothes and the swimsuits you want to pass out?” I didn’t hide my sarcasm.
Sophie’s eyes widened. “Birthday?”
Isabelle’s face pinked. “I called the party anearlybirthday present to me. It’s a party, and people are having fun. So why don’t you?”
Sophie pursed her lips and stared at me. She had on one of Isabelle’s swimsuits.
“Hello,” I deadpanned.
She ignored me and turned her head.Whatever.
“Can I speak to you privately for a moment?” I asked Isabelle.
She let out a huff and rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
I walked with her to the railing, away from Sophie.
“What’s going on?” I asked her. “I thought this was your party, but there are old men here.”
She hid her eyes and lifted her shoulders. “I invited some friends who like to party. They’re older, but I’m not prejudiced of someone’s age. Paul’s older than you—”
“But not by a century,” I quipped.
Isabelle groaned. “Stop nitpicking. It’s a party. Some…investors were also invited that may be interested in sponsorship.”
Her explanation didn’t sound unreasonable. Though Isabelle had often been forthcoming on everything going on in her life. It seemed odd that she left out marketing investors coming to her party. “Why didn’t you just tell me that?”
Isabelle’s eyes narrowed. “Because it was a business decision I made that had nothing to do with you. I told you that this party was important, and I can’t spend the entire time arguing with you over logistics.”
“Isabelle is right. Sophie added, walking up to us. “It’s her party. She can do whatever she wants to do.”
Isabelle smiled at her and lifted her chin. “Now, I have to get back to my party. Excuse me.” They walked over to the jacuzzi, and I didn’t follow them.
A pain spread inside my chest. And I couldn’t stop from going over all the time I spent with Isabelle, laughing and sewing together. Yet all of it meant nothing to her. She was always Sophie’s friend. She was never mine.So why on earth did she invite me?
I was about to walk away when another woman climbed in the jacuzzi, but there was something familiar about her….
Kelsie!I hadn’t even known Kelsie, Sophie, and Isabelle knew each other! I didn’t know how to process it; I only sensed a coordinated involvement in destroying my dress.I’ve been a fool.And I couldn’t get off this boat fast enough. Approaching them would only make a scene and maybe that was what they wanted all along? I could only imagine cameras capturing it all.It’s not worth the trouble.
Sweat dripped down my forehead, and I swiped it with my hand. I dug in my purse for a cloth. Paul had tucked one of his monogrammed ones in my purse. My heart ached with how angry he was with me.
Another cramp in my stomach had me clutching the railing.Shit.I moved inside the boat to a hall that had a buffet. Bile burned my throat. I covered my mouth. Checking my phone, I saw there still wasn’t a message from mom.Paul’s flying. Daddy has cancer.
“Excuse me.” A staff member tried to get past me.
“Where is the movie theater?”
“You mean, movie room? It’s over there.”
I opened the door, and a few people sat inside on the three rows of couches in front of a flat-screen television.
I watched what remained of a sci-fi film I’d seen before and dozed through the sequel. When I rechecked the time, I noticed the movie had only eaten away three hours. I had three more before we arrived in Nantucket.
My temples throbbed, and my cramps hurt more. I need to take some medicine and lie down.
