Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six(24)

I think I love you.

It was right there.

But the honking of a horn broke the moment. She lost Joshua’s gaze. Following his eyes, she turned to see a brand-new gleaming black Tesla coming to stop behind them in the shoulder of the road. The Model S, the most expensive, of course.

She’d just ridden in it last week actually. Mako had made sure to show off all its features.

“Look at you two lovebirds,” said Mako climbing out.

As he approached, she noticed big purple circles under his eyes. But still he looked good to her, virile and vital. Cricket felt an unwelcome tug to him. Always did.

She looked in the car for Liza but the passenger seat was empty.

“Hey,” she said, greeting him with a big hug. He felt strong, familiar, safe, like family. He was family; so was Hannah. They were the family she would have chosen, if she’d had a choice. She used to fantasize when she and Mako were dating in high school about their wedding, how Hannah would be just like a real sister. She imagined Sophia and Leo treating her like a true daughter. Her own family was so—broken. She was the only child of unhappy people who’d had a nasty divorce, and still hated each other a decade later. Toggling between miserable homes, she’d wanted to be part of the Maroni clan so badly. And she was. Just not the way she expected.

“This must be Josh,” said Mako releasing her after holding on just a millisecond less than she had. Big manly handshake, a shoulder clap from Mako. “The guy who’s making our Cricket so happy.”

Our Cricket. He always called her that. Possessive in a way that she relished.

“Ah,” said Joshua with a pleased glance at Cricket. “I’m a lucky guy.”

“It’s Joshua, actually,” said Cricket. She knew he didn’t like Josh but was too nice to ever say so. Somewhere along the line she’d started speaking up for him.

“Joshua,” Mako corrected himself.

Joshua raised a palm. “All good, man.”

Mako pinned him with that stare he used to intimidate, size up, assert his place in the hierarchy. But Joshua only squared his shoulders, smile deepening. There was some kind of male standoff that Cricket didn’t quite get and really couldn’t care less about. But she was pretty sure Joshua won.

“You guys lost? Follow me. Service drops here. I only found the place because I mapped it out ahead of time,” Mako said, moving back toward the Tesla. She picked up on the “I” not “we.”

“Where’s Liza?” asked Cricket. For a moment she felt a little malicious glee that she was not proud of. Trouble in paradise? Had he come without her?

“Back at the house,” he said. “I just made a run into town for some things the grocery delivery forgot. Bruce and Hannah just arrived.”

He rubbed at his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, which Cricket knew from bitter personal experience was a tell for when he was lying. But she couldn’t care less about that either. Because Mako was not her problem. He was Liza’s.

“You guys,” said Mako, before shutting the car door. “This place is epic. You’re gonna die.”





9


Hannah

“Let me know if there’s anything, Liza,” said Hannah, wanting to be useful in some way. Mako had dashed off into town. Bruce was unloading the car. She felt that usual awkwardness, like there was a sheet of glass between them. She could only get so close.

Liza just shook her head again, gave her a warm smile.

“We’re all good,” Liza said easily. “Just relax and enjoy. That’s what the whole weekend is about.”

Hannah wanted to say something more. The truth was that Liza looked horrible, pale and gray around the eyes. Fragile.

“Are you okay?” Hannah ventured. “You look—”

“Terrible, I know,” she said. “I’ve had this headache come on. Really bad.”

Hannah reached for her, feeling a motherly urge to comfort her, to tend to her. Liza took the hand Hannah reached out and gave it a little squeeze; her fingers felt cold.

“Migraine?”

Liza nodded, looked embarrassed as if she hadn’t wanted to admit that she wasn’t well. “I think I might have to lie down until dinner. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” said Hannah. “What can I do? Have Mako grab some medicine while he’s in town? Do you have anything for it?”

“I do, but it will wipe me out.”

Hannah didn’t know much about migraines but she knew when they came on, there wasn’t a whole lot you could do about it.

“Please let me know if I can help.”

They stood in the dreamy, aspirational kitchen with its gleaming double-sized Sub-Zero fridge, and restaurant-quality Wolf range, expansive quartz countertops, stainless steel sink. Along the backsplash was a gigantic display of knives on a magnetic strip, shimmering, razor-sharp blades, a cleaver. Chef’s tools. Hannah’s eyes kept returning to them. They glinted in the light.

“I will,” Liza said, offering a wan smile.

Through the big front window, Hannah saw Bruce unloading the car.

“So,” Liza said, changing the subject. “What do we know about Cricket’s new boyfriend?”

Hannah shrugged. “Almost nothing. She’s smitten though. I know that much.”