Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six(61)

Hannah was not aware of these assignations—unless Mickey had told her. Cricket was fairly sure he would not have. Hannah wouldn’t be happy to hear he was cheating on Liza. She wouldn’t be happy that Cricket kept sleeping with a man who was obviously using her and had been since high school—even if that man was Hannah’s own brother. Especially.

“So tell us more about Joshua,” said Hannah from the other side of the tub.

Cricket realized that she was leaning into Mako ridiculously, chin on fist, like a schoolgirl with a crush. And that Hannah did not approve. Hannah had that look, that look that said, I know you two. I know you better than anyone, better than you know yourselves. And yet it still managed to be nonjudgmental. Like she was the beloved babysitter, and Mako and Cricket were the mischievous toddlers. Even if they were bad, Hannah would still make the grilled cheese sandwiches and read the bedtime story. Even the question was just a gentle nudge back toward Cricket’s better nature.

Joshua. Yes. Cricket was in love with Joshua. Mako—well, he was like the habit you’d had to quit for your own good. Cigarettes. Or too much pot on the weekends. Carbs. You never stopped wanting it, even when you knew it was bad for you in twelve different ways. It was always something you forced yourself to push away.

She edged back from Mako, pushed herself up onto the side of the tub to cool down. Her skin steamed in the cold night air and somewhere an owl hooted, spooky and low. She took a swig from the beer he’d handed her. What she really needed was water, to sober up. To grow up. Yes, they both needed to grow up. And tonight was the night to start.

Hannah, she noticed, kept glancing over in the direction where they’d seen the light go on, then off. Must be on some kind of timer, they’d concluded. They were in the middle of nowhere. Who else would be out here? They’d have heard anyone approach.

“Yes,” said Mako, his eyes raking her body. “Tell us about your mystery man. The one who seems to have disappeared.”

He made an explosive motion with his fingers to punctuate the word.

“Well, we can start with him being hella hot,” said Cricket. She and Hannah clinked beer bottles, while Mako blew out a mocking breath.

“And also so considerate, romantic—flowers, candlelight dinners, calling to talk before bed when we’re not together.”

“Love that,” said Hannah, with a smile.

“He’s smart,” Cricket went on.

“Where does he work again?” asked Mako, looking bored.

“Razor?”

He shook his head, took a swallow of his beer, draining it. “Never heard of it.”

It was a pretty big company. Most people in tech had heard of it, even if they weren’t sure exactly what they did.

“Cybersecurity. Government contracts,” she said. “We don’t talk about work much. Some of his projects are classified.”

“Hmm,” said Mako. “Interesting. Well, as long as he makes you happy. That’s what counts.”

He looked away.

“He does,” said Cricket.

She looked toward the door, then glanced at her phone which rested on the side of the hot tub. Where was he anyway? It was weird that he’d just taken off into the night, wasn’t it? If she wasn’t so buzzed she might be worried or annoyed. Instead she just felt woozy.

Mako heaved himself from the water, creating a tsunami over the sides. “I think it’s time I went up to check on my wife.”

He was doing that to punish her; she’d broken the spell between them, or Hannah had. And now he was playing the role of devoted husband.

“What about the light?”

“Forget about it, Han. It’s nothing.” His tone was a little sharp, a little bossy. He was like that.

Hannah gave her brother a look, but said nothing.

It was fine that he was going inside. It was good even. Mako and Cricket were bad together. He put on the good husband show sometimes after their random assignations. Cricket would get a text, meet him at bar, he’d be down about something or another. She’d talk him through it. He’d come back to her place. Afterward, he’d often leave with an attitude, as if she was the one to blame. I have to get home to Liza, he’d say, her name pronounced with a kind reverence, even though he’d just fucked Cricket raw. As if to say, I fuck you, but I love her. He’d hurt Cricket so many times; in ways even Hannah didn’t know about. And she still came when he called. Why?

My brother, a sixteen-year-old Hannah had warned, always wise beyond her years, he’s not always a nice guy. Be careful.

She hadn’t been.

Her phone pinged.

Sorry! Read the text from Joshua. On my way back!

She felt the sting of shame for how she was acting with Mako, a wash of relief, and then vowed to drink less and not be alone with Mako, not at all, for the rest of the trip.

She was kicking that habit for good.

And no more gummies. Wow, were they ever strong.

“Crick?”

Cricket looked up from her phone and Mako was disappearing through the door leaving wet footprints on the wood behind him. Hannah was watching her.

“All good?”

“Joshua’s on his way back.”

“Oh, great.” Hannah glanced up toward the second level where she and Bruce were staying in the only slightly less luxurious second bedroom. Cricket and Joshua had been given what was surely the room intended for guest children—in the basement. They’d pushed the two single beds together. We’re going to have some fun down here tonight, said Joshua with a smile. The guy had no ego. Whatever message Mako was trying to send, Joshua had not received it.