The Accomplice(30)

“What’s Scarlet’s ETA?” Tom said. “Scarlet. That’s a helluva name.”

Owen smiled broadly at Luna, just to hide his annoyance. Whatever happens is your fault, his expression suggested.

“She said she was going to hit the road around one, so I figure three o’clock or so,” said Owen.

“Luna, give me the 911 on Scarlet,” Vera said.

“The 411,” said Tom. “You use 911 for an emergency; 411 is for information.”

“I think she knew what I meant,” said Vera, with a whisper of the prior night’s dark cloud.

“She’s great,” Luna said. “You’ll like her. She’s beautiful and nice and smart.”

“Can’t wait,” Griff said.

“Maybe we should invite Ted up too. He’s in Jersey, isn’t he?” Owen said. “That’s not too far.”

“While we’re at it, let’s invite Mason and the ABCs,” Luna added, calling his bluff.

“Mason and the ABCs. That sounds like a band, doesn’t it?” said Tom.

“Mason is Luna’s pot dealer,” Owen said, ratting her out as payback for answering his damn phone.

“Well, then, let’s definitely invite Mason,” Griff said.

“What are the ABCs?” Vera asked.

“Mom, I think the waffles are burning,” Griff said.

Breakfast was served. Luna watched as the Mann family chatted aimlessly, ate with gusto, and made her believe, once again, that they were whole.

While food was being consumed, Griff revived the lost topic: “So who or what are the ABCs?”

“Just some lame girls,” said Owen.

“You don’t like Amber just because she has a crush on you and doesn’t hide it. And you don’t even know Casey. Sometimes you’re mean and way too judgmental,” Luna said. She immediately regretted it, remembering her audience. “Sorry,” Luna mumbled. Then she was angry that she apologized.

Griff broke the brief but tense silence. “You’re right,” said Griff. “Sometimes Owen is mean and judgmental.”

“I’m going to have to agree with you there,” Tom said pleasantly.

“Mom, do you have anything to add?” Owen asked.

“Poor Amber,” said Vera.

“What about B?” Griff said to Luna.

Luna shrugged. “Bobbi is kind of a bitch.”



* * *



—

When Scarlet arrived that afternoon, she walked right past Owen and hugged Luna first. The move felt false and calculated, and it got under his skin. Scarlet then turned to Owen, kissed him on each cheek, and said something like So lovely to see you. She’d never greeted him like that before, and he wondered how much performance he was going to have to contend with. He also wondered how long she was planning on staying.

Owen introduced Scarlet to the rest of his family. His dad tried to give him a high five when Scarlet’s back was turned, but Owen left him hanging. Vera nodded her approval of the striking young woman. Griff, on the other hand, seemed not to notice or care that Scarlet was hot.

Vera and Tom claimed to have some shopping left to do in town. Vera set out a spread of salty and sweet snacks and a pitcher of sangria.

“Call me on my cellphone if you need anything,” Vera said.

As soon as she left, Owen poured four glasses of sangria.

Scarlet picked up her glass. “To good friends.”

“To oblivion,” Owen said.

“To my liver,” Luna said.

Griff laughed and said, “To Luna’s liver.”

Scarlet chugged her sangria and locked eyes with Luna. “Let’s go outside for a minute,” she said.

Owen and Griff watched the two women step out onto the deck and close the door behind them. Words were being exchanged, but nothing that could be discerned through the glass.

“What’s going on here?” Griff said.

“I don’t know,” Owen said. “But she shouldn’t be here with Luna.”

“Why not? Your best friend and your girlfriend should get along, especially if they’re both girls,” said Griff.

Owen forced himself to turn away from the glass door. He took his drink over to the fireplace, fed the fire, and stoked the kindling.

“I just don’t trust it,” said Owen.

“Trust what?”

“Forget it.”

“Do you even like Scarlet?” said Griff. “If you have a girlfriend, you’re supposed to like her, not just think she’s hot.”

“She’s not my girlfriend. I have made that clear on numerous occasions. And I do like her. Sometimes. Then, other times, she seems desperate and a little pathetic.”

“Having feelings doesn’t make someone pathetic,” Griff said.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” said Owen. “I don’t have a clue who Scarlet is.”

“Maybe you should try to get to know her, since you’re sleeping together.”

“Let me clarify,” Owen said, keeping the volume down. “I think that Luna coaches Scarlet about how to be around me. She’s telling her what to do and what not to do, so that I like her more.”

Griff laughed uproariously. “Are you suggesting that Luna is Scarlet’s Cyrano?”