“Is he married?” Justine asked. “Sometimes the partners at my firm bring their wives on business trips.”
“He doesn’t wear a ring. Besides, who’d marryhim?He’s a total”—I covered Mia’s ears—“asshole, and he works shitty hours like me.”
Justine snorted. “All the other partners at my firm are married, and they’re assholes who work shitty hours.”
“If your spouse is an asshole,” Savannah said, “it’s a blessing if they’re at work all the time.”
“True,” I said. “But what kind of marriage would that be?”
“A shitty one,” Justine said. “But there are women who’ll exchange a loving partnership for financial security.”
Savannah cleared her throat and jumped up from her chair. “We need refills.”
Mia squirmed, and I pulled my hands away from her ears, then kissed the top of her head. I exchanged a glance with Tessa. Savannah was living with her now that she and her husband had split. Tessa shook her head, so I didn’t press.
“The hearing’s next month,” Justine murmured too low for Savannah to hear as she bustled around the island. “She’ll be better when things are settled.”
I squeezed Justine’s hand, glad she was representing our friend in her divorce.
“Thisis your only swimsuit?” Carly asked, holding up a length of blue spandex.
I couldn’t keep the defensiveness out of my tone. “I swim laps at my gym when I have time.”
She shook the serviceable Speedo. “This is not swimwear for vacation.” She dug in her shopping bag and pulled out two scraps of sky-blue fabric.“Thisis for vacation.”
Lucie opened one eye. “I couldn’t get half of my ass into that.”
I set my hands over Mia’s ears again. “Language, Lucie.”
“She’s heard worse,” Lucie said. “Mia’s going to swear like a sailor, just like her mama. It’s a foregone conclusion.”
“This is Bridget’s size. And it’s going to look fabulous.” Carly held up the top against her more substantial breasts. It was a strapless bandeau with a ruffle.
“Fabulous?” I scoffed. “More like ridiculous. That suit saysbimbo,notCEO.”
“It saysconfident woman,and it goes.” She tossed it into my suitcase.
“Put my regular one in too,” I said.
“You can’t be serious.” Carly held up the navy Speedo. “This thing is one squat away from splitting. Look at the way the fabric has pilled on the backside.”
“It’ll be fine,” I said. “All I’ll do is sit in the water, I promise.”
“But you’lllookfine in the bikini, I guarantee it,” she said.
“Who am I looking finefor?” I asked. “The only people who’ll see me are my executive team, and I’d rather show them as little skin as possible.”
“Maybe you’ll meet a Costa Rican hottie,” Savannah said. “He’ll whisk you away to his hacienda on the beach.”
“I think someone’s back on the romance novels.” Tessa raised her eyebrows.
“They’re comforting in times of stress,” Savannah said, glugging wine into her glass.
“You deserve that comfort, honey,” Carly said. “Want me to do your makeup? I brought my kit.”
“No, thanks.” Savannah swigged her wine. “I’m not seeing anyone but y’all, and y’all don’t care about my makeup.”
“But—” Carly stopped herself. “That’s right. You’re beautiful.”
