The night spins on, and what started as a dinner has thoroughly turned into a party. Some leave, but many stay. The corporate types clearly know how to have a good time. The terrace table is littered with empty bottles of champagne, laughter and jazz mingling in the air.
The gravel is crunchy and a bit sharp beneath my bare feet. I ditched my heels hours ago.
Laughter rings out from the pool. It’s amazing, the inhibitions that grown people drop with enough alcohol and the right atmosphere. Summer has started, and they’re all celebrating.
Even Rafe looks like he’s having fun.
He moves through the crowds, talking to everyone. I never see him stay in one place long. It makes me a little dizzy, thinking on how much money I spent today and how little he seemed to care.
Long past midnight, I end up sprawled on a chair next to the fountain with the beautiful Egeria, still dutifully pouring water from her urn, with Sylvie and Leelyn close by.
“Is it always this hot?” I ask Sylvie. “Please tell me it’s not. I have to live here all summer.”
“Yes.” She lifts her cigarette to her lips. Leelyn stands in front of us, her hips swaying to the music, hands moving like she’s directing an invisible orchestra. “It’s summer. You’ll get used to it.”
“The heat isgood,” Leelyn says. She’s tipsy too, now, and quick to laugh. I loved my lunch with her today. I learned that she’s named after her parents middle names. Lee and Lynn, put together. “Come on, Paige. We can swim.”
“The pool sounds very full.”
“Full of people who domathfor a living,” Sylvie says.
“Not the pool.” Leelyn nods toward the fountain next to us with the nymph statue. “In there. Look at her, so industrious and so… so… neglected.”
“The fountain? Itispretty large.” I stand up and put the champagne glass down beside me.
“Oh no,” Sylvie says.
“Oh yes,” Leelyn says. She’s already tossing off her slides. Flat shoes was a much better choice than my ill-fated heels.
I don’t let myself think. I step past Leelyn and sit on the edge of the fountain. It’s deeper than it looks, and I swing my legs over and into the cool water.
The sensation is fantastic. It drowns out the sound of music, the pounding of my heart, the low-level anxiety I’ve run from all day.
Sylvie laughs. “You’re insane,chérie, but I think I’m in love with you.”
“Hey!” Leelyn says. “I’m better friends with her!”
I take another step into the fountain. I’m right next to Egeria now. I cup my hands, and she pours water directly into them. If she has any magic, I want all of it.
I sink to my knees, the water flowing up to my chest. I dip backward, and float in the water. It’s shockingly cold against my scalp.
“Come in!” I call to Leelyn.
“After you! It’s not big enough for two.”
I sit up and push wet tendrils off my face. It feels incredible. The cool water has just cleared my head, and above us, the stars glitter.
“I’ll make room for you,” I tell her.
But she’s backed away, grinning at me over a glass of champagne. No, in front of me is someone else entirely. Someone shrugging out of his suit jacket with an expression like death.
Rafe.
Here to kill the fun.
I stand up, and water sluices down my body. I’m still in my white linen dress, and too late, I realize it’s probably notgreatfor swimming.
“Wilde,” he says. There’s a world of disapproval in his tone.
