“Illustration. You?”
“Painting—acrylics and oils—but I have experience with illustration as well. I sketch out all my pieces beforehand.”
“And I have experience with paints,” April said. “I went to RISD.”
Daphne fought an eye roll. In her experience, people who went to Rhode Island School of Design seemed very keen on announcing that theywent to RISDat every possible opportunity.
“I went to Boston University,” Daphne said.
“Oh, I know,” April said, her voice laced with a now-familiar disdain. “And interned at the Museum of Fine Arts.”
Daphne frowned. “How did you know that?”
April just stared at her. “Really?”
“What?” Daphne asked, lifting her arms and letting them drop. “Why is that such a ridiculous question?”
April sighed again.
Daphne was getting very tired of people sighing in her presence.Becauseof her presence. “You know what?” she said, holding up a hand. “Never mind. Let’s just talk about the classes.”
“Good idea,” April said.
“Brilliant.”
“Great.”
“Wonderful.”
“Excellent,” Daphne said, her voice a bit louder.
“Superb,” April said, nearly yelling.
Daphne felt her nostrils flare.
“I can keep going,” April said.
“You like the last word, I take it,” Daphne said.
“I’m a Scorpio,” April said. “Ilovethe last word.”
“Then take it.”
“I did.”
Daphne groaned out loud, and she swore to god, she caught the ghost of a smug smile on April’s mouth. It was going to be a very, very long summer.
Chapter
Five
April wasn’t surehow she was going to make it through this summer withDaphne fucking Loveas her cabinmate and colleague, but she did know that this champagne was helping.
The next evening, the Cloverwild lobby was packed, the opening party in full swing. Guests from all over the country filled the room wearing their summer best—halter dresses baring shoulders and backs, myriad variations of Nantucket Reds, hair freshly highlighted and blown out. The front doors were thrown open, guests coming and going between the lodge and the stone walkway that led to the firepit, boathouse, and lake. Canoes were available for twilit rides through the water.
It was quite the event, laughter and jazz music floating through the room like bubbles.
April stood alone near the expansive windows in the Cloverwild lobby, dressed in wide-legged dark green pants, heeled boots, and a short-sleeve mesh black top that revealed her black bra and tattoos underneath. She sipped on her second glass of champagne and wondered how long she was required to stay.
