They sat silently while Daphne tried to understand the meaning of letters, syllables, words.
Three years ago.
That could mean any time in the year she’d met Elena. It didn’t necessarily mean it all overlapped, that Elena had—
She met April’s eyes again, so dark, like pools of ink rimmed in black liner, and she knew it all matched up perfectly. The puzzle pieces of the last two days locked into place, creating the full picture—April’s immediate animosity toward her upon meeting, her sharp tones that bordered on mean.
Angry.
Hurt.
“You knew who I was this whole time,” Daphne said. It wasn’t a question. “That’s why you’ve been so awful.”
April fiddled with the crescent moon ring on her middle finger, one of the several silver rings she wore.
“I was surprised,” April said. “I never expected to meet you inperson, and then I couldn’t believe that Elena never…” She trailed off. Daphne could’ve sworn her lower lip wobbled a little, but in the next second, April’s jaw was steel and iron. “That you didn’t know.”
“I didn’t,” Daphne said. “I swear.”
April released a loud breath. “Yeah. I can see that now.”
Daphne didn’t know what to do. What to feel. What to say or think or be.
Elena had cheated on someone.
With her.
Elena had cheated on her fiancée, the woman sitting across from Daphne right now in this canoe, withher.
She stood up suddenly, the paddle thumping into the bottom of the boat. The canoe pitching wildly.
“Whoa, hey,” April said, gripping the sides.
“I need to get off this boat,” Daphne said. Her airway was closing. Her heart felt too large in her chest. “I can’t breathe.”
“Okay, okay, just sit down,” April said, leaning over for the paddle. “I’ll get us back.”
Daphne nodded, but she couldn’t get her legs to bend. She felt locked, frozen, couldn’t get her brain and body to connect. She looked down at her sandaled feet, the skirt of her dress fluttering in the breeze. She started to ease down, but she lost her balance and tilted too far to the left.
“Shit, Daphne,” April said, reaching out for her.
Daphne’s arms, however, were too busy flailing. She wasn’t even sure how it all happened, but one second she was pinwheeling, and the next she was in the lake.
It was freezing.
And wet.
And completely humiliating.
Daphne had barely come up to the surface, still sputteringwater, the mineral scent of the lake clinging to her hair and skin, when she heard another splash.
She yelped, eyes still closed as something came close, brushed against her back.
“Oh my god!” she yelled, imagining some lake creature ready to devour her.
“Daphne, stop!”
April’s voice, close and panicked.
