Lizzie walked barefoot across the hot sand to the small concession stand near the parking lot. The line was short. She ordered chocolate for Sarah, strawberry for herself.
“That’ll be eight dollars.”
Lizzie pulled out her wallet and heard a familiar laugh behind her.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the Carlson’s star employee.”
She turned. Cynthia stood there in a designer bikini that probably cost more than Lizzie’s entire wardrobe. Emma was with her, looking uncomfortable.
“Cynthia.”
“Enjoying your day off? Must be nice getting special treatment from the boss.” Cynthia’s smile was sharp. “Although I guess you’ve been getting pretty special treatment all along, haven’t you?”
Lizzie took her ice cream cones from the vendor. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh please. The help getting awfully friendly with the boss? I saw you two on the island. Going into that storage room. Locking the door.” Cynthia stepped closer. “You came out twenty minutes later looking thoroughly ravished. Both of you.”
Lizzie’s face went hot. She glanced at Emma, who was staring at her sandals.
“I was helping her get supplies.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now?” Cynthia laughed. “Would be a shame if it came out that she is getting it on with the help.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m just making observations.”
Lizzie had spent two years putting up with Cynthia’s bullying. Two years of snide comments and casual cruelty. She was done.
“You know what, Cynthia? If you say one word about what you think you saw, I’ll tell everyone at NYU about what happened on the island.”
Cynthia’s smile faltered. “What are you talking about?”
“The iguanas. The crying. The fact that you peed yourself like a toddler.”
Beside them, Emma gasped while Cynthia’s face went white. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
“I could ruin you. One phone call to the right person—”
Emma shifted her weight. “Cynthia, maybe we should just—”
“Shut up, Emma.”
“Don’t talk to her like that.” Lizzie stepped closer to Cynthia. “You know what your problem is? You’re a bully. You’ve always been a bully. But I’m not afraid of you anymore. So here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to keep your mouth shut about what you think you saw. And I’m going to keep my mouth shut about what I know I saw. Deal?”
Cynthia’s jaw was tight. Her hands were clenched into fists.
“You’re making a huge mistake.”
“No. The mistake was letting you push me around for two years. I’m done with that.” Lizzie pushed past her. “Enjoy your spring break, Cynthia.”
She walked away with both ice cream cones, her hands shaking so badly she almost dropped them. Behind her, she could hear Cynthia saying something to Emma in a harsh whisper.
By the time Lizzie made it back to Sarah, she’d gotten her face under control. Put on a smile. It didn’t fool Sarah.
“You okay?”
