The boys, meanwhile, are each clinging to one of Mom’s hands.
I lean closer to Luna. “I can’t believe Mrs. Grady brought her assistant along. I know you said she was kind of a workaholic, but wow.”
“Assistant...?” Luna crinkles her brow. “Oh, no. That’s Courtney.”
“Courtney?”
Wait.
No.
“As in… Noah’sex-wife,Courtney?”
Luna just shrugs again, casual as you please. “Yeah. She and his mom are really good friends. I told you that, right?” I stare at her incredulously, because, yeah, she mentioned as much at some point probably, but… Noah’s mom brought hisex-wife?On theirwedding cruise?
We pass through some glass sliding doors onto the pool deck.
It’s already crowded with cruise-goers, an upbeat, beachy tune playing over the speakers. The boys peel off their t-shirts and stuff them into my bag before dragging Mom straight towards the water. Luna and I claim a line of empty lounge chairs.
Seeing as we’re semi-alone now, I decide to prod Luna a little more on the subject. “So you’re just…finewith her being here?”
“Honestly? Yeah. It’s weird, but it’s fine.”
I shake my head. My sister, who by all rights should hate Mrs. Grady, has somehow transcended mortal insecurity.
“Wow. That’s very…Zenof you.”
I used to be trusting. I used to beZen.
“I guess,” she chirps with a shrug, then drops her cover-up, revealing the aforementioned bright yellow bikini with little white daisies.
“You look amazing,” I say.
She smirks, adjusting her sunhat. “Noah and I have been jogging. Don’t look at me like that. I’ll do anything for that man.”
“Wow. If that isn’t true love, I don’t know what is,” I tease, stepping out of my sundress.
My two-piece bathing suit is turquoise, a little skimpy.
“Not bad yourself, Ash.” Luna kicks back on a lounge chair, crossing her toned legs.
Then, in that casual way only sisters can pull off, she adds, “Bex looks tired. I’m so glad he came. I’ll bet you are too. I was really bummed when he missed the engagement party. Finally, he and Noah can bond. And you two can have some—” Here it comes. “—sexy times. A little romance.”
Sexy.
I think this cruise just might kill me.
“We get plenty of romance,” I say.
“Uh-huh.” Luna’s tone makes it painfully clear she doesn’t believe that for a second.
I automatically scan the deck and pinpoint where the boys are—giggling in the shallow end, glistening with the sunscreen I’d applied earlier that morning. They’re fine. Covered. Happy.
Which means I can actually breathe.
I sit back and smooth lotion onto my arms. Luna and I take turns with the hard-to-reach spots—sisterly teamwork—and then we both lie back, letting the sun settle over us like a blanket.
For a moment, I almost relax, eyes closed behind my sunglasses.
