“Are you serious?” The whites of her eyes widened. “Vivienne didn’t tell you about me?”
“She doesn’t tell me much.”
“I can’t believe this,” said the girl, sounding indignant. “Not even one mention?”
“This is Hadley,” said Frances flatly. “Her dad is the chief of police.”
“That isnotmy most defining personality trait, Frances. I hate when you lead with that.” Hadley crossed her legs under her and turned toward Vivienne. “This is criminally offensive, Vivienne. He metReedbefore me.”
At the name, Vivienne jacked upright, but it was too late.
“Reed,” echoed Thomas. “Who’s that?”
Hadley tugged off her sunglasses. “What do you mean, who’s Reed? He’s the goth townie she used to—” She didn’t finish. Vivienne bent forward and slid a hand over her mouth, silencing her.
“Cute,” said Thomas. “That’s very mature.”
“Isn’t she just,” deadpanned Frances, without looking up from her camera. “Viv, this is the last time I let you borrow anything of mine. I think you cracked my lens.”
And just like that, they fell back to ignoring him. Like he was a seagull hopping nearby, begging for scraps. A sear of irritation ripped through him.
Wading into the landscaping, he located the nearest outlet and unplugged the speaker. The music cut out. Silence fell, and three pairs of eyes swiveled toward him.
“Party’s over,” he said. “It’s time for your friends to go.”
Vivienne rose, fuming, from her chaise.Turn the music back on.
“I don’t think I will.”
“I’m actually going to pack it in,” said Frances, rising to go. “I’m getting a sunburn.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Hadley. “The vibes are not great.”
They gathered up their things in a hurry, pulling on swim covers and shoving tumblers into beach bags, casting the occasional glance in Vivienne’s direction. Thomas and Vivienne stood there all the while, facing off like opposing chess pieces on a board. Neither of them said a word. It was a different sort of silence than they’d endured in the car. That one stagnated.
This silence blistered.
Vivienne felt it, too. She jumped when the gate slammed shut.
You can’t tell me what to do, she signed. Each gesture was as quick as a slap.
“Oh, I’m aware,” he said. “But I can motivate you.”
This caught her attention. Wariness shuttered her gaze and she angled her head to the side, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“You and I both know I’m supposed to keep tabs on you. Your stepdad wants me to tell him what kind of people you’re hanging around with. I get the sense you don’t want him to find out about Reed.”
Understanding tightened her mouth into a corkscrew.You’re threatening me.
“I’m negotiating with you, Miss Farrow.”
She’d gone pale.You can’t say anything.
“I won’t,” he promised, though now he was burning with curiosity. “It can be our secret, as long as you go upstairs and put on a dress for dinner.”
•••
He won out in the end, the threat of being ratted out to Philip enough to send Vivienne stalking inside to cooperate.
