“You shouldn’t surf after a storm. The water pollution levels—”
“I know about urban runoff, Will,” she said, then motioned down her body. “Hence the full suit.”
He glanced down at the purple neoprene and immediately noticed a tear in it along her left thigh.
“There’s a hole in it.”
She looked down, as if noticing it for the first time, and shrugged. “I have glue at home.”
“Doesn’t do you much good in this situation.”
“Neither does unsolicited criticism.” Her tone was clipped as she narrowed her eyes on him. “Anything else you care to comment on?”
He took a sip of his coffee. “Give me ten minutes. I just woke up.”
Her dark eyes flared like she might smile. He’d thought he would see it at the farmers market a few weeks ago, when he grabbed that muffin despite her lie, and he had been disappointed when she hadn’t. Now he waited, surprised by the knot of anticipation tightening in his chest.
Then Vivienne’s voice wailed from back up on the verandah.
“Charlie! The cushions are soaking wet!”
Lizzy craned to look up toward the house. “Did everyone survive the storm?”
“Yes.”
“My sister, too?”
He nodded.
“Can I see her?” she asked, as if the follow-up should have been obvious. To be fair, it probably was.
“If she’s up.”
“Not being held against her will, then?”
“If you were worried, you should have called.”
“I did. Her phone went straight to voicemail.”
“So you went surfing instead.”
“And now, here I am,” she said with a sharp smile he knew was artificial. “Waiting to see her.”
She was staring up at him, her dark eyes expectant, as if challenging him to keep this volley going. And he was surprised to find he wanted to. But then Annabelle’s voice cut through the air.
“Just flip them over, Viv! It’s fine!”
Will frowned, then nodded toward the house. “Come on.”
Lizzy followed him, leaving her board in the sand at the foot of the path that led up to the verandah.
Annabelle and Vivienne had apparently found a solution to the wet cushions, each now lounging on a separate chaise. Despite the overcast skies, Vivienne was wearing sunglasses along with a black kaftan. Next to her, Annabelle was in a matching gray pajama set. The sisters were in conversation, but that halted the minute they saw Will appear with Lizzy at his side.
“Did you just come from the ocean?” Annabelle asked, looking back and forth from the beach to Lizzy.
Vivienne snorted out a laugh.
To her credit, Lizzy just smiled. “Just Main Beach. The roads down here are still closed, but I wanted to check on Jane.”
