The hard edge of his expression faltered. “What do you mean?”
“You come out here all the time, but you never seem to be enjoying yourself.”
He stared at her for a moment. “How do you know I’m not enjoying myself?”
The words hit low in her belly. Maybe it was because his voicewas so deep, but she had heard deep voices before. No, his had an added layer, one that seemed to add physical weight to each syllable, like they were deliberately shaped on his tongue before being uttered.
Then Lydia’s shrill laugh cut through the air, snapping Lizzy’s attention back to the dance floor. Her sister was flanked by two men in the middle of the crowd. She had her phone held above her head, angling it down as she smiled up at it. “Hey, lovelies! Lydia here. Come with me as I celebrate the Fourth in the Hamptons!”
Lizzy cringed. “Oh my God.”
“What?” Will asked.
She turned to find him still watching her, his brow knitted together.
She offered a half-hearted smile. “Haven’t you ever been embarrassed by your family before?”
He glanced over to the dance floor, like he was noticing Lydia for the first time, and frowned. Then he brought his attention back to Lizzy. “No.”
Her smile fell as the heat of embarrassment rose in her cheeks. “Right.”
She didn’t bother excusing herself, just started forward, trying to escape the feel of his gaze on her back as she maneuvered through the throngs of partygoers toward her sister.
“Lydia!” she yelled.
Lydia ignored her, and Lizzy could only watch helplessly as she laughed and continued talking to the camera.
Oh God.The night was quickly getting out of control.
Knowing her sister was a lost cause, Lizzy gave up and headed toward the bar. Just as the bartender delivered her another drink, this one with a giant piece of pineapple on the rim, her phone pinged in her bag.
Tristan.
Her heart tripped as she reached for it, eager to see the glowing screen.
JANE
Hey! Charlie and I are going down to the beach to watch the fireworks. Want to come?
Disappointment landed heavy in her chest.
LIZZY
That’s okay
But have fun!
She pressed send, then scrolled back to her texts to Tristan. There was still no reply, but she did notice something written beneath the messages: Read 8:21 p.m.
He had seen her texts over an hour ago and still hadn’t written her back.
Lizzy looked up to survey the crowd. Mrs. Bennet and Donna were stationed next to the DJ booth, swinging their hips to the beat. The rhinestones on her mother’s leggings were almost blinding in the iridescent lights of the floor below her, and Lizzy could see other dancers pointing and snickering. Just beyond her, Kitty was standing beside Annabelle, talking animatedly while Annabelle listened, an unreadable expression on her face. Then Lydia’s laughter erupted from the dance floor again, and Lizzy turned just as her sister was hoisted into the air by the two men, grinning widely at her phone as they did so.
“THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!” she cackled.
For a moment, Lizzy considered marching up to her again and telling her to control herself. But she was too tired to do anything but turn around and head straight through the house to the front door.
The driveway was empty when Lizzy walked out, not that she was surprised. All the guests had arrived, and the fireworks would be going off soon. She could slip away unnoticed—go home, crawl into bed, and forget this night ever happened.
