“At least you’re off the hook,” she says as we watch Jocelyn and Angie jump into the river.
“What do you mean?”
“Susan couldn’t care less about photos right now,” Meredith replies, glancing over her shoulder at her mother-in-law, who is currently hiding under an umbrella, dark sunglasses covering her face as she gesticulates towards Meredith’s aunt, Vivianne, who looks like she’s being tortured.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she calls a search and rescue team to evacuate her out of here.”
“Those are like eighty thousand dollars.”
“I’m sure it’d be worth it for her,” Meredith replies, taking another sip of her drink, and I hate that she has to deal with this. “I really tried to like her but that woman gets under my skin. And I work in customer service.”
“Some people are so unhappy in their own lives, they can’t allow others to be happy either.”
“I really thought this was my chance to make a new family. To finally feel like a daughter again ...” She trails off, her eyes cutting towards Susan. “I didn’t realize there was something worse than being an orphan.”
“At least complaining about in-laws is a pretty universal experience.”
“You’re right,” Meredith chuckles. “And I won’t have to deal with her for much longer anyways.”
“Oh? Did you put out a hit? I won’t tell,” I reply, holding up three fingers. “But I will be taking notes for the future podcast special.”
“We’re moving actually,” Meredith explains. “Grant took a job at a startup firm in Asheville. He’ll be managing their financials and investments and I can expand my holistic healing business. It’snot like we’re cutting her out, but a two-hour distance means no more casual pop-ins.”
“I can totally see you living there. Between the tourists and the locals, I’m sure it’s the perfect market for you.”
“It really is,” she gushes. “And it’s better for our lifestyle.”
With Meredith’s penchant for home-brewed kombucha and hand-dyeing her own clothes, I know she’ll thrive there.
“You’ll have to come visit,” she says, nudging me on the shoulder. “I’m sure you shoot weddings there all the time, right?”
“Not so much anymore,” I reply, since the few I had scheduled just canceled.
“For a girls’ weekend then,” she says, before Grant calls over to her and I’m left alone with nothing but my growling stomach.
14 Hudson
All I had to say was one more word.
Together.
We aren’t together.
But I choked.
And of course, to make matters worse, Mira thinks she and I slept together—another clarification I’ll have to make if she ever lets me get a word in. Until then I get to sit here and watch Derrick parade his half-naked body in front of Mira like he’s in a goddamn bodybuilding competition.
“Come on in, the water’s fine,” he shouts as Mira takes a seat on the edge of the riverbank. She’s applying sunscreen to her arms and legs, leaving a radiant sheen over her pale skin that sparkles in the sunlight. Her life vest is still strapped around her as if she’s afraid of falling in. But after the verbal beatdown she gave me, I’m the one who feels like I’ve drowned.
“Enjoying the view?” Vanessa asks, coming up from behind me.
“God,” I say, jumping, “it’s dangerous to sneak up on people like that!”
“I think you should be more concerned with Derrick trying to steal your girl than what’s lurking in the woods,” she replies playfully, her gaze following mine towards Mira.
“She’s not . . .” I stammer.
“Oh my God. I was right,” she coos, smacking me in the chest. “You do like her.”
