“Danika,” she finally heard, the voice far away and then ringing right next to her. She swiveled to Bill as he nodded harshly toward the window—where, just beyond, the first car was crunching down the driveway.
8
The cabin was more than Augie could have imagined. It was even nicer than Leah’s. It felt like a resort, something you’d find in a magazine. When they had first arrived, Augie was glad not even Bill was home as Teuta and Zami punched in the door code. She pretended it was her house and she was returning after a long, stressful year away.
Her favorite part was the skylights. She imagined at night, if you turned off all the lights, you could see the stars floating right above you on the couch. Augie had always loved stars. Her dad had taught her all about constellations when she was young; she could point out the Big and Little Dippers, the Bear and the Bull, Cassiopeia and Cygnus.
“Pretty wild, right?” Teuta said as they brought bags and crates into the kitchen—which was massive and beautiful with its dark blue cabinets and thick slabs of marble. Augie mimed her brain exploding as Teuta laughed.
“Is this what Leah’s cabin is like too?” Teuta asked as she slid a bag onto the counter. “The only other one I’ve been to is the Andersons’, which is also totally insane. I’m starting to sense a pattern here.”
Augie sighed dramatically. “Insanity all around.” She paused.“You’ll have to come to Leah’s with us sometime. Just for fun. We go as much as we can.”
“Don’t tempt me with a good time.” Teuta opened the fridge.
Augie smiled as she arranged containers of sauces, imagining Teuta at the cabin. Augie always wished to spend more time with her, but Teuta kept certain walls up. Augie still felt that she and Teuta had a special bond, being Aldon Lakes outsiders. She hoped now that she’d graduated, they could be more like peers.
Leah loved any chance to hang out with Teuta, too—as well as helping her with dating apps. Leah prided herself on her online stalking skills, and she’d conduct a full review of any suitor deemed worthy. Give her a name and job title, and she could tell you what high school someone went to, where they vacationed, their favorite band. This was helpful, because after spending her early twenties working at The Manor—where she was harassed and ogled endlessly—Teuta had a strict No Aldon Lakes dating policy. This was also the reason she despised Joshua Mike even more than most people. She and Augie had already commiserated about his attendance at the party.
The first few hours of work were easy. Even when Augie got word Danika and Chat had arrived—even when she spotted him and the boys by the dock—she forced herself to look away. She didn’t want Teuta or Zami to notice her reaction. Plus, Augie had a careful plan: Above all, she would stick to her job.
It also helped to remind herself that there was no real reason to be intimidated by Danika. Augie hadn’t done anything to her. She was there to help, for god’s sake.
But now, as Augie returned from the sitting room, watermelon juice sticky on her fingers, and leaned against the wall outside the kitchen, she felt all her careful resolve snatched away. If Danika had been cold and condescending at the pool, the emotion emitting fromher now was ten times worse. It was pure disgust. Augie didn’t understand. She pressed her shoulder blades against the wall, running her hands over her face.Forget her, she repeated to herself, trying to think her way around her hurt. She hated how much she hated being disliked.
“Are you okay?” Teuta peered out the doorframe into the hall.
Augie straightened.
“Yeah, for sure. It’s just”—she slouched, pointing behind her—“Joshua Mike is here.”
“Dirtbag asshole.” Teuta pulled Augie back into the warm lights of the kitchen.
Augie tried to calm down as they began prepping for happy hour, arranging spirals of peach and mozzarella and basil, sprinkling salt over freshly baked pita chips.
“You sure you’re okay?” Teuta blended the last of the edamame hummus, staring at her. “You look a little off.”
“I’m fine. Just hungry.” Augie popped a chip into her mouth.
“Hey.” Teuta smacked her wrist. “Save yourself for family meal. It’s going to be divine.”
“You betcha,” Zami said across the room, joining in with his favorite Midwestern phrase.
“I can do front of house if you want.” Teuta pulled her hair back and slid the elastic from her wrist. “You can focus on prep. But don’t eat it all.”
Augie thanked her.
“Trust me, I’ll glare that asshole down for both of us.” She picked up a platter of caprese. “At least the nanny is sweet. Cute too, right?” Teuta stuck out her tongue. “He looks familiar. I don’t know which celebrity. He comes in the bakery every week—sometimes twice—andI always think, this time,this timeit will come to me, but it never does. Think on that, please.”
Augie paused as she left, surprised to hear Chat came into the bakery so often. It seemed odd. Maybe he just wanted to get out of the house? Loved the food? Or, worse, maybe he liked flirting with Teuta, too. Maybe he had a thing for older women?
Augie shook her head, pushing away the thought. She hoped she’d at least get the chance to talk to him that night. She knew if Mrs. Crawley had her way, he wouldn’t come within ten feet of her. Augie grabbed a bunch of parsley and began chopping fast, trying to ignore the sinking feeling that this night would not come without a price.
9
“I fucking love baked brie.” Joshua Mike meandered about the deck. Outside, thick maple trees swayed above, tea lights danced in glass lanterns, and the sky faded to a dusky purple. Everyone circled the gas firepit, a table of hors d’oeuvres to their side.
Danika had been proud when she first planned the spread. Together, she and Zami had crafted a perfect menu: There were his signature byrek and ajvar, a tray of peach caprese, a spiral of edamame hummus and homemade chips, and decadent apricot baked brie. Danika had designed the table tastefully, too: small glass vases filled with black-eyed Susans and Queen Anne’s lace and water lilies, candles in colorful hand-blown votives, each tantalizing dish atop precious Polish pottery. Everything was lovely. And now she could not even enjoy it.
