Skyler lifts a brow. “Remind me to get Ayda’s art supplies out after school. We could be millionaires by next week.”
“You and Hudson are already millionaires,” Autumn says dryly.
“I’m just saying.” Skyler shrugs. “Gotta start them young. I’m raising the next generation of Fitzgerald moguls here. It’s a tough job, you know?”
I shake my head, smiling at the two of them as I flip to the next name on the clipboard. I like being around Autumn and Skyler. And all the women on the island. They’re fun, they’re so welcoming, and I think that’s what I need right now.
“Speaking of toolboxes,” Autumn says, lifting her brows at Skyler, “I still haven’t managed to find out who Zach smuggled into his apartment the other night.”
I immediately freeze. They know about that?
“We’ll figure it out,” Skyler says. “I’ll get Hudson to send me the security footage.”
“And how exactly are you planning to persuade him to do that?” Autumn asks, tilting her head.
“He’s your brother.” Skyler wiggles her brows like a movie villain in an old black and white. “I’m not sure you want the details.”
I make a sound that’s supposed to be a laugh, but it comes out sounding like a damn foghorn. Luckily Autumn’s too busy pretending to gag to notice me having a minor meltdown.
It’s okay, I tell myself. I’m fine. It’s not like I have time to be thinking about the man who basically fulfilled every fantasy I’ve ever had then took care of me like I was the only thing in his world.
At least for a few hours. Because I haven’t seen him since.
And that’s just fine. I’m a strong, independent woman. Who doesn’t need to start pretending that night was anything more than a one-time thing. A fantasy fulfillment. Which is why I haven’t answered hislast message.
I can’t fall for a man who doesn’t want to be fallen for.
Yeah, good luck with that. You’re already on the ground and covered in bruises.
“What do you think, Sadie?” Autumn asks.
“Sorry?” I blink, realizing they’ve probably been talking while I was busy pretending my entire nervous system isn’t a faulty live wire.
She and Skyler both stare at me, brows raised in twin arcs of expectation.
“The sculpture for the Salty Dog,” Autumn prompts. “The bronze with legs and no torso. Is it charming or scary?”
I look over at the statue. “I think it’s beautiful.” Even in the dark of the storage room it feels like it glows. The artist’s notes say it’s about female empowerment, about women carrying the weight of expectation and still finding the strength to move forward.
“Seriously,” I say to Skyler. “It’s completely badass. Like a middle finger to the patriarchy.If you think I’m just a vagina on legs, fuck you.”
Skyler lets out a laugh that bounces off the stacked crates behind her. “I love that. I might have to persuade Hudson to buy it. How much is it worth?”
Autumn looks at her tablet. “Thirty-thousand dollars.”
“It’d look great in my bedroom,” Skyler says, grinning. “Especially since Hudson’ll have no idea what it really means.”
We move onto unpacking the next piece, and to my annoyance the conversation turns to Zach again.
“I just don’t get why he’s grumpier than ever these past couple of days,” Autumn says to Skyler. “I thought casual hotel sex was supposed to make men more easy going, not bite your head off when you suggest they think aboutchanging up the décor in their bedroom because it screams ‘guy with no sex life’.”
“I thought you chose the décor for the bedroom,” Skyler says, shaking her head.
Autumn shrugs. “I did. But that was years ago and I chose it for Parker when he lived there and I was absolutely determined he wasn’t going to get with anybody but me.” She sighs loudly.
“Maybe he just needs more sex,” Skyler suggests. “If he’s anything like his brother, once is never enough.” She looks a little gooey eyed, like she’s remembering a moment with Hudson. Autumn pretends to gag again.
“Maybe we should introduce him to someone at the gala,” Skyler continues, oblivious. “I mean, there’ll be collectors, artists, a few gallery reps… I could invite Hudson’s assistant from New York. She’s just broken up with her boyfriend and she’s so nice.”
