Page 28 of River & Rue

Dan cups a hand by his mouth and calls toward the kitchen, “You guys have any popcorn back there?”

“Of course it isn’t true,” Penelope insists. She strokes Wyatt’s cheek, her voice turning sickly sweet. “She’s just obsessed with him—they all are. I told you this wouldn’t be easy. Worthwhile endeavors rarely are.”

Maya and I share a glance of mutual disgust.

Someone mutters, “Laying it on a bit thick.”

Priya’s fist hits the table. “Enough lies! I was there, you delusional drama queen. I saw and heard everything. The only one here obsessed with River is you.” She drags in a calming breath, her voice lowering. “Don’t make me share the details, Penelope.”

Everyone—including the two servers very slowly collecting plates from the table—collectively holds their breath.

Penelope’s throat moves. Her eyes turn glassy, her face splotchy. She sways, then drops into her chair like her knees gave out.

Maya whispers, “Checkmate.”

Three more chairs slide back. Matteo, Larissa, and Elio all walk away without saying anything. Priya follows them.

Anna looks around helplessly, then blurts, “I’m really sorry,” and flees.

Wyatt whispers furiously at Penelope, who stares blankly at her lap. She looks dejected and lost. I almost feel bad for her.

Almost.

Dan hops to his feet. Rubbing his hands together, he gives Maya and me a giant grin. “Now that that’s settled, I’m off to the hot springs. Care to join?”

“Hell yes,” answers Maya as she stands. “Rue? Any interest?”

“Thanks, but I’m going to crash early tonight.”

“Do you need me to walk you to your cabin first? I don’t mind.”

Smiling wryly, I shake my head. “I’ll read the signs this time.”

She gives my shoulder a squeeze. “Get some rest. I’ll see you at breakfast, okay?”

I nod, and she catches up with Dan. As they reach the doors, Maya says, “No funny business, Reynolds. Eyes stay above the waterline.”

Dan’s immediate, impassioned agreement makes my lips twitch.

The moment the doors close, fatigue drops onto my shoulders like a weighted blanket. I fold my arms on the table and drop my head, resigned to wait for a second wind. Or third. Maybe fifth? Whatever it is, I need it to face what promises to be a wet, miserable walk to my cabin.

“Time to wake up, dear.”

I swing upright, blinking blearily. Claudia stands beside my chair, her kind smile aimed at me. Penelope and Wyatt are gone. So is Kirk. The table has been cleared, and half of the industrial string lights crisscrossing the vaulted ceiling have been turned off.

I rub my face, swallowing a groan of misery. Drunk naps are the worst.

“How long was I out?”

“Not too long—twenty minutes or so. Will you let Kirk drive you to your cabin? Even with the signs, it’s easy to get turned around in the dark. Especially on your first day.”

I begin to shake my head on reflex, then abort the movement as my brain cells finally get their shit together.

“That’d be amazing, thank you.”

As she sends a text to Kirk, I haul myself to my feet, then cling to the back of my chair until I’m back on speaking terms with gravity.

“I usually have a one-drink limit,” I mumble. “Sorry for my, uh… outburst. I didn’t mean to upset anyone.”