Page 4 of Shameless

Lula has always used the expression “white trash with new money” to describe her mother and fuck me, it fits the woman in front of me to a T.

Tiffany Johnston moves her sunglasses to the top of her head, to keep up her bouncy bleach blonde curls out of her face.

My first thought is that she looks nothing like Lula, but if I look more carefully, I can see the resemblance in the few traits that haven’t been disguised by makeup or altered by plastic surgery.

While the two women have different eye color, they share the same shape. Tiffany’s lips look unnaturally plump, probably enhanced by fillers, but at careful inspection, I can still see the soft Cupid bow I find so attractive in Lula’s mouth.

The oval of their faces is also similar and so is the delicate slope of their necks.

The woman ignores her daughter’s question and points a red lacquered talon at her ex-husband. “You had one job, Tom. Keep our pathetic excuse for an offspring out of trouble for one year. One year. You couldn’t even last two months. But I shouldn’t be too surprised, considering how these days you devote all your energy to your whore.”

“Good morning to you too, Tiff.” Arianna bites out, clearly unimpressed with the way her former best friend is talking to her and her husband.

“Mom,” Lula asks again. “Seriously why are you here?”

“It’s Tiffany to you,” she snaps. “I thought I made that clear. And don’t worry, Howard and I aren’t here for a family reunion. Evan is dating George’s daughter, so we’ve been invited to her birthday weekend. The last thing I could think of was to find y’all here. George used to keep much better company back in the day.”

Evan?

If this woman is the stepmother of the asshole whose yacht I accidentally trashed, that can only mean one thing.

The guy who’s basically destroyed my life is the same guy who tried to force himself on Lula. The same guy who drove her to seek protection from a drug dealer.

I don’t know if I should grab one of the shotguns and go looking for that fucker, or thank him.

It’s ironic that while he’s the reason that both mine and Lula’s life derailed, he’s also the catalyst that put me and Lula in Star Cove this summer.

Another thought hits me.

If Evan is the person who assaulted Lula, this is why she looked so on edge last night.

I need to find a way to fix both mine and Lula’s situation. Evan and I made a bargain last night. If I win the race, he’ll forgive my debt. Is there an angle I can work to make sure he stays away from Lula for good? Aside from using a shotgun on his face, of course.

Scott Larson and the sheriff interrupts my thoughts as they practically carry a distraught George Andrews out of the stables.

“Well everyone,” the sheriff says. “I guess we’re all stuck on these islands until a forensic team has worked on this crime scene and we can understand more about what happened. I already called the local authorities and they authorized us to go back to the main island. We’re to wait in the main mansion and I have been asked to help interview everyone who was on this island this morning. The boat race is canceled until further notice.”

Great.

My only chance to get out of my debt with Evan Johnston or to make the money I owe him has just vanished in thin air. And we’re stuck on Murder Island.

2.Alibis

Lula

Tension is rippling through me to the point that I almost don’t notice being helped onto a small motorboat, like the one that I stole and crashed last night.

In the blink of an eye, we’re ushered inside an imposing white mansion and into a living room that still looks big despite the number of people in it.

“Come here, baby.”

I gratefully follow Crew to a three seater couch.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Crew scowls as Jules lowers himself on the free spot next to me.

“Shut up, James. This isn’t the time to settle our differences.”

I’m relieved when Crew nods. “You’re right. This is a fucking nightmare.”

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