Page 18 of Fake Coral and Keys

Daisy stumbles up awkwardly and shoots me a desperate, pleading look. I shrug. I’m not going to stop Lily, who seems determined to include her sister in her shenanigans. Daisyhesitates but steps away, shooting me a tight-lipped expression over her shoulder.

Justine watches them, her lip curling. “I’ll pass for now.” Her eyes slide over me then she looks up at Lily with a sweet smile. “I’d much rather stay here and enjoy dinner.”

Erin stands and pats Justine on the head. “Okay, good, we only need Daisy right now.”

I watch as Justine’s eyes narrow and her mouth flattens into a thin line. Why do I have a feeling Daisy is going to pay for this dismissal later?

CHAPTER FIVE

DAISY

Now

Back in Erin’s bungalow,Lily rifles through the bag where she’s packed the articles of clothing she’s designed. She places a bright yellow bikini in my hands with a sparkling grin. “This should fit.”

I take the garment and hold it up to me. It’s nothing more than a few triangles and strings. I look up at her in disbelief. “Wheredoes my vagina go?”

Lily rolls her eyes and hands Erin what looks like scraps of bright red fabric that I can only assume is a swimsuit, then says to me, “Did you wax?”

“Of course, I waxed,” I say with a snarl. I glance again at the bottoms and thank the smart version of me from three days ago who scheduled the appointment for a Brazilian. There was no way I was going on vacation with Blake and not wax.

“Everything?” Erin asks, her brows reaching up to her hairline. “We can’t advertise the new swimsuit line with Sasquatch peeking out from between your legs.”

My skin prickles with irritation. I’m so sick of her attitude. Gripping my bathing suit bottoms, I tug them aside, not caring that I’m being crass. “Do you want to make sure my vag passes inspection?”

“Daisy!” Lily screeches and covers her eyes, but she’s laughing. “What has gotten into you?”

“Blake,” Erin says, grinning ear to ear. “I’d say Blake’s gotten into her several times.”

My cheeks heat, but before I can think too much about my vulgar behavior, I step into the bathroom to change into the absurdly small bathing suit. What has gotten into me? I have been making comments I would never have dared to say before. The shocked look on my mother’s face and the large eyes ofmy father when I mentioned having sex with Blake on the jet come to mind. What is wrong with me? The me from just a few months ago wouldn’t dream of saying such rude things in front of my parents. Maybe I’m just sick of being seen as not as fashionable, not as funny, not as exciting, and not as pretty as the rest of my family.

I slide the tiny bits of material up my thighs, surprised when it actually fits, and tuck my breasts into the scraps of fabric that feel like it barely covers my nipples. Taking a deep breath and preparing myself for the smirks and snide remarks about my big ass and thighs, I step from the bathroom. Lily and Erin turn around and their eyes widen.

“Damn,” Erin whispers.

“Holy shit,” Lily says with this weird lilt to her voice. “Have you been working out?”

I glance down at my thighs. “I started a spinning class.” Never mind that I started it after quitting my job to keep me busy, so I didn’t obsess over when I’d see Blake again.

“Maybe that’s it?” Lily says, stepping forward and tugging at the little strings at my hip. “But I don’t think so.”

I look at myself in the large mirror over the sink. The bathing suit fits, sure, but it feels like it would be obscene to wear something this revealing in public. I move closer to the mirror,and with every step I’m sure my vagina or a tit may fall out. Tucking a few flyaway strands of hair behind my ear, I turn to the side to inspect my profile, then the other to check my body at that angle. I don’t see much difference in me. “I just got a new hairstyle?”

“Maybe?” Lily says it more like a question.

Erin comes up behind me and flops her arm over my shoulder. “Thereissomething different about you.”

“It’s got to be the new saltiness,” Lily says, matter of fact.

“More like sass.” Erin studies me in the mirror in front of us. “It looks good on you.”

Erin’s arm falls as I twist side to side, inspecting the swim suit, before deciding that, yes, it looks good on me. “It really does.”

Erin smiles at me in the mirror. “The bathing suit looks hot as fuck on you, yeah, but it’s that new-found attitude that makes you gorgeous.”

“Confidence!” Lily exclaims. She moves so that she’s behind me and pulls my hair from the bun, fluffing it around my shoulders. “You’re beaming with confidence, and it looks beautiful on you.”

Feeling my cheeks heat, I look down at my toes, hoping she doesn’t notice. Lily has never complimented me.

---