Page 155 of The Liar's Reckoning

She looks around, taking note of the guests with the sharp, assessing eye of a would-be socialite. “Hm. I have a guess.”

“Care to let me in on it?”

Her glance up at me is wary. “Definitely Daddy’s crowd.”

“Which means?”

“Republicans.”

I frown.

“I think it’s The Lawthers,” she mumbles before hiding her mouth with a gulp of her drink.

“What?”

She turns away and points to a table of food. “Look! There’s more!” After stepping out of her shoes, she heads in the direction of the outdoor kitchen, and I take a quick look around before following her.

For the moment, I don’t recognize anyone.

As Lilah stuffs her face, though, my lucky streak ends. Holden Lawther stands at the other end of the pool gesturing as he speaks to a group of women who laugh like he’s the funniest man to ever walk the earth. I spot his wife among them.

None of this meanshe’shere.

Just because a family has a home in the Hamptons doesn’tmean they all come to it together all the time. Though it is summer. And he has been around town lately.

And also, I canfeelhis presence. It’s a mild tingling beneath my skin. A prick of awareness at the nape of my neck. A roiling anticipation in my gut. I have zero appetite for any of the offerings set out, even the crab cakes.

“So, what are you gonna do?” Lilah asks.

Since she doesn’t ask what Iwantto do, it means I’m stuck here for the time being. The answer is I have no idea. Surely he wouldn’t want to be seen anywhere near me. I wish I were wearing sunglasses. While Graham would still recognize me, it’d be less likely anyone else would. I have to remind myself it’s been over a year since the video was circulating online

“Can we not mention my name maybe?”

“Ooo…you want a fake one? What about Antonio? We can pretend you’re Italian and don’t understand English.”

“Your father would love that.”

“My father is easy to avoid, and if he hears about it, he’ll just think I’m being obnoxious.”

“I shouldn’t be here,” I say instead.

“We’re twenty miles from the house.”

“They have Uber in the Hamptons, don’t they?”

She gives me a look like I need to get over myself. “No one’s gonna recognize you.”

“Theywill.”

“They’renot gonna say anything. Chill.”

I drain my cocktail, set it down, and shove my hands in my pockets, keeping my eyes on the ocean.

A moment later, Lilah’s hand grips my arm. “She’s here.”

I sigh and drop my head. “Please don’t leave me alone.”

“Silas, you know you’re like my third favorite person in the world, but today I need you to run interference.”

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