Page 105 of Beach Vibes

“Then we should at least get a drink,” Beth said, pointing to the display case. “They’re all organic and popular with my customers.”

“Thank you.”

Galaxy chose a flavored seltzer with zero calories. Beth decided to do the same. Together they walked outside and found a table in the shade.

Beth wrapped her hands around her drink and told herselfthat if Galaxy started yelling at her, she would simply go inside and text Rick. Dealing with her brother’s angry ex wasn’t her job. Except Galaxy continued to smile at her and seemed perfectly calm.

“I know I should have given you some notice,” the other woman began. “But now that we’ve met, I thought it would be okay. I’ve been talking to Rick about us getting together.” She gave a little laugh. “It seems like it’s time, don’t you think? So maybe a double date or something.”

Beth stared at her blankly. A double date? What was she talking about? A double date with who?

Galaxy’s perfect brows drew together. “Oh, dear. Did I say something wrong? Rick mentioned you were seeing someone. Did it not work out?”

Okay, maybe it was just her, but Galaxy wasn’t making any sense. What would Teddy have to do with…

A truth she didn’t want to think about, didn’t want to acknowledge, smacked her on the side of the head. She was sure she flinched, but couldn’t help it. Horror swept through her. Horror and disbelief and a sense of being slightly out of step with the earth’s rotation. This couldn’t be happening. Itwasn’thappening.

“Because you’re still dating my brother,” she whispered.

Galaxy’s expression turned concerned. “Are you all right?” She leaned back a little, as if wanting to put distance between herself and whatever Beth was dealing with.

Not that Beth cared about her comfort level. What the hell? Rick had lied. He’d pretended to be all remorseful, and he’d lied to her. He’d looked her in the eye and had said he’d broken up with Galaxy, and it hadn’t been true at all.

He’d lied. Until this second, she would have said he was incapable of being deceitful. It wasn’t his way. Only it obviously was. He’d cheated on Jana and was still cheating on her. He’dbetrayed his own sister because of whatever sick game he was playing. It was too much for her to take in.

Beth wanted to escape back into the store but also knew she needed to get more information. None of it was going to be good, but she had to know what was going on. She mentally searched for a reasonable excuse for her odd behavior and decided to go with the familiar.

“Oh my goodness,” she said, hoping she sounded more normal than she felt. “I’m having the worst period. I took a pain pill, and I’m a little out of it. Forgive me.”

Galaxy instantly relaxed as she reached out and touched Beth’s hand. “I’m sorry. I get really bad cramps, too. What was God thinking when He designed our reproductive system? Can I get you something? Maybe a little food would help?”

Beth felt sick to her stomach. Bad enough that Galaxy was here. Worse that she was nice.

“Thank you. I’ll be fine.” She struggled to make sense of what was happening. “Rick doesn’t talk about his personal life. I think it’s a guy thing. I really don’t know that much about you. How long have you been going out?”

Galaxy tossed her head, sending her gorgeous red hair flying over her shoulder. “Nearly nine months. I can’t believe how fast time has gone.” She leaned forward. “Between you and me, my mother is over the moon. I’m dating a doctor. She never thought it would happen.”

Beth couldn’t breathe. Her chest was tight, her mouth was dry. Nine months? No. It couldn’t be. Nine months? Oh, God, she’d been so wrong. Rick hadn’t been cheating with Galaxy—he was cheating with Jana. Teddy’s sister was the other woman.

“I work at an urgent care clinic in Santa Monica. Rick’s practice has an office in the building. That’s how we met. It was kind of romantic. We literally ran into each other. He was so apologetic, and we got to talking.” She glanced down, thenback at Beth. “He said I glowed. No one has ever said that to me before. I couldn’t resist him.”

Galaxy pressed a hand to her chest. “It was kind of love at first sight for both of us.” The other woman giggled. “At least, it was for me. It took Rick a tiny bit longer to admit his feelings, but now we’re both in love, and it’s amazing.”

Beth had never been a fainter, but she thought this might be a good time to start. Everything the other woman was saying made the situation worse. Rick had more than lied—he had an entire secret life. Nothing he’d told her was true. It was as if he’d become another person—one she neither knew nor liked.

Galaxy kept talking, telling funny, charming stories about her boyfriend. The more she detailed, the more Beth got that they weren’t just dating—they were serious, and they had been for a while.

“I went to Salt Lake City to visit my sister a couple of weeks ago,” Galaxy said. “For a long weekend. Rick texted me constantly. He missed me so much. It was sweet.”

Beth was pretty sure that had been the weekend he’d taken Jana away, so she doubted he’d missed Galaxy as much as she thought.

The other woman smiled at her. “I so want us to be friends. If you’re not comfortable with a double date, let’s at least get together, just the three of us.”

“Of course,” Beth told her. “We’ll set something up.”

“Good. I want you to know how much I’m in love with your brother. He’s so wonderful.”

“He’s, ah, lucky to have found you,” Beth managed.

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