Page 38 of Beach Vibes

Jana picked up her sandwich. “If I had that much power, I’d use it to win the lottery.”

“So would I.”

Jana drew in a breath. “I don’t care that Rick’s a doctor. I mean, it’s who he is, but it’s not why I’m going out with him.”

“I know.”

“I really didn’t know you were his sister,” Jana added.

Beth nodded. “I believe you. I didn’t know, either.” She smiled. “Actually, Ididknow I’m his sister, but you know what I mean.”

Jana grinned. “I do. You said you and Rick were always tight when you were kids. Where were your parents?”

Beth paused with a bite of salad on her fork. “We never knew our dad. He might have been around when I was a baby, but I don’t remember. For all I know, we have different fathers. Our mom wasn’t exactly into commitments or anything conventional. Her idea of fun was living on the edge. The more dangerous something was, the more she wanted to do it. ‘Go out in blaze of glory,’” Beth added, using air quotes. “Although in her case it wasn’t an expression. She meant actual fire.”

“That’s scary, especially for a little kid. Linnie is always up for an adventure, but in a safe way.”

“Mom didn’t believe in safe. I knew I was all that stood between Rick and the world, and I made sure I was there.”

Jana’s expression softened. “I get that. Magnolia, Teddy’s oldest, keeps taking on too much responsibility with the other kids. It started when she lost her mom. I’m sorry you had to deal with that. Growing up is hard enough without that added pressure. I know Rick’s grateful for all you did.”

“Thanks. We knew we always had each other.” Beth thought about that time in her life. “The guys Mom dated didn’t much like my brother. Looking back, I wonder if his intelligence intimidated them. Some of them took on the task of making a man of him, which usually involved a lot of physical activitiesthat Rick failed at. Some of them thought they could beat the smart out of him.”

Beth was used to the memories, but Jana flinched. “I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”

“It was, but it never got him down. He would just wait out the guy, because Mom always moved on.” She hesitated, then decided not to mention how Caryn had used men to get what she could from them. No way Jana would see that as just information and not as a comparison.

Memories surfaced—the ugly ones she mostly tried to forget.

“When I was thirteen, one of my mom’s boyfriends attacked me.” She kept the story short and left out most of the details. Even so, Jana put down her sandwich and touched her belly as if the food there had just turned.

“He saved you,” she breathed. “I’ve noticed the scar, of course, but I didn’t have any idea where it came from.”

“He could have been killed,” Beth said quietly. “He could have died protecting me. I know he’s okay, but sometimes I let myself think about all the ways that night could have gone wrong. It’s only one of a thousand reasons why I’m so protective of him. He’s my family, and I would do anything for him.”

“Of course you would. That’s a good thing.”

“I worry about him,” she admitted. “The whole dating thing is complicated because honestly, in the past he’s had the worst taste in women. If he had better skills, maybe I could let it go. It’s why I go to the bad place. I don’t mean to. I keep hoping he’ll meet a nice surgeon or maybe a radiologist. Someone who understands his world and isn’t in it for what they can get.”

Jana’s warm expression froze. “Are you saying that’s why I’m dating him?”

Beth stiffened, instantly aware that she’d said the wrong thing. “No. Of course not. You’re my friend. I get where you’re coming from. You’re not like the woman I thought he was seeing.”

“A single mom who works as a receptionist?” Jana’s voice wascool. “Because I’m not all that far from that, am I? I’m just the slut who doesn’t know who my daughter’s father is, so you’re probably right to be worried.”

She put down her sandwich. “That’s what you think of me, isn’t it?”

“No! Jana, please. I wasn’t trying to insult you or imply anything awful about you. I’m sorry. Please, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“You just said you start from the bad place, so I think you do mean to insult me. I think your reaction the other night was honest. I’m not a doctor. I’m studying to be a nurse, but that wasn’t on your list of approved professions. Apparently I’m good enough to hang out with but not good enough for Rick to date.”

She pointed at her half-eaten meal. “Thanks for dinner, but I need to get home.”

Beth watched her go. It was only after Jana had walked back into the building that she realized she should have stopped her. Except there had been a fair amount of truth in what Jana had said. It wasn’t pretty, but it was real. Bethhadjudged her in all the ways she’d implied. While she was willing to trust the friend she knew, deep down inside, wasn’t she worried that Jana was—as she’d said—not good enough for Rick?

Which made her a bitch and a bit of a hater. It also meant she might very well have lost her friend.

* * *

---