Page 45 of Spindrift

Morganheld out her hand and accepted the drink, grateful Danielle had given her thenight off.

“Caketurned out better than I expected,” Stevie said, still standing. Morgan lookedup at her.

“Youdid a great job. Did Ange like it?”

“Shesaid she did.”

“Whydo you say it like that?”

“Likewhat?” Stevie downed half her beer in one gulp.

“Likeyou don’t believe it. It was fucking delicious.”

“Sogood she’s saving a piece for Lana.” Stevie finished her drink and plopped intoan empty chair, twirling the bottle in her hands.

“Ithought she broke up with her.”

“Apparentlynot.”

“Isshe coming over?”

“Later.”Stevie scowled, and they sat in silence for a moment.

“Icould put some horse tranq in her slice. Might lose my license, but it would beworth it to see her hit the ground.”

“Ifucking hate her.”

“Iknow, bud.” Morgan didn’t want to think about Lana. More specifically, shedidn’t want to think about the marks she’d see on Angie’s body the nextmorning.

“Whyare you hiding out here, anyway?” asked Stevie.

“Iwas checking the fire.”

“It’salmost dead.”

“I’mletting it die.”

“Ratherheartless of you. It had so much to live for.”

“Whattime is it, anyway?” she asked.

“Alittle after nine.”

“Weshould get back in then. Danielle will be heading out any minute.”

“Andthe exodus begins.” Stevie extended a hand to Morgan and hauled her up.

Backin the house, the Watsons were indeed saying their good-byes. She overheardDanielle tell Emilia how nice it had been to meet her and warmed at the sightof Emilia’s smile. Stormy hung close to Emilia, keeping her company in Morgan’sabsence. Barring her inability to control her own emotions, tonight had gonewell. Perhaps too well, her subconscious added. She ignored it. What she’d saidto Lillian was true. Emilia needed friends. Morgan owed Ray that much, and thatwas what she was going to keep telling herself, regardless of what other lessaltruistic motivations might be at play.

Aknock on the door distracted her. Exchanging a look with Stevie, she left thegathering, hoping to forestall the worst of any barking a second knock wouldrouse from the backyard pack.

“Hey,”she said to the slouching figure on the doorstep. She couldn’t help giving Lanaa disapproving once-over. Pin-straight hair beneath a snapback cap. Low-slungjeans. Trendy graphic tee with a reference Morgan didn’t get and didn’t care toget. None of the parts damned the whole, but Lana’s cocky devil-may-care posturemade Morgan itch to knock her down a peg. Or maybe it was the coldness in herpale eyes. They were almost the same color as Stevie’s, but where Stevie’ssparkled with energy, Lana’s glittered like glass.

“Angearound?” Lana asked when Morgan didn’t move to let her in.

“She’sinside.”

“Cool.”

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