Page 84 of Spindrift

“Iwas insulting you,” Morgan said to Stevie. “Obviously.”

Shemanaged to get through the evening without hauling Emilia to the pub bathroom.When Lillian yawned for the fifth time, however, she remembered she hadpromised to get them home at a reasonable hour.

“Itwas great to meet you,” she said to Anna Maria as she pressed against Emilia’sslick jeans. “But we should probably head out.”

Emilia’sexpression was glazed as Morgan withdrew her hand.

“Itwas so nice meeting you.” Anna Maria rose and hugged them all, pausing as sheembraced Morgan. “Take care of my sister,” she said in her ear.

Morgannodded, aware that Emilia was watching, and certain that she would object tothe idea that she needed looking after.

“Weshould probably head out, too,” said Emilia. “Nell’s put up with enough.” Thedog raised her head from her spot beneath Emilia’s chair.

“Mydog would have chewed her way out of the door by now,” said Anna Maria. “Butyou’re perfect, aren’t you, Nell?”

Thesweeping tail and flattened ears of the happy greyhound brought an adoringsmile to Emilia’s face. Morgan’s heart constricted.

Theywalked out together after saying farewell to Stormy, who gave Morgan asuggestive wink.Friends are overrated, she thought, blushing again andhoping the darkness outside would hide it. She waved good-bye to Emilia and bitback a groan of frustration as the other woman walked away. She had opened hermouth to call her back, damning the rest of them, when Lillian took her arm andpulled her to the car with a look of mingled amusement and pity.

• • •

The shortcar ride back to the house took a geological era. Anna Maria kept glancing overat Emilia in silence with a speculative gleam in her eyes.

“What?”she asked finally.

“Nothing.”

“Thenstop looking at me like that.”

“I’mnot doing anything.”

“Youjust did it again.”

AnnaMaria pulled into the driveway and parked before turning in her seat to faceher. “You didn’t tell me you went on a date with Dr. Fuck Me.”

“Ihadn’t gotten around to it.”

AnnaMaria patted Emilia’s cheek with a tenderness that made her want to weep.“She’s not Hannah.”

“No,”said Emilia. “She’s not.”

“She’salso even hotter in person. Makes me wish I was a horse.”

“That’srevolting.”

“Likeyou haven’t thought it.”

Sheopened the car door and escaped before Anna Maria could see her face. Thememory of Morgan’s hand inside her shuddered through her, spurred on byMorgan’s teasing at the pub.

“Emmy,”said her sister, following. She hurried to catch up with Emilia, who stoodwatching Nell race around the yard. “Are you seeing her?”

“Youseem to want me to.”

“I’mjust an asshole. You know I worry about you, though, right?”

“Isn’tthat why you’re here?”

“Morganseems . . .” Anna Maria hesitated, as if searching for the right word.

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