Page 126 of Spindrift

Herphone buzzed periodically. Anna Maria, or her mother, or an email. NeverMorgan. She gave brief answers when needed, unwilling to let on that, onceagain, she’d made a crippling mistake.

Morganhadn’t given an explanation for her sudden departure, but Emilia wasn’t stupid.She’d seen the flash of betrayal in Morgan’s eyes when she picked up Kate’scard.

Shewondered, in the moments where she felt capable of thought, how she would feelif Morgan showed up and announced that she’d gone into business with Hannah.Shitty, probably. But shitty enough to call things off? No, she decided. Shewould not have done that. Not without an explanation. Or perhaps Morgan wasstill in love with Kate. She couldn’t even blame her after meeting the woman,but then what had this summer meant to Morgan? A fling? Something to be tossedaside the moment the season changed? The anger warmed her, and she clung to ituntil it dissipated and left her once again empty and floating in the void.

Theknock on her door roused her out of one of her naps. Nell perked her ears andslid off the bed. Emilia contemplated getting up and then thought better of it.Whoever it was would go away.

Theperson knocked again. She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow.

Besideher, her phone buzzed. She peered at the screen.

LL:I know you’re home. Open up?

Lillian?She sat up. Why was Lillian here? Nelltrotted downstairs while Emilia weighed her options. She could lie here like abroken toy, proving to herself and everyone around her that she was still toofragile to function or she could answer the goddamn door.

Lillianand Stormy waited on the doorstep. Stormy hefted a growler of a pale beer, andLillian scratched the backside Nell presented her.

“Um,hi,” she said, belatedly realizing her hair was a tangled mess and she’d beenwearing the same pair of sweats and one of her father’s old T-shirts for threedays straight.

“Morgan’san idiot,” Lillian said by way of greeting, “but you’re not getting rid of usunless you want to.”

“Andeven then we’ll put up a fight,” said Stormy. “You got some glasses for this?”

Emiliastared at the two of them with her mouth open in shock. None of her oldfriends—Hannah’s friends—had come forward like this after their breakup. Sure,one or two of them texted her to say they were sorry about her dad before theydrifted out of her life, but not one had physically shown up for her. Theireyes met hers, full of compassion, and she burst into tears. She’d been doingthat a lot lately.

Fiveminutes later, sniffling on her front step with two pairs of arms around her,she managed a smile.

“Thankyou.”

“Didyou really think we’d let you disappear on us?” said Stormy.

“Iwould have come by sooner, but it took me six days to dig the truth out ofDickhead.” Lillian rubbed soothing circles on Emilia’s back. “I love her, butsometimes she’s impossible.”

“I’llbe right back.” Stormy disappeared into the house and emerged with threeglasses, which she filled with the contents of the growler. “Blueberry ale.”

Emiliatook a long drink and let the subtle notes of blueberry linger in her mouth.

“Good,right?” Stormy grinned.

“So,now that you’re properly hydrated, we need to talk,” said Lillian.

Emilianodded.

“Firstof all,” said Stormy, “we love you. Whatever you decide to do, we support.”

“Yes.”Lillian, still in scrubs, undid the knot of hair on top of Emilia’s head andbegan detangling it with deft fingers. “And you’re good for Morgan.”

“That’snot what she thinks.”

“Ithought we established that she’s an idiot.”

“Whatdoyouwant?” asked Stormy. Her curls framed her face as she leanedtoward Emilia.

Theanswer came to her at once. “I want to be with her, and I want to stay here. Iwant to stay here even if she doesn’t want to be with me.”

Lilliannodded. “And you’re sure of that?”

“Assure as I can be.”

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