“Yes, please.” Audrina holds her glass by the stem. “You always have the best wines, Helena. Your collection is second to none.”
“You’re too sweet,” Helena says. “Conrad and I picked this one up the last time we were in Monaco.”
“You know I’ve still never been,” Cybil says, waving her hand.
“That’s insane. You know you’re missing out. It’s the most beautiful place.” Helena waves her hand back at Cybil. “And Princess Grace.”
They both utter a collective sigh, and I pretend not to be bored out of my mind. But it isn’t their fault. I’ve never been a huge fan of small talk.
“So, Maribel.” Audrina turns to me, twisting her wine goblet between her manicured fingers. “What do you think of Sea La Vie so far?”
“It’s beautiful.” I take a sip of water, and she watches me closely.
“First time in the Hamptons?” she asks.
I nod.
“Not a fan of wine?” Audrina asks, only her voice grows an octave louder, causing Cybil and Helena to cut their conversation short and glance my way.
I pull my shoulders back and smile. “I don’t drink.”
“Oh.” Audrina lifts her brows, her green eyes round. “I suppose it’s not polite to ask, but there aren’t a lot of people our age who don’t enjoy the occasional glass of wine …”
No. It’s not polite to ask.
What if I were a recovering alcoholic? What if I were on some special medication that didn’t mix well with alcohol?
She knows what she’s doing.
“I just … don’t drink.” I place my water glass aside and offer her a modest smile.
She doesn’t buy it, but I don’t care.
Two can play this game.
The men step inside from the patio, smelling of expensive cigars and sea salt air. Hudson’s father, Conrad, glances my way, giving me a warm smile.
I like him.
I met him shortly after the Sheffields arrived, and I think he could tell I was put on the spot, so he took the heat off me and told them some story about some mutual friend of theirs. As the Sheffields were shown to their suites, he pulled me aside and told me that he looked forward to getting to know me and hopes I’ll be comfortable during my stay.
And he meant it, too.
His blue eyes, the ones that match Hudson’s fleck for fleck, crinkled at the corners and his tone was cordial and confident, like a man who means what he says and doesn’t have time for petty games.
Hudson takes the seat between myself and Audrina, slipping his arm around the back of my chair. Leaning closer, his lips brush against my ear.
“You doing okay?” he whispers.
It’s sweet that he cares.
“Totally fine,” I whisper back.
When I lean away, I catch a glance of Audrina from my periphery, her stare lingering on the two of us before she flicks her attention toward her wine glass and takes a generous taste.
“The lobster will be done soon,” Helena tells the men. “Please have a seat. I hope you brought your appetites.”
Duke rubs his bulbous belly and plops down into the seat next to Conrad at the head of the table. Cybil and Helena yammer on about vintage tiaras, which I’m assuming was one of the subjects they studied at boarding school back in the day because they both seem to know an awful lot.
“How could you not like the Strathmore Rose?” Cybil’s jaw drops.
“I just find it a little … anti-climactic for my taste.” Helena swirls her red wine, shaking her head. “Now, give me the Pearl Poire and you’ve got my attention.”
Cybil laughs. “Of course.”
“Audrina, you seem bored.” Helena rests her cheek on her hand. “Your brother will be here tomorrow. That’ll keep you good and entertained.”
The ladies laugh, but Audrina stares ahead, toward the sun setting on the sea, slightly wistful, slightly lost in thought.
“Can’t wait,” she says, monotone.
“Oh, come on. You haven’t seen your brother in months,” Cybil says. “I know you two miss each other, even if you won’t admit it.”
“How’s he doing, by the way?” Hudson asks. “Saw him in the city not too long ago, but then he said he had to go overseas for work.”
Cybil sighs. “Yes, if only Alec could stay in one place for more than a weekend or two.”
Helena chuckles. “Can’t blame him for living his life, now can we? He’s young and the entire world is at his fingertips.” Her eyes dart to me. “Maybe one of these days, Alec will meet a lovely young woman like Maribel and decide that planting roots is more appealing than sowing wild oats.”
“To God’s ears, Helena.” Cybil lifts her glass, toasting to Helena’s suggestion, and the women push their chairs out one at a time before heading to the kitchen.
With Duke and Conrad deep in conversation at the far end of the table, it’s just the three of us now.
“Hudson, I wanted to show you guys my newest masterpiece.” Conrad rises from the head of the table. “Hurry, before your mother comes back and tries to stop me.”
“Masterpiece?” I ask.
“My father makes those ships-in-a-bottle,” he says, brushing his lips against my cheek. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Hudson’s absence is marked with a noticeable chill in the air, but I refuse to wallow in it.
“So, Audrina, where are you from?” I turn my attention to the Ice Princess.
Her dark lashes flutter, and she sits up straight. “Potomac, Maryland.”
“Like the Real Housewives.”
“The real what?”
“The Real Housewives of Potomac?” I ask. “It’s a show? On Bravo?”
Her perfect, pointed nose wrinkles. “Never heard of it.”
“Oh? Okay.” I reach for my water glass, but it’s empty. “So, how long have you known the Rutherfords?”
“My entire life.” She swirls her goblet but doesn’t take a drink. Resting her cheek on her hand, she stares ahead like she’d rather be anywhere but here.
“Where did you go to college?” I ask.
I wish she knew this was just as painful for me as it likely is for her, but at least one of us is trying.
“Seriously?” Audrina sniffs.
“What?”
“You really want to do this?” she asks.
I laugh, because this woman has to be joking.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“The whole getting-to-know you thing. It’s lame. And I’m bored. Besides, anything you want to know about me, you can find out from Hudson. Sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself.”
Refusing to elaborate, she rises from the table and saunters away.
Before I have a chance to process what just happened, Hudson returns with the men and takes his seat next to me.
“Dinner’s on its way,” Helena announces from the doorway before glancing to us. “Where’s Audrina?”
I shrug. “She just … left.”
“Typical Audrina,” Hudson says under his breath before slipping his hand under the table cloth and resting it on my knee. Leaning in, he adds, “She has a penchant for the dramatic arts. Don’t let her get to you.”