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“I have no clue. And I even asked her toclarify, because I was like, well, maybe she doesn’t know what theword means.” She reached for a water glass, which may or may nothave been hers during dinner. She was too absorbed in her cake tonotice, and I was too high and absorbed in her story to mention it.Taking another bite, she mumbled, “She knows it means lover,though.”
“She’s so little, she probably doesn’t knowwhat that means either,” I said, though hearing my sister and mybest friend linked at all in a sentence like that wastroubling.
“I mean, it’s nonsense,” Charlotte went on.“I heard Catherine and the guy doing it while you were with Scottin the foyer.”
Relief loosened a knot in my chest that Ihad been previously unaware of. Maybe it was hypocritical of me,considering I was fuckinghissister, but the thought of mybest friend and Catherine grossed me out miserably.
A thought occurred to me. “You know what?Briony gave us a big clue.”
Charlotte tilted her head in question.
“She confused your brother for the guy we’relooking for,” I went on, impressed with myself at putting thepieces together while I was as high as I was. “Now we know it’s aguy who looks like Scott.”
“Ooh, you’re right!” Charlotte said, thenquickly covered her mouth to prevent spitting out crumbs. Moresubdued, she added, “So, a blond guy. She has a thing forblonds.”
“Tall blonds, about forty years old,” Iadded. “This narrows our search.”
“Maybe I should have interrogated herfurther, but I feel like talking to a child about adultery might beone of those mandated reporting situations.” Charlotte made a face.“Kids that age should not know that stuff.”
I shrugged uncomfortably. “I knew thatstuff.”
Her fork paused between her plate and hermouth.
I wished she wouldn’t look at me with thepity written on her face.
“About my dad,” I clarified. “My mom didn’tcheat on him. Ever. But he always had his dick busy insomeone.”
Charlotte set her fork down. “That must havesucked.”
“I didn’t know it was unusual. But it taughtme about the kind of man I wanted to be. And that man is not onewho is going to cheat on his wife.” I shook my head. “You know, ifI ever have one.”
“Yeah, maybe if you meet that specialsomeone, someday,” she said with a twinkle of humor in hereyes.
Happy to move away from the subject, Iadded, “And our kids aren’t going to know about any type ofparamour. Except the Hayley Williams kind.”
“Our kids?”
Fuck my mouth.“I was kidding. I knowwe talked about that, and you didn’t—”
“Don’t freak out. It’s a thing people say.Like when they talk about their future spouses.” She waved a casualhand. “I don’t think you’re looking to seriously family plan whilewe’re high and eating cake at your mom’s birthday party.”
“Right.” Although, now that I’d said it, mybrain latched on to it. Wehadbriefly discussed children.Very briefly. And I’d said clearly that I didn’t want any.
But my mind flooded with images of Charlotteholding a baby, me helping a little version of her learn to ride abicycle…
That was the THC talking.
“Anyway, I’m glad that isn’t the kind oflife you’re looking for. The thing about your dad, I mean,” sheadded.
I pushed my chair back and stretched myaching leg out. I’d been ignoring my body too much over theweekend. Not even marijuana was touching the pain.
“The ball, the dancing, all of that? I’m notlooking for that kind of life either.” I was looking for a painpill and a place to put my feet up.
Light bulb.
“I just had a great idea,” I said. “Unlessyou’re into dancing with a bunch of strangers, why don’t we findScott and ditch this party? We can hide in the movie theater,smoke, and actually enjoy ourselves.”
“The movie theater, huh?” she asked. “Thattotally normal thing most people have in their homes. Seriously,you want to cut out on your mom’s birthday?”