Page 59 of The Homemaker

“Alice?” Blair squints.

The couple in the pool whip around in our direction. Alice wrings out her hair and the guy standing behind her slicks his back.

“Oh. Hey. I could have sworn Vera said everyone would be out for the evening. I’m sorry if I messed that up. We’ll get out.”

“No. You’re right. We were supposed to see a show, but my mom mixed up the dates. Sorry to ruin your fun.” Blair shuffles in her flip-flops toward one of the chairs and drapes our towels over the back of it.

“It’s no problem,” Alice says.

The guy behind her clears his throat. “Um …”

Alice looks back at him and he gives her a wide-eyed look. Her nose wrinkles.

“It’s a big pool. Don’t get out on our account,” I say.

Alice and Blair study me like I’m crazy. Then they look at each other.

“I’m Murphy and this is my fiancée, Blair,” I say to the guy while descending the corner stairs into the pool.

He gives me a stiff smile and nods while grabbing Alice’s arms and pulling her in front of him. “Callen. Nice to meet you.”

“Babe?” Blair pulls her hair back into a bun and ties it while giving me a look that says I’m in trouble.

“Yes?” I act innocent.

Blair huffs and makes her way into the pool. “Brrr.” She quickly lowers her body into the water up to her neck as westand on the opposite side of the shallow end as Alice and Callen.

“I don’t want this to be awkward later,” Callen says, “so you should know that I didn’t have a suit, so I’m in my underwear. Alice assured me no one would come home until after we were out of the pool.” He slides his arms around her waist, pulling her back to his chest to use her as a shield.

“Uh … there are extra swimsuits in the pool house,” Blair says.

Alice shrugs. “Sorry. I didn’t assume they were for my guests.”

“And it’s a little late now,” Callen says.

“Thanks for the warning,” I say. “It’s better than being naked.” I chuckle. “We’ll turn away to give you some privacy if you get out before we do.”

“Thanks,” he says before kissing the back of Alice’s head.

I hate how uneasy it makes me feel. She’s no longer mine, not that she ever was.

“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend, Alice,” Blair says. “But I don’t know a lot about the help around here.”

I pinch Blair’s side, and she turns to give me a look like she doesn’t understand why I did it.

“Callen coaches lacrosse at the university. I don’t share my personal life with strangers, so I wouldn’t have expected you to know.”

Well, shit. Alice isn’t playing nice tonight either.

“What she means is our relationship is casual, so I’m not technically her boyfriend.” Callen makes an attempt to ease the tension.

I know why Blair feels animosity toward Alice, but I’m not sure why Alice is giving it back to her.

“Did you play lacrosse in college?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“I did. Have you played?”

I shake my head. “I played soccer in high school.”