Page 135

Tension encased the breakfast table. Hanging thick in the air, heavy and poisonous, coating every clink of silverware and rustle of clothing. Everyone knew what happened. Everyone except Diana and James, who had gone to bed after dinner, blissfully unaware.

Hardly anyone spoke. Eyes fixed on their plates, coffee cups, anywhere but each other. Ali was doing her level best to keep her tics in check for Charlotte’s sake. But if someone didn’t say something soon, she would explode.

“Is someone going to tell me what the hell is going on?” Diana demanded, dropping her fork with a sharp clatter that made Ali flinch. “You all look about as happy as a flock of wet hens.”

No one looked… except Ali, whose gaze darted instinctively around the table, cataloging every reaction. Diana’s eyes narrowed.

“Delilah,” she said, sharp and precise, like she was lining up a shot and knew just where to aim to get each of them to talk. “You’re looking suspiciously guilty.”

Lilah’s gaze snapped up, eyes wide, panic flashing across her face so fast Ali’s chest tightened in sympathy.

“Spill.”

“No one is making Lilah do anything she doesn’t want to,” Charlotte snapped, her tone clipped and dangerous.

“Well someone needs to explain,” Diana shot back, already barreling ahead. Ali could see exactly where Charlotte got her strength of will from. “Lizzie and Sasha haven’t gushed over each other once. Imani is on her third mimosa and we’ve been seated less than thirty minutes.” Her gaze slid like a blade of ice across them all. “Natasha and Zuri are fussing over Lilah⁠—”

“I’m not fussing,” Natasha denied, then went for her own mimosa, downing it in one go.

Diana didn’t even slow down.

“Lilah looks like she’s been caught sneaking out after curfew. Ali hasn’t smiled or said a damn word.” Her eyes flicked to Ali, pinning her in place. “Charlotte looks like she’s five seconds from blowing a fuse.”

Ali swallowed, unable to look away as Diana delivered the kill shot.

“Where the hell is Victoria?”

The table went dead silent… no one moved. No one blinked.

“Ah, there it is,” Diana seethed, reading the room like an open book. She paused long enough to drum her nails against the table, once. Her gaze whipped toward Ali again. “Ali, darling, would you be a dear and tell me what happened.”

Charlotte leaned forward, partially blocking Diana’s view as she fixed her with an equally frigid stare. “Do not put Ali in the middle of this.”

“It’s clear she’s already smack dab in the middle,” Diana seethed, her accent coming out more and more with every word.

Ali’s hand reached for her locket, she had to… her entire being itched to give into her tics.

“Love,” James said, resting his hand over one of Diana’s. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.”

“Yes, and one of them needs to spit it out,” Diana said, a muscle in her jaw feathering.

Ali shot up, the scrape of wood against tile too loud for her ears. She was going to burst if she didn’t get out of there.

“I promised I wouldn’t say anything unless asked specific questions. And I’d really prefer no one asked me those questions.”

Her body trembled from head-to-toe with pent up anxiety. She didn’t wait for permission. She was halfway out of the restaurant when voices rose behind her. Each one sharp and overlapping.

Someone said her name.

Someone else swore.

It was her fault… her mind supplied, unhelpful but as immediate as ever.

Ali didn’t slow down, the wind bit at her cheeks as she made it outside and started up the hill back to the resort. Her mind racing, fingers tapping.

The room felt like a sanctuary the second she closed the door behind her. She kicked off her shoes, slipping out of her clothing to let her skin breathe. She didn’t bother with the curtains, just collapsed face down onto the bed and let her eyes fall shut.

When she woke, the light had shifted.