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Next week he’ll be a professional stranger again.
“I do too,” I say. “Not to mention insistent acquaintances. There’s a benefit in a few weeks that I’ve been badgered into attending by my tennis coach.”
“Benefits,” Isaac says, his mouth curling around the word like it tastes bad.
“Yes, exactly. But guess who’ll be there?”
He pauses with his brandy halfway to his lips. “He will?”
“Yes. I haven’t seen him since we signed the divorce papers.”
“Oh,” he says. “This wouldn’t be the benefit for the Museum of Contemporary Art?”
“It is, yes. Did you get an invite too?” I shake my head. “Sorry, of course you did.”
A slow smile stretches across his face. “I did, yes. I hadn’t planned on going, but you’ve given me an idea.”
“I have?”
“Yes. Let me take you.”
My mouth falls open. “That would look like…”
“Yes. I know your ex-husband, Sophia. Not well, but I know what he was like in school, and I’ve heard about him since. Seeing me by your side will be a blow to his ego.”
“You’d do that?” I ask.For me?
“He disgraced my hotel,” Isaac says, voice as calm as if we’re discussing a business project. “So yes, I’m in the mood for a little payback.”
The word flips over in my mind. Once, twice.Payback.To see his eyes widen in surprise when I walk in next to Isaac Winter. To make him feel just a smidge of something, be that jealousy or irritation or anger. To be the one in control.
So I touch my glass to Isaac’s. “To payback.”
6
ISAAC
I’ve seen marital bliss happen to friends, sure, but I’ve never been as up close and personal with it as in the last couple of years. It’s cloying to anyone not involved in the happy twosome.
My sister-in-law is resting her hand in my brother’s hair, right at the nape of his neck. It’s a casual gesture.
Like we’re not in the middle of a conversation about the holidays.
“We could do it in Montauk,” Anthony says. Little Theo is asleep in his arms, a bundle of gray fabric and a tightly screwed-up face like he’s concentrating very hard on sleeping. “The house is big enough for Mom and Dad, not to mention your family, Summer. All the dogs would fit, too.”
Christmas is four months away, and the August air is still sweltering in New York City.
Welcome to my family,I think. My mother has been harassing everyone in the family text thread about our plans. Despite her having caterers on retainer and several houses to choose from, it’s apparently, of the utmost importance that planning startsnow.
“Oh, imagine the ocean at that time of year…” Summer says, her voice dreamy. “It could be lovely. We could heat the pool, couldn’t we, honey?”
Anthony nods. “Sure.”
“We could use it like a jacuzzi on Christmas Eve. I could go out the week prior to set up decorations. I like this idea.”
I run a hand along my jaw. “Sounds good. I’m flexible with whatever you guys want. I just can’t be away from the city for too long.”
Summer’s eyes turn disapproving. “Isaac, you need to take more breaks. You haven’t been out to Montauk more than a few weekends this summer.”
