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“Let’s go out!” I cheered at Collin, eager to frolic about town in my glory. If he was gearing up to propose as expected, I decided I wouldn’t mind a public display as long as it was tasteful, resulting in polite and genuine applause from onlookers along with a bottle of the restaurant’s finest champagne sent to the table.
“Really? I thought we might stay in,” Collin said, instantly annoying me. If he didn’t want my opinion, why bother asking? “I thought it might be nice for our first night to settle into the house, dine alfresco on the terrace, get a fire going, put some cozies on.” Oh God. I cringed. When Collin said things likecoziesit made me want to slap a diaper on him and send him on his way to his mother. His vernacular left much to be desired, but like I said, he wasn’t perfect.
“All right, whatever you want is fine with me,” I told him, before making tracks for the wine cellar.
“Well, I can put in requests? What sounds good?”
“Lobster,” I replied, because it was what you ate in Newport and it was rich, even though I couldn’t think of a more overrated star of seafood. In my estimation, lobster had absolutely no flavor unless it was slathered in butter of all things. Horrendous.
“Great idea. Gale loves lobster, too.”
“I beg your pardon?Galeis here?”
Christ. Would I get no rest on our little lovers’ getaway? The abject cruelty of it all. I rightfully expected some hard-earned PTO, a weekend of my own wherein I wouldn’t have to be so “on,” but I reminded myself there would be no time to relax until Collin and I were married. Don’t get comfortable, Bea. No sick days. No weekends. No summer fucking Fridays.
“Bea, come on, I told you on the way up that we’re going to host Gale and Luke, too.”
He most certainly hadnot. This was one of his well-trodden tricks. Collin would frequently drop unpleasant social plans on me, swear hand-to-God he’d told me about them previously, and then it would ultimately bemyfault that I was in a sour mood about it. It was so routine at that point that normally I just nodded along, but this was beyond offensive considering the person in question. Our special weekend away and I had to spend it in the company of Gale Wallace-Leicester? A regular girlfriend would lay into Collin, huffing and puffing about the wildly inappropriate choice of guest considering the circumstances, derailing the entire weekend, potentially the whole proposal, at least for the moment. But I didn’t want Collin to be cross with me due to an extemporaneous outburst no matter how good itwould have felt. I wanted him to feel bad of his own accord. Because of his own poor decision-making. His own idiocy.
“I thought this wasourweekend?” I whined, but only slightly, at the pronoun specifically. This was a very valid question, but the desired result would be all in the tone and the delivery.
“It is, babe! It totally is. I’m sorry you’re disappointed,” he said. Hmm. Getting closer. “They’re staying at the house, but we won’t be attached at the hip or anything. I just thought it’d be nice to have dinner together one night to meet Gale’s new boyfriend. They have their own separate plans, too.”
I didn’t say anything. I merely sighed. I wanted more.
“I know,” Collin said, right on cue. “I shouldn’t have agreed when she asked, but she’s my friend. And a friend of the family. She’s always loved our Newport house, more than her parents’, and honestly when we have guests here, it’s like ships passing in the night so I didn’t think it was a big deal. I can call her and say that we’d rather she—”
“No, no!” I interrupted, ready to ascend to beloved martyr status. “You’ve already invited her. It wouldn’t be right to rescind. I understand. We’ll have a lovely dinner tonight, all together.”
“Thanks, babe.” He kissed me. “You’re the best.” Too right, you ass.
I wondered what sort of troll Gale managed to scrounge up for this charade. There was no way in hell she had a legitimate gentleman caller. The reasons were twofold. The first, she was utterly repellent, and the second, she was so hopelessly in love with Collin that she wouldn’t seriously consider anyone else. But perhaps I could lean into the silver linings presented. I knew I’d be anxious in anticipation of the proposal. Gale would be a good receptacle for any potential nervous energy. Keep it off Collin and foist it onto her. Something to do to keep my mind off the clock. She could obviously handle it. I continued to be impressed by her persistence to ruin me. Of course sheasked Collin to stay at the Newport house, because she knew he wouldn’t have the balls to say no to her. But who would prevail as the true puppet master that evening? It would be me, but I wanted to observe her efforts. And just who was the man she was bringing? The curiosity element beckoned greatly. So I’d run with it. See? An attitude adjustment can change the whole game.
Mother taught me that, too.
•••
THE STAFF SETout a magnificent tablescape on the east-facing deck, overlooking the sea. Fairy lights and candles and hydrangeas and expertly placed pieces of white chiffon all really set the mood. Gale and Luke had arrived seemingly under the cover of night, retreating to their bedroom without greeting us first. She must have wanted to freshen up before competing with the likes of me, as if she could compete at all. Bless. Would she remain laissez-faire about appearances now that I was officially in one of the Case family homes, not merely as a guest, but as a hostess? If there was any time for her to step it up, the time was now. She must have known that. So what was she going to bring to the table in an attempt to throw me off my game? I was dying to find out. And I truly couldn’t wait to catch our first glimpse of the illustrious “Luke from Duke.”
Collin and I were having a predinner cocktail—old fashioned for him, a gimlet for me, I was on vacation—adorably hand in hand in a couple of Adirondack chairs, gazing upon the Atlantic, when the French doors swung open to reveal the gruesome twosome.
Luke was about six-two with sandy blond hair, impeccably dressed in classic American prep attire with loafers, and had a smile so bright he could start a fire. He had a hand, arm or finger touching Gale at all times.
“Hello, you two,” Gale crowed in a printed muumuu of a dress that required belting for any semblance of style, but it was clear that she was trying to level up there in her own misguided way. I threw back a big gulp of my drink and linked arms with Collin to approach them up at the dining area.
“Welcome!” I said, firmly latching onto the lady-of-the-house role. “I hope your accommodations are to your liking. This must be Luke.”
“Great to meet you both,” he said, holding out his hand, first to me and then to Collin. He made pointed eye contact and said both of our names aloud with each shake. Okay, Dale Carnegie. I saw exactly what he was doing while Collin remained oblivious.
“So happy you guys are here.” Collin grinned. The poor sap looked genuinely happy for Gale, it was all over his face, dimples popping, teeth shining. I was so disappointed in Collin. How could he not see that this coupling would not happen in a frozen hell on any planet in the universe? Part of his charm, I suppose. An oblivious man makes for an ideal husband. I’d always have to keep telling myself that, wouldn’t I?
“Gale tells me you went to Duke,” Luke said to me warmly, clearly not wasting any time executing on his marching orders.
Oh, Gale. This man was clearly a paid escort.
“Yes. That’s true, Luke.” I smiled, making an effort to communicate that I saw him. Ialsoknew that a person loved the sound of their own name, except that certainly wasn’t his real one.
“I can’t believe we didn’t cross paths. What dorm did you live in?” he asked me, refusing to stray from Gale’s goals. Fair enough. Everyone’s got to make a living. I tried to exchange a look with Collin, but I knew he wouldn’t get on my level even though we were now adults discussing dormitories and it was all so dreadfully boring, but I had to shell out my prepared answers knowing this exact situation would arise.
