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Jen kept her gaze fixed on the pool. It was long and narrow. The water was a sparkling blue and the surrounding palm trees cast long shadows on its glossy surface. To be miserable in paradise was a unique form of punishment.
‘Both,’ Jen replied. ‘He’s grown into the man I want to have a life with. That doesn’t take away the guilt. I feel bad all the time. It doesn’t go away. I’ve learned my lesson. Now I work twice as hard to be a good friend. But I’ll tell you what, it’s draining.’
Jen fanned her face with her hands as if to clear the air. Samantha studied her a while. So this was the person behind the performance, the not-so-sunny side of Jen. She preferred this person. Samantha may not be able to help her patch up her romantic life, but when it came to friendships, she was more than qualified to give informed advice. ‘I was jealous of you and Naomi, of how close you two are. She was my best friend and now she’s yours.’
‘Oh, God, Sam! Don’t say that! If you only knew how much she cares about you. You’re like the sister she deserves. Not that Maya isn’t lovely, but you know …’
‘I know.’ Maya had entered a bratty phase at age ten and never outgrew it. ‘My point is: you can relax. Naomi is sold on you. She thinks you’re amazing. Despite everything, Chris is still in your life. Give yourself a break.’
‘You’re right,’ Jen said. ‘I am pretty great.’
Samantha settled back on the lounge chair. ‘Now that’s the Jen I know.’
‘I promised myself that if Chris didn’t come round on this trip, I’d give him up,’ Jen said. ‘It’ll break my heart, but I’ll do it. I can’t drag this on forever. It’s not healthy.’
‘You should have kissed him at the Nylon Pool. That would’ve fixed it.’
That got Jen to laugh, a sorry little laugh that ended with another sigh. ‘You’re a good listener.’
‘Why, thank you!’
‘I’m sorry about Naomi. I don’t want to steal your friend.’
‘You can’t,’ Samantha said. ‘She’s stuck with me. Besides, California is her home now. I can’t always be there. She’s going to need someone to binge-watch television and drink cheap wine.’
Jen teared up. ‘I’m always down for that.’
‘You two are up early! What are you plotting?’
That was Hugo. He had never once participated in morning yoga, preferring to start his day with a few laps in the pool. This morning, his grumpy expression clashed with his sunny Hawaiian print swim trunks.
Jen quickly brushed a tear away. ‘Hey there, handsome!’
‘What’s up with you?’ Samantha asked. ‘Didn’t you sleep well?’
‘Nope.’
He fell onto the lounge chair on Jen’s right and blew a kiss Samantha’s way. Then, in typical Hugo style, he blurted out a surprise. ‘Adrian wants to sell our condo.’
‘No!’ Samantha cried. ‘I love your flat.’
The memory of that night in Miami was clear in her mind: she, Hugo and Jasmine on the balcony watching the sunset over the bay. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
‘So do I,’ Hugo said. ‘Adrian wants to buy a house in Weston to shorten his commute.’
‘You don’t sound happy about that,’ Jen said.
‘Do you see me in a gated community in Weston?’ Hugo asked.
‘Depends,’ Jen said. ‘Where is Weston?’
‘Smack in the middle of the rich mom suburbs.’
Samantha hated the idea. ‘Increasingly, I picture you as a beach bum.’
Hugo pointed at her. ‘That’s why we’re friends.’
‘I like Adrian,’ Jen said. ‘But don’t let him pressure you. Trust me, I’m a product of the suburbs. You don’t want to be there if you don’t really want to.’
