Griff took a seat next to her and riffled through his pockets. He handed her a tissue.
“Be civilized,” he said, teasing.
“What a gentleman,” Luna said. She blew her nose, balled up the used tissue, and shoved it back in Griff’s pocket.
“That’s disgusting,” Griff said, laughing.
“Thank you,” Luna said.
“So, you and Owen…？” Griff said, trailing off.
Luna knew what he was getting at. “Never,” she said. “What was he like as a kid?”
“Popular and…maybe a little lonely. So, the same, I guess.”
An unusual combination, but it made sense to Luna. She had noticed that Owen was slow to warm to people. Not with her, but that could have been more about the circumstances of their first real encounter.
“Were you guys close growing up?”
“I’m five years older. That’s a big gap when you’re kids.”
“Yeah,” Luna said.
She braced herself for a reciprocal question, composing in her head an answer that would preclude any follow-up questions. All that wasted anxiety for naught. Griff remained silent, watched the sun duck behind a mob of nimbus clouds. Luna could feel the temperature dip.
“We should go. It’s getting cold,” Griff said.
They still had a mile to cover before they reached the house. By the time Griff and Luna reached the back deck, the tips of Luna’s fingers were numb.
Vera, Tom, Owen, and Scarlet were sitting in the living room with drinks in hand. Griff waved at the cozy foursome as he and Luna kicked off their muddy shoes. Owen marched over to the sliding door and opened it.
“Oh, good,” Tom said lightly. “We were just debating whether to call search and rescue.”
“Lost track of time,” Griff said.
Owen ignored his brother, while he and Luna shared a silent conversation. Her eyes clocked Scarlet watching them. Luna lifted a single brow, asking how things were going. Owen responded with a mild expression of panic. She nodded slightly, understanding yet unsympathetic. Griff watched, fascinated.
Luna took a hot shower to warm up. She found a giant terrycloth robe in the bathroom—like in fancy hotels, Luna noted. She wrapped her head in a towel and thought about climbing into bed for a nap. It was exhausting being around strangers all the time.
Owen used his secret knock.
“What?” Luna said.
“You decent?”
“Yes.”
Owen entered the room. “Help me,” he said.
“You need to help yourself,” Luna said.
She had no idea what he was talking about, but her statement was valid nonetheless.
“I can’t have her here the whole weekend,” Owen said.
“You should have thought about that before you—you know.”
“We didn’t,” Owen said.
“Really?” Luna said.
“Yes.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“We made out a little, but I was mostly trying to talk to her, to tell her we weren’t a thing.”
“How’d that go?”
“Not well,” Owen said. “I need to know exactly what to say to end the relationship without any drama. She can be kind of crazy.”
The previous night’s strangling episode shed new light on Owen’s fear of conflict. Then Luna wondered if Owen’s attraction to Scarlet was partially oedipal. She decided it was better not to ask.
“Tell me what to do,” Owen said. “What do I say to her?”
“I wouldn’t say anything. Not right now.”
“What are you not saying?” Scarlet said from the frame of the half-open door.
“Scarlet, what’s up?” Owen said.
“Your mom wanted to know what Luna wanted to drink,” Scarlet said, smiling with dead eyes.
“Something hot,” said Luna.
“What were you guys talking about?” Scarlet said.
Owen conjured up a lightning-fast lie. “Luna found out that Mason and Bobbi hooked up.”
“What? No way,” said Scarlet.
“Yeah, no way,” said Luna, deadpan.
“No one can know,” Owen said.
“Can you two get out of here while I get dressed?” Luna said.
* * *
—
When Luna returned to the living room, Vera abdicated her seat by the fire and handed Luna a brandy with hot water and honey. Tom and Vera continued to ply their guests with alcohol. Then dinner was served, followed by dessert. And then more drinks.
Griff saw the headlights of a car on their private drive. “You expecting company, Mom?” he said.