overwhelming … and really strange.
“I’ve heard you’ve been helping Mom out. I’m sure she’s happy to have someone around.”
“I’m honored she’s allowed me back into her life. I’ve missed her dearly. Both of you. Although I know you don’t remember me.”
Before I can react, Niall interrupts, gently setting a hand on Olivia’s back, “Why don’t we get going?”
“Of course,” Olivia answers brightly. “You brought your suit, right, Lana?”
“I did,” I say, opening the back door as my mother rounds to the other side of the car.
“We thought we’d take the boat out and spend the afternoon on the lake,” Niall explains as we drive through Blackwood’s monstrous iron gates.
My mother tilts her head to take them in. “This school reminds me of something out of a story. Like those fairytales your grandmother would read to you.”
Oh, she has no idea.
“How do you like Blackwood?” Olivia inquires from the front seat.
“It’s been … educational,” I reply with a forced smile.
Olivia gives me a curious smile over her shoulder. An unasked question flits in her eyes before she faces front again.
While we drive, I take a moment to inspect Mrs. Harrison with her delicate features, sleekly styled dark blond hair and vibrant smile. I try to make out the color of her eyes, but she slides sunglasses into place, making it impossible. Lance looks more like her than Niall, who is all Parker and Joey. At least, I hope Joey.
Niall sets a hand affectionately on top of Olivia’s. She looks over at him adoringly. The same expression she wore in the picture when she was pregnant with Joey on Nantucket. There’s no way she cheated on Niall. If she did, I will give up on love forever. Seriously.
“You never told me this boy’s name,” my mother interjects like she’s continuing a conversation we’ve been having this entire time.
“What boy?” Niall asks sternly at the same time Olivia asks it with girlish fascination, much like my mother’s.
So much for avoiding the subject of my personal life. “Uh … Grant.”
“What about him?” Niall asks suspiciously before either woman can say a word.
“Niall,” Olivia scolds. “Don’t give her the what-have-you-done-now tone before we even hear what she has to say.”
I laugh. Because that’s exactly what he sounded like.
“Grant’s joining us for dinner,” my mother announces. “This is the first boyfriend of Lana’s I’ve ever met.”
I make a face like I just bit into a lemon. “He’s not … I mean … I’ve never …” I sigh, giving up.
“You invited him?” Niall asks, glancing at me quickly. “Do the boys know?”
I swallow. “Uh, I don’t know.”
“Oh,” Olivia says, her mouth rounding as if she just remembered something scandalous. “You and Joey are friends, right? It still amazes me you found each other after all these years. Isn’t it funny? You used to take bubble baths together.”
I slink down against the leather, wishing it would suck me in and transport me somewhere else like the mirror did for Alice.
Niall clears his throat uncomfortably.
“Your Joey?” My mother’s eyes flash from shock to elation. “Omigod, why didn’t I know this? You were the best of friends when you were little. You once pushed a boy’s face in the sand for taking Joey’s car from him at the playground.”
“And that time he tried to get you to kiss a frog he caught, thinking it would grant you wishes?” Olivia adds.
They both burst into laughter.
I close my eyes and silently chant, This is not happening. This is not happening.
Olivia’s laughter draws me back to the car. “And then that time …” She must register my mortification because she stops herself. “So sorry, Lana. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just think it’s sweet that you two have found your way back to each other.”
“It’s so cute,” my mother gushes. “I’ve always known you would. You had this connection ever since you were babies. Remember, Olivia, how they always used to defend each other so fiercely? It was so adorable, like they were siblings.” She sighs, lost to a time I can’t remember.
From that point until we finally arrive at the lake house, I zone out everything they titter on about and stare out the window. When I glance at Niall, his placid expression makes me think he’s doing the same thing. But he always kinda looks like that.
We spend the next few hours cruising around the lake, swimming off secluded inlets and sunbathing—or in Niall’s case, reading. I make a habit of diving under the water when any mortifying mom-conversations