Maddy had been right about his height. He was probably about six-one. He was on the leaner side, but toned. I’d had to put sunblock on him and there was not a single part of that that I disliked.

I felt a little bad that he’d stayed. I was only able to half listen to whatever Justin and I were talking about because I was so focused on Mom, which was funny because she was not focused on me.

Maddy’s impulse not to leave me as a third wheel had been right. Mom was so busy fawning over Neil, she was practically ignoring me.

“So what does she do for a living?” Justin asked, watching Mom laugh a little too loudly at something Neil said over by the outdoor grill. The lobsters had just been brought out and Neil was holding one up, showing it to her.

“She waits tables or bartends. She was a drink cart girl at a golf course until… today I guess.”

He peered over at her. “You said you haven’t seen her in almost two years?”

“Yeah.”

“Weird she isn’t spending more time with you.”

The tiniest twinge of… I don’t know what… pecked at me. Hurt? Jealousy maybe? Embarrassment that Justin noticed this—all three?

A part of me wished she hadn’t met Neil so I could have more of her attention. But there was another part of me that was glad she had a distraction. That I wasn’t going to have to entertain her or be fully responsible for her while she was here. But then I was simultaneously worried that she was going to do something to upset Neil and I’d have to deal with that and the Maddy fallout afterward.

My anxiety pitched around inside me, and I kept trying to bring it back to the fact that at least Mom was safe and I knew where she was and I was getting to see her—even if she didn’t seem that interested in seeing me at the moment.

“It’s okay,” I said to Justin. “Gives me more time to hang out with you.” I smiled at him, but it didn’t feel like it reached my eyes.

“So why did she come anyway?” he asked.

Then suddenly I remembered. Stuffie. I stood up. “Mom?” I called. “Where’s Stuffie?”

Mom looked over at me from her seat by the grill. “He’s in my luggage. Just wait, I’ll grab him.”

I started climbing out of the pool. “No, I’ll get him. I don’t want to forget him.” I picked up my towel from the recliner where I’d left it, and Justin started getting out after me.

“My bags are still in the yacht,” Mom said.

Neil nodded at us. “It’s open. Actually, Justin, would you mind pulling Amber’s luggage down for me? She’ll be staying with me.”

“Sure,” Justin said, toweling off.

Mom beamed up at Neil and he gave her a smitten look that I had to turn away from as I walked barefoot to the dock.

CHAPTER 10 JUSTIN

Damn,” I breathed, looking around. “Have you ever been in a boat like this?”

This thing was loaded. Besides the upper deck with its full bar and lounge area, the cabin had a kitchen, two bathrooms, a primary bedroom with a king-size bed, and another room with twin beds in it. It was bigger and nicer than my apartment—and the view was better too.

Emma shook her head. “No. I’ve only ever seen something like this on TV. How much do you think this cost?”

“I don’t know, but I’m gonna google it.”

Amber’s luggage sat in the middle of a spacious living room. Two large Louis Vuitton bags. Emma walked around them and flopped down on the sleek white leather couch. “Can we just hide in here for a few minutes?”

“You don’t think he minds?”

“He’ll probably completely forget we even exist,” she mumbled, resting her head on the cushion. “Amber has a way of making people do that,” she said tiredly.

I sat down next to her. She’d sat in the middle so no matter which side I took I was going to be just slightly inside her personal space. My heart completely lost its shit.

We were both still in our borrowed bathing suits, wrapped in towels. She’d closed her eyes and I peered at her. Her skin was sun kissed. She smelled like the sunblock we were both wearing and her long hair was wet, over her shoulder.

I didn’t mind staying behind with her one bit. I was glad I was asked. I hadn’t been ready for the date to end three hours ago and something told me I wouldn’t be ready for it to end later either.

“Kittens feel like a million years ago,” she said, opening one eye to look at me. “I miss the kitten part of the day.”

“We can go back tomorrow if you want. We can go after work. Or before. I’m sure Jane wouldn’t mind.”

She turned away from me and went quiet for a moment. “I should probably try to spend some time with my mom. I don’t know how long she’ll be here.”

I nodded. “Right. I didn’t think about that.” Damn. “If Neil’s coming, I could always go as your plus one,” I offered.

“All right. I might take you up on that.”

“So how long is she staying?” I asked.

“I honestly don’t know.”

“Well, where does she live?”

“Nowhere. Anywhere.”

She stared out into the galley, deep in thought. “You know what I wish?” She paused. “I wish I could ask questions and always get the truth.”

“You don’t get the truth from her?”

She scoffed. “No.”

I peered into the galley too. “How about we make a deal. If you ever ask me what I’m thinking, I’ll always tell you the truth.”

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “What if it’s embarrassing?”

“The truth isn’t supposed to be pretty, right? It’s the truth.”

She smiled. The first real smile I’d seen since her mom showed up. “Okay,” she said. “What are you thinking right now?”

I laughed. “Wow, just coming in hot.”

“Well, you said I could.”

I smiled at her. Then I looked away when I realized what the answer to the What Are You Thinking question was. I glanced back at her. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”