I watched Bri as she rolled up her pant legs, plopped down by the side of the pool and plunged both legs into the glass-like water.

Fuck it. I squatted beside her, took off my shoes and dipped my toes in to check the temperature.

“We should get in the hot tub instead,” I suggested, glancing over at the curls of steam rising out through the sides of the tub cover.

When I looked over at Bri, her face looked stone cold serious; hard and sober all of a sudden.

“So, you’re best friends with my future sister. Tell me something about her that I don’t know,” Bri said, slyly, curling her lips.

Chapter Ten

Tinsley

The cousin

As soon as Rosalee closed her bedroom door behind us, she collapsed on the bed, belly first. At first, I thought, in horror, that she might be laughing. But then I realized she was sobbing.

“Oh my god, Rosalee. Georgia will be okay. She’s at the hospital and she’s stable. Delfina just confirmed it. And I’m sure she’s in good hands with your mother-in-law by her side.” Truthfully, with what little contact I’d had so far with Asher’s mother, Elizabeth had confirmed what I’d suspected from her pics on Facebook. She was cold, a snob, and didn’t seem too fond of Rosalee. But now was not the time to criticize my cousin’s future mother-in-law.

I sat down on the fluffy, white bed beside Rosalee, remembering all those nights, so long ago, when we’d sat in the bed side by side sharing our nights and our secrets…

Rosalee rolled onto her back, rubbing her face hard, too hard, with her hands. Perhaps she had drunk more champagne than I realized.

“Seriously, she will be okay. I’m sorry this happened. I hope you don’t feel like your party is ruined…”

“Tinsley, stop.” Rosalee rose up on her elbows, nose dripping with snot. “It’s not that. I mean, it is… I hope she’s okay and I’m relieved to hear that she’s stable. But there’s so much more… so much more on my mind.”

“Like what?” I leaned in closer and wiped her nose with the hem of my long-sleeved shirt. Rosalee had always been a crier, even when she was young. While I kept my feelings to myself, hers often came flowing out. “Talk to me,” I told my cousin.

“It’s that.” Rosalee pointed over at the gold, woven basket, the one she had been presented with at dinner filled with well wishes from all of us. I’d known about the basket, but like everything else, Mara had taken charge and planned it.

“While everyone else was running outside to wait for the ambulance, I rushed upstairs with those. I didn’t want anyone to see…” Rosalee hesitated, still pointing shakily at the letters.

“See what, exactly?” I pressed.