Sasha’s voice taking on a hushed, confidential tone, “She was with this guy Massie for half of her sophomore year and she told me that every time they were together, she didn’t, like, feel anything.”

“Really? Nothing?”

“That’s what she said.”

After a thoughtful pause, Alice said, “Well, could be this Massie guy was just really not good at it.”

Sasha sighed, nodded. “Yeah, probably. High school boys. Okay, I’m going to go look for her. She might need me. You know, to hold her lip gloss tube or, like, unwrap a tampon for her.”

Alice laughed for the second time. The two girls waved good-bye, went off to find their respective people.

• • •

Before Alice found Charlie, Richard and Maggie found Alice. Turns out, they were still beat from the Pollards’ dinner party and wanted to make an early exit. Alice sent Charlie a couple of texts, asking if she was ready to call it a night. The texts went unanswered.

Richard, Maggie, and Alice walked to the parking lot behind the clubhouse—no valet tonight; apparently the Clambake Luau didn’t qualify as a party party—Richard in the center, one arm slung around Maggie’s shoulders, the other around Alice’s, calling them “my girls.” Alice was surprised by his affectionate treatment of her for two reasons: one, because he was usually so formal with her, never touched her in a casual or familiar way, and two, because they’d avoided each other ever since that disastrous car trip into town a few days ago, had barely exchanged a word. Maybe he was embarrassed by how he’d acted, attacking her and her politics like he was a crazy person. Alice suspected that he might have been since he obviously hadn’t told Maggie about the fight. Neither had she, for that matter. Maybe this was his way of apologizing without saying the actual words I’m sorry. Well, she wasn’t one to hold a grudge, especially not after she’d seen what he’d done for Dr. van Stratten, the rescue he’d performed.

As they approached the car, Richard automatically headed for the driver’s side. Maggie put a hand to his chest, stopping him. “Richard, I think you should let me drive.”

He looked at her. “What? Why?”

“You had a couple glasses of wine.”

Ah, Alice said to herself, he’d been drinking. That explained the out-of-nowhere affection. Well, supposedly your real feelings come out when you’re drunk, so maybe he truly was sorry for how he’d behaved.

“Yes, I did,” Richard said to Maggie. “A couple, as in two.”

“Well, that’s one too many.”

“Okay, okay,” he said good-naturedly, raising his arms above his head so she could frisk him. As she reached into his trouser pockets, pulled out the keys, he leaned in unexpectedly, gave her a fast kiss. She laughed, opened the passenger door for him. He obediently went inside.