“I heard she spent the weekend here,” Amber said. “Friday alone, then with Macie and Karon.” The others laughed. “No secrets in the group, you know!”

Cassidy shrugged. “Doesn’t mean I slept with her.”

“According to Karon, Ashley said you were ‘fabulous,’” Erica contributed. “They all say that about you, Cassidy. You must really be something under the sheets,” she teased.

“I can vouch for that,” Claudia drawled, as again Erica and Amber laughed.

Cassidy simply stared at them, wondering if they recognized the bored expression on her face. She wondered how many breakfasts, brunches, lunches she’d spent with friends like this, gossiping about other friends in the group. And in turn, how many of her friends gossiped about her? She hated to think that she was a topic of conversation, but apparently she was. And she hated to think that the so-called friendships she’d maintained all these years were really as shallow as they seemed to her now. No wonder she couldn’t name a one of them as a best friend.

She went to the island, about to toss out the leftovers, then paused. If Laura came over and spent the day—and night—this would probably make for quick nourishment in the morning. That was still on, right? Was Laura waiting next door? Waiting on them to leave? She smiled as she pictured her pacing in her kitchen.

“Are you okay?”

She looked up, finding Erica watching her. She lost the smile and nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

“You’ve been a little…I don’t know, off your game.”

“My game? What game is that?”

“She means you’ve been a little stick in the mud,” Claudia supplied.

“Wow,” she murmured. “I supplied you with drinks, with a pool, with dinner…with breakfast…and I’ve been a stick in the mud?”

“You just haven’t been your usual fun self,” Erica explained.

“Maybe making out with the yard girl will do that to you! I know that would bring me down.”

Amber and Erica laughed at Claudia’s words, and Cassidy had finally had enough. She tossed down the dish towel that she had slung over her shoulder earlier.