pool. Water lapped; she swallowed the sound and realized he meant Cami.
âF-fine. What exactly happened?â
He shrugged, nice and easy, but his gaze came up over Camiâs shoulder. The warning was clear.
Donât talk in front of strangers
. âTell you later,â he said. âIâll get you some coolers, then, if de Varre over there wonât snitch to her grandmother.â
âShe would
neverâ
â Cami began, hotly, but he laughed and tugged gently at a lock of her long black hair before vanishing down the path leading to the house.
âHe likes pulling your chain,â Ruby observed. âSo, the Canisari? Theyâre pretty reckless. At least the younger ones.â For a little while sheâd had a crush on one of them, but that embarrassment was something sheâd take to the grave.
Family and kin didnât mix. Except Cami, and her. They were exceptions all over, werenât they.
âOh, yeah. Soâs Nico. Heâs getting better, though.â Cami turned, standing in the shade of the poolhouse, and her eyes were a blue glimmer. âRuby, can I ask you something?â
âAsk away.â A long, luxurious stretch. Maybe sheâd avoided the rocks. If Nico came out, Cami wouldnât question her about Gran or Conrad or anything else. They could do the old familiar dance, Nico trying to get a reaction, Ruby giving him one, Cami keeping the peace.
Just like always.
âDo you really like this Conrad guy, or is it just what you have to do?â
Nope. Not past the rocks yet. âTalking about it is
boring
, darling. Leave it alone.â
âOkay.â Cami came back, picking her steps with care on hot concrete, and Ruby suppressed a sigh.
The pressure mounted until she had to speak again. âItâs just a betrothal. Itâs not the worst that could happen,â she added. âReally. Trust me on that.â
Cami paused, looking down at her. In the sunshine, she glowed, an alabaster statue. Her swimsuitâwhite, one-piece, sheâd stopped wearing cover-ups all the timeâwas rapidly drying. âYou d-deserve more than that.â
Itâs sweet of you to think so
. Another smile. âThanks, Cam. Itâs getting hot. Race you to the pool.â She was off the chair and halfway to the water before Cami laughed and bolted after her.
ELEVEN
â I â M HOOOOOME !â SHE CALLED INTO THE COTT AGE â S cool, dark interior. âDid you miss me?â
No answer, but the house didnât smell empty. Gran was inside.
Great. Had she been supposed to sit here and babysit Conrad? Had he decided to go back to New Avalon?
That
would be just grand, wouldnât it.
The lights were on in the kitchen, and Gran was at the table, bolt-upright. Her hands were folded, and Conrad was there too, leaning against the counter near the sink. His expression was indecipherable, sun-eyes gleaming under the electric glow. They hadnât had dinner yet.
Itâs not my day to cook. Whatâs going on?
âGran?â
âRuby. Sit down.â The lines on Granâs face were graven a little deeper today. Instead of one of her housedresses, she was in her office wear, a black silk shell and tailored pants, a summer-weight wool blazer draped crookedly over the back of her chair.
It wasnât like Gran to hang something up that way. Especially her work clothes.
âWhatâs going on? What happened?â She glanced at Conrad, but he was no help. He just stood there, staring at her. Was that a smirk? It couldnât be.
âSit down.â
âI want to know whatâs happening.â She folded her arms, her stomach turning into pure acid. âYou said I could go to Camiâs today.â
Did Granâs mouth pull itself even tighter? âAnd if I call her, no doubt she will confirm you were there.â
Hot injustice, then, but she supposed Gran had a reason. Sheâd caught Ruby