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bore into me, and it makes me want to run back to the elevator. I’m not used to being self-conscious like this. Why am I embarrassed? Being naked in front of other people was what I did for a living.
    I scan the crowd, and my eyes land on Ava and Jake splashing around in the shallow end of the pool, and Arthur sitting in a lounge chair chatting with Anne. It hits me. This is like being naked in front of your family, which is not a comfortable feeling at all.
    I almost go back to the elevator when Sophia notices me. She lets out a little whistle, and my cheeks get even hotter. “Holy cow, girl! That’s some bathing suit!”
    A laugh bubbles up inside me. Her expression isn’t judgmental or catty. She’s honestly teasing me, and it helps my insides settle a little. Anne and Arthur turn my way, and they join in the laughter. Their attitudes are just as casual as Sophia’s.
    “All the swimsuits in our condo were like this.” Hadley lifts her arms and spins in a circle like she’s modeling the damn thing. She looks more like a skeleton than a model, though. “At least Vivian fills it out. I look like I’m twelve years old.”
    After that, it doesn’t take long to really, truly relax. The threat is still here, but it’s miles above us and I’m able to push it to the back of my mind. For once in my life, I want to take it easy and enjoy myself. I’ve never been worry-free before. But at this moment, I am. The emotional turmoil is still present. My heart still aches and I still feel like a part of me has been ripped away, but I can deal with it later. For now, I want to pretend the last few days never happened.
    I laugh with the others and listen to Hadley’s friendly chatter. She’s cheery. Happy. Like someone who will throw out a joke to ease the tension in the room. It will be a welcome addition to or group.
    My cheeks ache from smiling. It makes me laugh even harder and I shake my head. I actually like her. It’s not something I was expecting.
    Everyone else seems to like her, too. Sophia and Anne ask her about her life like she’s a regular person, and she describes in detail growing up in a middle class family in Ohio. Then she starts telling us about moving to Hollywood and auditioning for movies. About eating crackers and bologna for dinner while she was waiting for her big break. She makes it all sound light and casual. I constantly have to remind myself that she was rich and famous just a few short weeks ago. It isn’t uncomfortable being around her at all.
    A high-pitched squeal of delight breaks through the air. I look toward the pool to find Ava being thrown around by Jessica and Winston. The little girl giggles and squeals with delight. Jake is next to them. He jumps up and down excitedly with a huge smile on his face. The sight of the kids tears at my heart just a little more. If things had turned out differently, Emily would be here now. She would be splashing around the pool with the other two kids. It hurts too much to think about, and I have to look away.
    I do my best to tune out the children’s laughter as I study the room. There’s a teenage girl, who I can only assume is Lila, on the other side of the pool. Lying on a lounge chair like she’s getting a tan. She’s beautiful, even from a distance. Her long, dark hair is silky and shimmers under the lights. She has olive skin and the perfect body of a girl who grew up with money. And probably a personal trainer.
    Al sits in a chair next to her, desperately vying for her attention. I guess he found something to distract him from the lack of computers. Lila plays at being annoyed. She gives him smoldering looks from time to time, but I know teenage girls. She’s loving the attention. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t arch her back the way she is or adjust her bikini top quite so often. And Al is playing right into her hands, hanging onto every look she gives him.
    I laugh quietly to myself and turn back to the others. That girl is trouble,