"I know my brother wanted it to be this big thing, the three of us having dinner...."

Zoe's voice trails off as her eyes follow my shocked stare. Seeing Griffin and Victoria laughing and playing around hits me right in the belly.

Why is Griffin touching Victoria's hair? Why is she pinching his nose? Why are they laughing?

Why is she even here? I'm not one to hate other girls, but Victoria and her red hair and long legs are on my last nerve. I've never been jealous.

Not until tonight, anyway.

Zoe lets out a sigh and pulls me into the living room, making me stumble a little in my new black sandals. "I found Juliette in the lobby," she calls out, then turns to me. "Or maybe it's the four of us having dinner." She pauses. "Hey Vee. You eating with us?"

Of course she says yes, in a breathy, high-pitched voice.

By now, Griffin's finally noticed me and swaggers over, grinning, with a sunflower in his hand.

I'm a bit annoyed with him, too. Zoe's let go of my arm and she's air kissing Vee, while I'm standing practically in the corner of the room, feeling ill at ease and about as warm as the steel sculpture next to me.

"Hey," he whispers, handing me the flower while taking me in his arms and kissing my forehead. "I'm glad you're here. You look gorgeous. Is this new?"

Before I get a chance to respond, he rubs his hand down my arm and kisses the spot next to my ear. "You're so fucking sexy," he murmurs.

"Thanks for the flower. It's beautiful. Am I interrupting something?" I don't even try to put warmth in my voice. Although the minute I say the words, I feel petty. Small.

He pulls back and frowns. "No. Why?"

I gape at him. Is he really that clueless, or am I reading this situation wrong? "Nevermind," I mumble.

"You remember Victoria, right?" He slides his arm around my shoulder and propels me toward the sofa, where she's reclining like a queen. Of course, she's looking fresh in her little shorts and tank top. I'd worn a new romper – I'd finally relented and went shopping with Griffin's credit card – and thought I looked cute-sexy in the pretty embroidered fabric atop a silky shell. I didn't usually wear anything this short, but the store saleswoman at the boutique insisted the beach glass color matched my eyes and the scalloped hem of the shorts looked super hot.

Victoria pats the seat next to her and Griffin squeezes my arm.

"Babe, I'm going to put something in my room then get dinner on. And yeah, Vee, you should stay. I'd like you to get to know Juliette better."

God. he must really like this woman if he wants her to stay for dinner. I thought this was my big night to get to know Zoe. I didn't realize it was to get to know Zoe and ... her.

He strolls out of the living room and I turn to Vee, mustering a smile while fidgeting with the fuzzy stem of the sunflower.

"That's a really cute romper," she says, patting my arm. For once, she sounded sincere. "Pretty fabric. Love the lace on the sleeves. Did you get this on Lincoln Road?"

She mentions the exact store where I'd bought the romper. I nod and smile.

"I saw it there and almost bought it. It looks fucking amazing with your hair color."

After what happened at the party, I'm wary of her kindness. But something in her seems softer tonight.

"Thanks," I say. Then, thinking of the party and how the last time I saw her, she was sitting outside with Skeevy Paul (that's how I refer to him in my mind). I take a breath. "Sorry for running out of the party that night. I meant to say goodbye, but..."

Victoria waves her hand. "No worries, lady. I've been places where I feel the need to go, so I go. Don't apologize. Hey, I was thinking. Maybe the two of us could hang out this week? Maybe go shopping? Lunch? I know of some great places here on the beach."

"Yeah, maybe." Why was she being so nice?

"I'll tell you all about what Griffin was like in third grade. How I used to beat the crap out of anyone who messed with him on the playground." She winks at me and I can't help but smile.

Out the corner of my eye I spot Griffin, in the kitchen. He's standing next to his sister, unwrapping a package of something. He's got the biggest grin on his face and that's when it hits me: he's here with the three people he probably loves the most. His expression is pure joy, that of a kid at Christmas.

I remember his parents, and it all clicks. This is Griffin's family, for better or for worse. His strange, cynical sister. Vee, who is probably like a sister to him. And me.

My heart puddles in my chest. Griffin, my broken, strong man. I shouldn't pout all night because Vee's here. After all, he's going to bed with me.

I angle my head in her direction. "How does Wednesday sound? I don't have classes that afternoon. I'd love to hear about what Griffin was like when he was little."

"A pain in the ass, that's what he was," Zoe calls out and we all beam at him, basking in his happiness.

* * *

A few hours later, Zoe, Victoria and I are sitting by the pool.

They're drinking wine and after one glass, I've switched to water. I'm not used to how much Griffin and his friends drink. Although I'm having a good time — better than expected — talking with Zoe and Vee, I don't want to be the girl who gets too drunk. Staying on guard is probably a good thing around these two.

Griffin's in the kitchen, doing dishes, and while Vee and Zoe are gossiping about some club owner, I stand up.

"I'll be right back, does anybody want anything from the kitchen?"

"I'm good," Zoe says.

"Maybe bring out the bottle of wine so we can polish it off." Victoria waves her glass. "And don't run out on me this time."

We exchange grins — this has apparently become a private joke between Vee and me. In the kitchen, I slide my arms around Griffin's chest and feel his tight pecs underneath his shirt.

He wipes his hands on a towel and turns to kiss me. "See? It wasn't so bad, was it? Zoe didn't talk about Ashton, Vee wasn't snarky or mean."

I giggle. I actually admire Vee's brash attitude. She knows what she wants and she's not apologetic at all. "I wish I could be like her a little more."

Griffin frowns and kisses me softly on the lips. "I don't want you to be anybody but you. Ever."

I move my hands lower on his waist and feel a hard object near his hip bone. I step back, staring at his body. "What's that?"

The shock on his face is obvious. "Shit, Juliette. I'm sorry."

"What? What is it?"

Shaking his head, he slips past me and down the hall to his room. I follow him, at least until he shuts the door.

Trying to force myself into thinking what I'd felt was nothing, I go back to the kitchen. I open the fridge and it hits me: that was a gun.

A wave of nausea crashes into my stomach and I stand at the open refrigerator, numb. Why did he have a gun in his waistband? It wasn't there when I arrived – I know this because I'd hugged him several times in the first hour or so after I arrived.

He did go downstairs right before the meal, though. I frown, taking out the chardonnay bottle for Vee. What had he said? Oh, right He had to deal with a package at the concierge.

He'd returned with a box from a shipping company and immediately took it into his room. What was in that "package?"

"Sorry, babe."

His voice makes me jump. I slam the fridge door a little too hard and back up against the cool stainless steel.

"That was a gun, wasn't it?" I stare at him like he's a stranger.

He licks his lips and nods curtly.

I inhale and slip past him to reach for a wine glass in the cabinet. A second glass now seems like a good idea.

"I'm sorry. I usually don't carry while you're with me. I had to go downstairs to get, well, nevermind. I forgot the gun was still there."

"It's okay." My voice is quiet as I wrestle to get the cork out of the bottle. Griffin takes it from me and uncorks it with practiced ease.

My hands tremble as I pour. This is part of the deal, right? Just like the empty pill capsules in the drawer, like all of the hushed conversations, like the mysterious texts at all hours, all the cash.

This is life with a boyfriend who sells drugs.

"I'm headed back outside. You coming?" I give him a little smile, and he returns the expression, as if relieved that I'm not making a bigger deal about the gun.

My God. Just thinking about it takes the breath out of my lungs. I take a huge gulp of the wine and almost gag. It's like vinegar. People like this stuff?

"Yeah, let's go." He grabs his beer and we walk out.

Vee and Zoe are still talking about the club owner when Griffin and I sink onto a large lounge chair. He sits so his back is against the cushion and opens his legs so I can lean against him.

"I love this," he murmurs into my ear, running a hand down the embroidered sleeve of my romper. He kisses my neck and tingles go through my body.

It's like I can't control what my body does around him. He kisses me again, moving my hair aside, and I melt into him as I lean back, stretching my legs out.

"They're going to get all lovey-dovey, aren't they?" Zoe rolls her eyes.

"They do look cute together," Vee says, pouring a splash of wine into her glass, drinking it in one slug and then resting the glass on a table. "I think this might be my cue to leave. And I'm supposed to meet Tony at The Shore Club in a little while. Zoe, want to come with? He's bringing friends."

"Friends as in guys?" Zoe smirks.

"Of course."

"Sure. Why not. I'll be a third wheel around here, anyway. Don't roll your eyes at me, Griffin. You know you want Juliette all to yourself. Although Zoe and I should bring her with us and leave you here. Juliette, want to go with us? Girls' night?"

I laugh in response. "Another night. I have class tomorrow, early."

Zoe and Vee stand up, and I do, too. "Next Wednesday. Let's plan on lunch," I say to Vee.

"Perfect," she squeals, and hugs me.

Zoe also does this half, one-armed hug, and they leave in a cloud of perfume, wine and cigarette smoke. I sit back against Griffin and stare up at the cloudy night sky, wondering if it will rain.

Just then, Vee pokes her head out the door. "Oh, Griff, I forgot to tell you. It's actually why I came. I'm pretty sure I can't go to Amsterdam. Tony's taking me to Montreal that week if everything goes well. You'll have to get Zoe or Juliette to go." She slides the door shut and I turn around to stare at him.

"Want to fill me in?"

He fixes that expression on me, the half-lidded, half-smirk. Probably because he wants me to take off my clothes.

"I have to go to Amsterdam in September. For business."

"And you were going to go with Vee?"

"Yes. No. I don't know." He swigs from his beer and looks away.

Now I'm sitting cross-legged, facing him. A lump is lodged in my throat, a mass of shame and jealousy mixed with a bit of fear. Asshole.

"I'd like to know what's going on. No, you need to tell me what's going on, or I'm leaving."

His head falls back. "Babe."

"Don't babe me. I actually had a good time tonight, until I found out you were carrying a gun and thinking of going to Amsterdam with another woman, and without talking to me first. Is that unreasonable?"

He shakes his head. "It isn't. I'm working as fast as I can to get out of this whole situation so I can be totally honest with you about everything I do."

"Why not start now?" I glare at him. "For an hour or two, I actually felt like I belonged with all of you. I was excited about going to lunch with Vee, because Allison's moved away and I haven't made friends at school yet. I'm lonely. I think Vee's a good person, deep down. Maybe a little catty. Then I find out that the two of you have been planning to go to Amsterdam behind my back?"

"Jesus, Juliette, it's not like that." His voice is so sharp that I'm stunned into silence.

We stare at each other, hard.

"Do you remember a guy named Paul? An older guy at my party? The one who came on to you?"

I grimace. "Unfortunately." I pause. "How did you know he came on to me?"

Griffin's eyes darken. "He asked for your number and I had to restrain myself from killing him."

I grin, until I remember he has the means to kill another person, and might not be joking. "Oh."

"So Paul wants a personal introduction to some people that I know that sell certain products. We're all planning on meeting in Amsterdam, where Paul lives."

I look at him expectantly. "And how does Vee fit into this?"

"It's better if I travel with someone."

I scrunch up my face. "Hunh? Why? What about Matthew?"

"Matthew is taking another flight. it's best if we don't travel together, especially if one of us is bringing product with us. Or if we're being watched."

"Oh my God," I whisper. "You're smuggling drugs on a plane?"

"No. I'm not. But I don't want to get into it. Anyway, it's better if I travel with a woman, to make it seem like I'm a tourist with my girlfriend."

"Then why not bring me, your real girlfriend?"

"Are you crazy?

I stare at him as if to say, are you?

"Originally, I hoped Vee could travel with Matthew. And I'd travel with Zoe. But Matthew decided that he wanted a vacation after the meeting and Alexis wants to meet him over there. HIs schedule's complicated and he's got some other business to take care of while in Europe."

I won't even ask what kind of business Matthew has over there. I sip my wine, feeling more miserable by the moment. I recall Vee's friends talking about how she was well acquainted with Griffin's pool and I wondered if they'd planned on staying in the same room in an Amsterdam hotel. "I'm not sure I like any of this."

"I know, angel. But this is my last deal. The very last. I stand to make so much money off this one little introduction, and really, it's just a meeting. We'll be able to live on this for a long time. Me and you." he pulls me toward him and I crumple onto his chest.

"Obviously I don't like the reason for the trip. But I also feel funny about you going with Vee. She's funny and cool but I also can't help but feel like she adores you. In the same way I adore you."

I struggle to sit up, and he's biting his lip.

"What? Am I wrong?"

He shakes his head. "You're a hundred percent correct."

"I tilt my head. "Did you and Vee ever..."

"Ever what?" I almost start crying because his voice is so sharp.

"Ever date, or, or...screw?"

____