Page 50 of Cuts like a Knife
Claire: They’ve overseas. Russian, maybe? Greek? I don’t know. But he’s been on the scene for a few years at least. I think I started hearing about him in 2016 or 2017? I can’t remember exactly.
Lex: But why?
Claire: People like money. His IG is beautiful. Billionaire lifestyle stuff.
Lex: Now who’s jealous?
Claire: I am still having Braxton Hicks. I can’t sleep.
I don’t really know what to say to that. I’ve never been pregnant. And talking to Claire about this subject is awkward. It’s just so … loaded and emotional173.
Since I know I’ll say the wrong thing, it’s easier to say nothing at all. So I default to something short. It looks pitiful of my screen.
Lex: Sorry.
It occurs to me that I haven’t heard from Bex in ages. I mean, not by normal people standards, but by ours, it’s been forever. It’s that twin thing. Me talking to Claire right now instead of Bex is so out of the ordinary, I shoot my fave sibling an immediate text.
Lex: What do you say to Claire when she talks about her pregnancy stuff? Braxton Hicks or whatever?
Bex will understand. She and Claire aren’t super tight either. And I know that like me, she has struggled to know what to say in awkward emotional situations.
Weirdly, though, she doesn’t reply. There are no dots. Nothing.
Claire’s clearly still with me. Tapping back into our chat, I watch as the dots appear, then disappear. She must be formatting her response. Saying sorry was stupid. At the same time, what am I supposed to say?
Claire: It’s fine. I’m bored. Talking to you is something to do at least.
Phew. Okay, so she’s fine with a subject change. That’s a relief.
Lex: Where’s Adam?
In addition to being married, Claire and Adam are best friends. They’re like, sickeningly close. Which is fine for them. I’d personally find it a little suffocating, but that’s just me.
Claire: Here. Sleeping. I’d talk to him, but he’s already brought me a million different snacks and treats today. I don’t have the heart to wake him just because I’m bored.
Claire: I can’t believe they’re basically shooting an entire season of that show in a week. Is it mayhem?
Lex: Not really. I mean, maybe for the production staff. I met a tightly-wound baby PA today, but she didn’t seem any more pressed than the PAs on your show. She admitted they’re not paying her, though. She’s an intern. Do you pay your interns?
Claire: Of course. Unless they’re on a work study.
Lex: That’s what this kid was doing. She’s in school for broadcast journalism.
Claire: Yeah, that’s pretty normal174.
Lex: It’s kind of weird here. Unorganized? I’m not sure what to call it.
Claire: Is it fun at least?
Lex: Not so far. It’s work.
Looking at what I just tapped out, I feel immediately guilty. Who am I kidding?175.
The night’s gone dark and stars twinkle in the charcoal and navy sky. The hotel has illuminated the LEDs along the pathways and in the swimming pool. I look up at the palm fronds, lit from below and sigh. There’s something about a tropical location.
With my cell phone, I snap a few surreptitious pics of the stars and my surroundings, including Pete and his bimbo brigade in the pool, and shoot them off to Claire.
I’ve already decided I’m going to slack off for the last couple of days. Steal myself a free mini-break. I shouldn’t really be pretending I’m in the mines. At minimum, it’s ungrateful. Not a good look.
