Page 47
Ruairidh raised his glass to Vivi and then Jenn. “You ladies are kind of hard to forget.” He winked at Vivi, then lowered his glass. His eyes lingered on Jenn—just for a heartbeat. Just long enough to say something without words. Jenn’s breath caught.
Vivi burst out laughing. “I don’t even remember what the guy looks like! Hell, I was so drunk I barely remember kissing him!”
Maybe it was the tension mixed with alcohol, but they all erupted into laughter. All except the five girls still standing there looking at them.
“Well, we’ll leave you to your festivities, then,” Moira said with a thin smile, as the five turned on their heels.
“You’ll be at the beach party, won’t you, Ally?” Louise added, her voice turning syrupy and eyes full of intent.
“Yeah, we’ll see what happens, won’t we, folks?” Ally replied with a smirk, looking around the table.
With one last assessing look, they strutted off.
“Bloody hell, who were they?” Vivi said, knocking back her cocktail. “I thought I was about to be frogmarched off the island!”
“Those, my dear, were the Sharks,” Cathy Ann said with a knowing nod.
“The Sharks?” Vivi asked.
“That’s what my brother calls them. Not Ruairidh,” Cairistìona clarified, “Donnie, your admirer. The name kind of stuck. Not that they know it. Or maybe they do—and just don’t care.”
“Oh yes, I remember now. It fits,” Vivi muttered, nodding to Jenn and smirking.
“I’ve met Moira before, but not the others,” Jenn added.
“Right,” Màiri said, shifting into gossip mode. “So, Moira—Poison Ivy—works in the primary school with me. She’s Ealasaid’s granddaughter. You know, the old battleaxe Jenn works with?”
Vivi nodded. Jenn rolled her eyes.
“Alison is Catwoman. She works at HebX and she’s related to Dol somehow. Jessica, the Wonder Woman, is actually a sweetheart and works at the Hellisay Inn. Still stuck with the Sharks out of school loyalty, bless her. She’s married to Calum Matheson—you know, Nicneven’s distillery.”
“She really is lovely.” MT nodded. “I don’t get it either.”
“They’ve just known each other forever.” Màiri shrugged. “Cat is Batgirl and does something with the bank. Last one—Supergirl—is Louise.”
She gave Ally a very pointed look.
“Yes, yes, I know,” Ally groaned, hands raised. A slight blush crept up his cheeks. “Louise is… an old mistake.”
“Ally!” Cairistìona gasped. “That’s harsh!”
“It’s true,” he said simply. MT was nodding in agreement.
“He hooked up with her one summer and he’s regretted it ever since,” Ruairidh added, smirking as Ally glowered. “She’s… persistent.”
“I work with her at the hospital,” MT added. “She’s alright but…”
“You wouldn’t want her for a sister-in-law,” Lizzie finished sweetly, setting the table off in another wave of laughter.
Chapter 25
The plan was to go to Puka’s Beach for the beach party after the dance. Most of the beaches would have some kind of celebration, but it was tradition for Màiri, Ruairidh, and the rest of the gang to head to the ones near where they lived. Plus, Ruairidh had promised everyone blankets, beer, and bubbles—an irresistible combo.
Most of the group made their way there. Cairistìona and MT had called it a night, though Jenn had to commend them for staying out so long—and drinking so much—especially after being up since the crack of dawn with their kids. At least with grannies on overnight duty, they’d get a long lie tomorrow. Even Robert had apparently managed to stay awake this time! Cathy Ann had also opted out—worn out after a full day of tarot card readings.
Jenn was more than intrigued to see what Ruairidh’s house looked like. She was already getting a new angle on him tonight. What she’d once taken for severity or judgement was simply… reserve. It was clear he wasn’t big on small talk with strangers. He just took time to warm up.
She could tell Vivi and Lizzie were dying to say something in the taxi, but neither wanted to risk it in front of Màiri. They pulled up near the Faernish junction, outside Ruairidh’s house. Even in the dark, it was obvious he had an incredible spot. From the decking, you could hear the waves lapping on the shore at Puka’s Beach, the salt tang of the sea drifting up on a cool breath of wind.
