I trace my fingers up and down the design. “It’s also a reminder that sometimes the things we think will kill us make us stronger, and if I’ve survived a deadly snake attack, I can survive anything.”
Her hand shakes where it’s gripping her wineglass. Myles has slipped off to the bathroom. Riley and Renee are deep in conversation, and Marlon and Travis have their heads bent as they talk in quiet tones. “I didn’t mean to upset you, but I won’t ever lie to you again. You asked, and I gave you an honest answer.”
She nods, looking deep in thought, and I sip my beer, working hard not to stare at her, but it’s challenging because she’s all I see. “Maybe I should get a matching one,” she says after a few minutes.
“Doubt your fiancé would approve.”
Her shoulders stiffen, and I step aside, pointing at the stool.
“You should take it. No point letting it sit there empty.”
She doesn’t object this time, sliding onto it beside Renee.
I switch the subject on purpose, wanting to lighten the mood. “Riley and Dave said the project is coming along nicely. They’ve been highly complimentary of your work, not that I’m surprised.You were always so passionate about interior design and very hardworking.”
“They’re great to work with. It seems like you’ve built a great team. The guys on-site are reliable and all good at their jobs. It’s one of the easiest projects I’ve worked on to date. Everyone knows what they’re doing, when they should be doing it, and they have a good rapport with Dave. I’m confident we’re going to deliver the project on time and within budget.”
“We wanted our brand to stand for quality and reliability, and every hire is carefully reviewed. We’ve had to weed out a few rotten eggs, but I’m proud of the team we have in place.”
She cocks her head to the side. “I remember you enjoyed working on the construction site that summer, but I never would’ve imagined you’d end up doing this for a living.” She takes a drink of her wine.
I lean my arms on the high table, giving her my full attention. “I didn’t see myself here either, but I enjoy it, and being my own boss suits me. Travis and I work well as business partners, and our skills complement one another perfectly.”
“To think you had plans to skip town when you graduated high school, and now look at you. A true Ryemont convert.”
“You had something to do with that, but yeah, guess you can say Ryemont dug its claws into me, and I’ve zero desire to pull them out. I like it here. I like the pace of life. I like walking down the main street and people knowing my name. I love that I can walk, swim, and hike on my doorstep, but it’s not remote. We have everything we need in town, and Burly isn’t too far either.”
“Don’t you miss Ireland?”
I knock back a mouthful of beer, conscious my friends are sneaking peeks at us when they think we’re not looking. Fucking nosy bastards. I’m only talking to the girl, and she’s still wearing that rock on her finger, so it’s not like there is anything to be nosy about. “I do sometimes. Mostly, I miss my nan, Dara, andRory. I tried living in Kilcoole for a while when Darcy was little, after I had to stop playing football. But I was struggling by myself.”
That feels like the understatement of the century.
“I wasn’t in a great place back then. My mates were all in college or working, out partying most weekends, and when I couldn’t join them, we grew distant. None of them could relate to what I was going through. I was lonely.” I shrug, downplaying it. “I missed my parents and Erin, and I missed Ryemont. Things were better when I came back.”
“Got you another wine.” Renee eyeballs Astrid as she places a glass in front of her and a beer before me.
“You didn’t have to do that, but thanks.”
“I’m just shocked you drink beer now.”
“Not that often, but yeah, I enjoy a few drinks every now and then.”
“We’re not teenagers anymore.” Astrid finishes her first glass of wine and lifts the second one. “We’ve all changed.”
“For sure.”
“Do you ever see Lyn?” I ask Renee. “She’s still in Texas, right?”
“She’s still there, but we live miles apart, and that friendship kinda ran its course after she moved.” Renee gulps back a mouthful of wine.
“Lyn was another one of Gwen’s victims,” Astrid says, and I’m shocked she’s brought up the she-devil.
“I often wondered if she did something to her. I remember what she told us that day I drove you both to work.”
“That was complete bullshit.” Astrid’s mouth tightens before she knocks back some wine. “That summer when I was in Sweden, buryingMormor, Lyn discovered Gwen was fucking Joe. That she’d been fucking him all along. Lyn said she was going to tell me. Those two had never really gotten on anyway,”she says, looking me straight in the eyes. “Gwen hacked into her computer and recorded her masturbating to porn. She told her she’d share it with everyone in school and post it publicly if she said one word to me.”
I spit my beer all over the table, and everyone turns to look at me.
