“We’re not all nymphomaniacs like you. Where’s Carl been for the last couple of days?”
“We’re having a break.”
“I thought you were going to move in together.”
“I saw him with another girl. It happens. He’s just not ready yet.” Lala sat up quickly. “Give me the details about Tommy. Is he as dirty as I think he is?”
I gave her a very brief and edited run down, enough that she would stop badgering me for information, but nothing like the full story.
“What about tonight? He’ll be back at the party. Livi booked him for all three nights. In fact, I think tonight he has like a miniCòctelsstand set up.” She picked up the sun cream next to where she was sitting and started to rub it into her skin. “People have been raving about him.”
“He’s good.”
“Are you referring to just cocktails or something else?” She grinned. “And I’m not happy with the lack of details.”
“Both. Everything. But it’s just a fling.”
“Absolutely. You’re too young for anything serious. And I can’t see Livi or Gav being happy with you being involved with a member of the mob, anyway.”
I sat up and squinted at her. “What?”
She laughed. Loudly. “His family – they own half the clubs on the island, and most of Liverpool. They control most of the coke and weed that comes onto the island.” She shook her head. “You didn’t know?”
“No. I thought he was just a bartender.”
“No one’s just a bartender, Jay Jay. Everyone has a history before we meet them.”
She was right, and that rightness unnerved me. I had no idea about who Tommy was, not really. “How do you know about his family?”
“Marcus.” She lay back down again. “Marcus’ friend mentioned it a couple of weeks ago – thatCòctelsdidn’t seem to be part of the Kellys’ portfolio.”
“What did he mean?”
She shrugged. “I think Tommy was trying to do something separate to the family business. Fuck knows if he’ll succeed. It’s like us trying to do something different from Livi and Gav.”
“You think we’re stuck with only ever being their kids?”
Lala closed her eyes, looking like the sun-worshipping princess that she was. “Is that such a bad thing?”
“No, not if it’s what you want. But I don’t want that. I don’t want to be in the limelight. I want to be known for what I do, rather than Livi and Gav.” I heard the whine in my voice and I wished I could take it back.
My sister was quiet for a moment, her focus now back on me.
“Maybe moving to New York will be right for you. Make you own way. But don’t knock what we have here, Jay.”
“I never will. I just want to try something different.”
“Like you have been for the last couple of years?”
I looked out to the sea, the beautiful azure Mediterranean. “Yes.”
She settled again. “Good on you. We’re always here for you, you know that. Just like I hope you’re always going to be there for us.”
“Always.”
But the word sounded hollow even to me.
The day waslike so many days I’d spent on the island before. A haze of quiet stillness, ripples in the pool caused only by flies that landed there, rather than any breeze. The finca was enclaved in serenity today, or that was how Livi phrased it, before heading to the beach to set up some yoga practice that she’d organised.
