Ava snatches up two flutes, handing one to me. “Cheers.”
“What are we cheering for?” I glance around at the poshest party I’ve ever been invited to, still questioning why I’m here.
She clinks her glass against mine. “Hard work, a successful fundraiser tomorrow, and a night of no regrets.”
“And a free bar.” I snort as I inhale the bubbles up my nose. “We may as well take advantage of the free buffet, too.”
“Ava, you’re here,” Sullivan says, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Shelly, nice to see you again. Thank you for taking over the turtle talk on the boat tour last week.”
“No problem. Any time you’re short-staffed, just let me know. I’m always available for a turtle talk.” I take the few steps to the side of the white room, giving Ava and Sullivan some privacy. Lifting a delicate white porcelain plate, I’m ready to sample Magnolia Point’s finest buffet.
Behind me, a male voice with a British accent says, “The King prawns are really nice here.”
My stomach tenses as hairs prickle on the back of my neck. I spin around, inhaling his cologne, a mix of earthy tones, and a hint of paint. My mouth parts as I suck in a breath. My centre betrays me again, my walls clenching for the dark-haired man before me in a tux.
He runs a thumb under his suspenders. “Hey turtle girl, I almost didn’t recognise you.” His smile widens into a cocky grin before he gives the boys behind him a nod.
“I almost didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.” My cheeks heat the more he smirks at me.
He steps closer, his hand brushing my hip as he reaches for the prawns. “Try one.” He brings it to my mouth, but I press my lips together and shake my head, bile rising in my throat.
“I don’t eat seafood.”
Chad sidles up to Finn. “To look at her you’d think she was on a see food diet.”
“Chad, you’re hilarious, but isn’t it time you devised a better joke?” I clench my back teeth, trying not to let my nemesis spoil my night. I refuse to let him take any more from me than he already has.
“Mate, this is an adult’s only party. What are you, ten?” Finn glares at Chad and nods to the rest of the group, who’re sniggering like a bunch of immature schoolboys.
Chad chuckles and pats him on the back. “Do your thing, bud,” he says before retreating to the rest of the imbeciles in this town, leaving me with the one man determined to annoy me this week.
“So you’re vegan? Or do you just not like seafood?”
“None of your business.” I’m no longer hungry and step away from the buffet table to shake him off and find where Ava disappeared to.
“Fair enough,” he says, still hot on my heels. “So are you a friend of my dad’s?”
I spin around with pinched eyebrows. “What? Why would I know your dad? I don’t even know you.”
“I just figured since you’re here, he must have invited you, unless you’re gatecrashing.”
“Your dad’s the birthday boy?” I twist the beaded handle of my purse between my clammy palms. “I’m here with Ava and Sullivan. They invited me.”
“Ah, right? Well, it’s me. I’m the birthday boy.”
My eyes widen. “This is your party?”
“Yep.” He lifts a glass of champagne from a nearby silver platter and hands me another drink. “Excuse me,” he calls to a waiter with a canapé tray. “Do you have any vegan food for our guest here?”
“Oh, please no. Don’t trouble yourself for me.” I step back, wanting to disappear quietly into the night.
“It’s no trouble.” He glances behind him, his group of friends still sniggering and joking. They may appear sophisticated in their fine clothes, but I only see the boys who caused me misery growing up.
I was the girl who was homeschooled. My education was counting shells and learning the ecosystem firsthand. This isn’t my crowd. I sometimes wonder why I remained in Magnolia Point when I could be off travelling around Europe with my parents, but I stayed to continue my parents’ foundation. Years of effort to protect this beach. They left me in charge of the charity to pursue other needed projects. I couldn’t leave my home or my turtles.
Finn glances back at his friends. “You know they’re not my mates, right?”
“You seem pretty tight to me.” I knock my champagne back, the bubbles going up my nose again. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to drinking out of these silly flute glasses.
