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“I created the women who created them,” he corrects her.
“That’s not how biology works.”
The entire table laughs and I catch Saint watching me over the rim of his wine glass. The second our eyes meet, he smiles easily, as though he’d simply been following the conversation. “Honestly, grandchildren sound exhausting.”
“You’ve got kids?” Ember asks.
He smiles, but something flickers across his face so quickly I almost miss it. A hint of sadness maybe? Whatever it is, it vanishes before anyone else seems to notice. “Nope. Just Aaron,” he says.
My heart slams against my ribs. Aaron. It can’t be—there’s no way—it’s a common enough name. I’m being paranoid. I force my shoulders down, desperately trying to keep my hand from shaking as I reach for my water.
“The boyfriend?” Bri asks, breaking through my panic.
“The love of my life.” He says simply, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. I don’t know why but the sincerity of it sticks with me. It must be nice to have that surety.
“Together fifteen years. He’s disgustingly kind. Makes me coffee every morning and pretends not to notice when I steal the duvet,” he adds.
“Keeper,” Lennie declares. “How did you two meet?”
“We went to school together, all boys Catholic boarding school in London, because who doesn’t love a good cliché. Best friends to lovers.”
“You live in London?” Bri asks.
“Did, moved to Port Seton almost a year ago now, where I have a little boutique store overlooking the beach.”
“Oh, that sounds dreamy,” Luna says. “And what does Aaron do?”
“He’s the CEO at his dad’s tech firm.”
“In London? That’s a lot of commuting.”
“Uh-huh.” He offers a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Listen to me, stealing the limelight. I’ll shut up now. Someone else deserves a turn.”
Ember picks at the edge of her beer label. “I moved here from the States five years ago.”
“What brought you to Scotland?” Bri asks.
She shrugs. “My grandparents were Scottish. I always wanted to live here.” She smiles faintly. “I rent a tiny art studio with a little flat upstairs. It’s... Compact.”
“You’ve got family here?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Not anymore, they passed before I moved, but I still wanted to come. I didn’t have family in the states either so it’s not like I traded much.” She shrugs and takes a sip of her beer. “I guess I just wanted a fresh start, somewhere new. A chance to meet people, make friends, that’s still a work in progress.”
“Consider it completed,” Luna says without missing a beat. “You’ve got us lot now.”
The sincerity catches Ember completely off guard. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. We’re in our fifties,” Luna replies, gesturing to herself and Lennie. “We don’t have time for awkward friendship probations. I like everyone here so we’re friends.”
Laughter ripples around the table, followed by another chorus of raised glasses and cheerful toasts. It’s... Refreshing. Nothing feels forced or performative; everyone simply exists as they are. People this genuine are rare. Yet somehow, I’ve ended up surrounded by them.
“What about relationships?” Saint asks.
Ember scratches the back of her neck. “Kind of.”
The table collectively leans in.
“Come on,” I tease, smiling at her. “Don’t leave us hanging, what’s kind of?”
