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“Nah, Hugh’s still at work,” I explained, hoisting myself onto the island. “Some girl got sick, and he had to wait until her cover shows up. Patrick gave me a lift home from the hotel.”
“Oh?” Sadhbh arched a brow. “Meaning my rogue is on the missing list again?”
Yep. I hadn’t seen her rogue since he stormed out of my bedroom last weekend. We were in a fight, and a bad one, apparently, but I would never lose face in front of our mothers. Fighting or not, I have a level of loyalty to Gerard that went above and beyond frivolous teenage arguments. Even when Gerard clamped the shutters finely shut on his emotions, simultaneously blocking any exclusive access I may have had to the real him.
He’d been staying at Johnny’s house most nights since Mark’s return, meaning I had no late-night visitors to my room. Something I felt surprisingly bereft about.
“Gerard’s not on the missing list,” I heard myself defend, falling into the pattern of a lifetime. “He’s just…”
“Being Gerard?”
“He’s with Johnny.”
“At the gym?”
“No, I think they’re prepping for Sean’s party.” Frowning I added, “Although I doubt the bouncy castle will go ahead now that it’s raining again.”
“Oh, I almost forgot!” Mam walked over to her handbag and swiped a Tommen-crested envelope out of it. “The school’s newsletter arrived yesterday. They’ve decided to scrap this year’s fifth- and sixth-year skiing trip to Andorra.”
“What?” I wailed. “No! But it’s my turn! I’m finally old enough to go and it gets canceled?”
“Oh, that’s right, Sinead. I read that, too,” Sadhbh agreed. “Apparently there was some issue with the school’s insurance.”
“Typical,” I huffed, folding my arms across my chest. “Just typical.”
“Tommen is holding a winter ball for the senior cycle to make up for it.”
“A winter ball?” My body thrummed with excitement. “Like a ball-ball? Like the ones they have in the States? With gowns and tuxes and fancy-pants corsages?”
“Apparently so.”
“Shut the front door!” Squealing with delight, I clapped my hands together with vigor. “Are you serious? When?”
“The week of Christmas break.”
“Oh my god, oh my god.” I jumped down from the counter. “I need to prepare.” I paced the kitchen floor. “I need a dress and shoes, and jewelry, and… Oh crap, I need to color coordinate with the girls so we don’t clash. And then I need to book the hairdresser, and organize photographs, and transport, and get my nails done, and…”
“Claire, love, Halloween is tomorrow,” Mam interrupted with a chuckle. “Calm down. You have plenty of time.”
“Plenty of time?” I gaped at her. “Mam, this is a ball. A real winter ball! These things take time to plan.”
“How would you know? You’ve never been to one.” Mam laughed. “And before you lose the run of yourself organizing photographers and limousines for your entire friendship group, you might want to think about who you’re going to go with first.” She winked at Sadhbh before adding, “Or is it just a given that you’re going to go with Gerard?”
“Uh…duh?” I stared blankly at her. “Who else would I go with?”
“Another boy, perhaps?”
The memory of Jamie’s giant tongue filled my mind, and I scrunched my nose up. “Ew.”
They both grinned in unison.
“Oh, please.” I rolled my eyes. “Like it’s such a big surprise that I would want to go with Gerard.”
“They are good friends, Sinead,” Sadhbh noted, winking at my mam.
“Very good friends,” Mam agreed with a smirk. “Very good indeed.”
“So, is there anything you’d like to share with us?”
