You mind the safeword?
She snorts. Pinocchio.
I can’t help it, the words slip out. Good girl.
She gives me a look that is so many things at once, I can’t decipher it fully, before she bursts out laughing. I laugh too. I think we’re both pretending this is a joke. And I guess this whole thing is pretty funny.
She puts her hand on my arm as she laughs. Aye Violet, you wee actress.
It’s showtime.
Chapter 11
VIOLET
I AM TOUCHING FINN… FINN what? What the hell is his last name?
I assume it’s the same as his brother’s, so that would be Campbell.
Okay, I am touching Finn Campbell’s arm.
And it’s one hell of an arm. It’s somehow better than I remember it from last night at the bar, which is a freakishly obsessive thing to think. I need to cool it.
He only smiles at me, exuding some sort of satisfied male smugness. I laugh again. It’s a fake laugh, but I’m hoping Florence doesn’t notice—she’s the only one in this group who would notice.
I’ve got to get myself together before Alba gets here.
What’s so funny over there? Florence calls over to us from the barbecue, her eyes flicking down once to where my hand is, then back to my face.
Violet, I think, you are a fool to believe you can pull this off.
Nothing! I say at the same time Finn replies, I’m very funny, Florence.
I stare at him, almost bewildered. He adds with a wink, And very charming too.
I can’t have him see me react to his so-called charm, so instead I shove him away from me. Asshole, I mutter, but he only laughs a delighted laugh.
I try not to acknowledge the thrill that goes through me.
I make my way over to the barbecue, helping carry plates of grilled meats back to the table.
No sense waiting for Alba and Rose, we’ll be here all day if we wait for those two, Albie says. May as well eat! More than enough to go around. Eat, eat!
I fill up my plate with a hot dog, some chips, and an ear of grilled corn on the barbecue.
I load up with the essentials: ketchup, mustard, relish. I crush up some of the chips and sprinkle them on top. I use a knife to scrape off some of the corn onto my hot dog as well.
I feel someone watching me and glance up to find Finn’s eyes on my plate. I feel a twinge of embarrassment. I have a flashback to getting strange looks during lunchtime at school, as I pulled out my and Dad’s latest sandwich experiment: peanut butter and cheese, tuna and ramen, and my favourite—cream cheese with bacon and sundried tomatoes.
What? I ask him, defensively. It’s good.
Everyone’s eyes turn to my hot dog monstrosity now. Great.
Finn shakes his head, putting his own plate with two burgers aside.
I want what Violet is having, he says, standing up to reach over for another plate and a hot dog. And, I’m sorry to say, but absolutely nothing else will do.
Florence laughs, Copycat.
