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When she’s gone, Amber exhales loudly. “She’s insufferable.”
“I’d have said she’s a fucking bitch, but that’ll do.”
Amber turns to me, a smile breaking out across her cheeks. “The twins shouldn’t have told you that. I’m sorry.”
“What are ya apologizin’ for? You didn’t say what was overheard.”
“I know, but I don’t like seeing you upset,” she says softly.
“It’s gonna take a lot more than that to upset me, doll. But thanks.”
She wrings her hands in front of herself, appearing to want to say something. I don’t know what’s going on. “Punky, I wanted to ask you…um, this is really awkward.”
“What is it?” I ask, suddenly worried. “Has the aul’ lad done somethin’ to ya?”
“What?” she questions, before shaking her head quickly when she realizes what I mean. “No, nothing like that. I just…I was wondering if you’d like to get a drink sometime?”
My worry soon turns to surprise. This is the first time Amber has openly asked me to do something with her. And I know she doesn’t mean as friends.
I like Amber, I would be an eejit not to. But we just don’t…click that way.
“I’m flattered, I really am, but I can’t,” I say, not wanting to lead her on. “I’ve got a lot on, and it’s not fair—”
But she doesn’t buy it.
“Is it because of that girl? Poppy?”
I want to deny it, but I don’t want to lie to Amber. She’s wild craic, and I don’t want to insult her that way. But she catches me off guard.
“You don’t think her accent is…off?”
“Off?” I question, unsure what she means by that.
She nods, chewing her bottom lip. “She doesn’t sound like she’s from London. I was in London for six months before I came here, and trust me, I know what a Londoner sounds like.”
I haven’t noticed anything strange, but I suppose that could be because I’ve been trying to work out what her motives are.
“Where d’ya think she’s from then?”
Amber weighs over my question. “I don’t know, but what Londoner says y’all?”
And the mystery just continues to grow…
“I better go inside. I’m sure Fiona has met her quota for doting mother of the year already.” She leans forward and kisses my cheek. “Be careful, Punky. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
She leaves me standing in the middle of the yard, pondering over what she just said.
I don’t want to believe Amber, but she wouldn’t lie to me just to spite Babydoll. If she believes something is weird, then it’s worth investigating. But how do I do that? I know nothing about Babydoll. It’s like she just appeared from nowhere.
“What’s the craic?”
Turning, I see Rory and Cian walking toward me. They’re also in suits and looking as uncomfortable as me.
“Was that Amber?” Cian asks, looking in the direction of where she’s walking.
“Aye, it was.”
“Somethin’ troublin’ ya?” Rory questions, sensing my mood.
