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“Some people are into that,” Huxley tells her as everyone laughs.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him,” Alex promises his sister.
She blows a raspberry. “That’s what you said when you were both eighteen, remember?”
“Ah, jeez,” Alex says.
I grin. “What happened?”
“It was after they graduated from high school,” Belle explains. “A group of them decided it would be a good idea to go camping in one of those Department of Conservation lodges, even though they were both supposed to be going on vacation the next day with Damon’s family. They all got drunk, Alex passed out in a bush behind the lodge and nobody knew where he was for twelve hours, and Damon fell in the river and got swept over the waterfall.”
“Don’t exaggerate,” Alex says as everyone chuckles, “it was only four hours.”
“And the ‘waterfall’ was six feet high, and I was perfectly fine,” Damon adds.
“You caught a chill and had to stay in bed for three days,” Saxon reminds him.
“That was just Mum being over-zealous,” Damon says. He grabs Belle’s hand. “Come on. We need to mingle.” He leads her away, taking the opportunity to kiss her.
“They seem very happy,” I comment with a smile.
“I never thought he’d be the sort to enjoy all the pomp and ceremony,” Kip says, “but he’s having the time of his life.”
“Talking of which,” Mack says, “what’s this I hear about you getting married? That was sneaky.”
“We didn’t want a big do,” Kip states, putting his arm around Alice. “So we eloped.”
“It was lovely,” Alice states, sliding her arms around his waist. “We went up to Lake Tekapo. It was the middle of winter, and at night we could see the southern lights. So romantic.”
“We did the same,” Heidi admits. “I didn’t want a big white wedding, so Titus and I went up on Dartmoor and tied the knot, just us and a couple of friends as witnesses.”
“So what’s the plan for the next couple of days?” Sidnie asks.
“Stag night and hen party today,” Alex says.
“Lots of fun things planned,” Alice says to me with a smile. “But nothing too alarming, no strippers or anything. Both of them just wanted to be with their friends and family.”
“Are you sure Belle would want me to come?” I ask, surprised.
“Of course!” all the girls say. “You’re her sister-in-law,” Alice points out.
I give Alex an embarrassed look, but he’s talking to Henry and James and doesn’t appear to have heard her.
“We’ve only had one date,” I say to the others, not wanting anyone to think I’m overstepping the mark. “And now I realize I’ve already told you he’s great in bed, which means I put out on the first date. How embarrassing.”
“Took me about twenty-four hours,” Sidnie says cheerfully, and Mack grins and nods his agreement. “And anyway,” she adds, “Alex looks at you as if you’re prime steak, so I’m not surprised.”
“Three hours after meeting Kip on Tinder,” Alice says. “And I second Sidnie’s comment—he obviously sees you as juicy medium-rare.”
“One hour after meeting Saxon,” Catie says. “He knocked me up on our one-night stand. I third the comment, with blue-cheese sauce.”
“And truffle fries,” Elizabeth finishes. “He’s crazy about you, girl. Go on. Say you’ll come. We all want to get to know you better.”
“Okay,” I say, touched that they seem to want me there, and flustered that they all think Alex is into me.
“What was that about steak?” Alex asks, leaning on my chair behind me.
“Nothing,” Sidnie says, fluttering her eyelashes at him, and the rest of us giggle.
