She giggled out loud. “Stop, you silly girl,” she said, but hung on to me just as tightly.
“I missed you, K,” I said, smacking her cheek with a kiss.
“I missed you, too, Sophie.”
She pulled me from her hold and inspected me over.
“What?” I asked, breathless from laughing.
“You look...I’m not sure,” she said, cocking her head to the side. “You look ecstatically happy.”
“So what if I am?” I teased, bumping my hip with hers.
Her eyes blew bright, reflecting the stars above. “It’s a very good look on you, my love.”
She grabbed me by the waist and we made our way toward Ian, Charles, Kate and Mercy so she could say hi to Ian as well. He grabbed her and spun her around and she squealed.
“What in the world has gotten into you two?” she asked, bewildered.
“Nothing,” we both answered simultaneously.
“If you think this is bad,” Charles said, “you should have seen how they acted when they saw me.”
My cheeks flushed red and I was never more grateful for the night sky.
“Come to the kitchens,” Karina said, smiling and waving us her direction. “I’ve made you a homecoming bread.”
“What kind?” Ian asked, wrapping his large arm around her tiny little shoulders.
“Banana, of course. What other fruit do we get around here?” she laughed.
We entered the small kitchen together and all pitched in, getting plates, cups, etc. for our miniature party. Karina uncovered a pan of nice, thick banana bread and my mouth began to water.
We all sat and began eating in silence.
Homecoming, yes. But also a discussion.
“What are we going to do?” Ian asked Charles.
Charles swallowed. “Honestly?” His face was devoid color. “I don’t know where to start. They’ve never come this far south before. They’ve undoubtedly been scouting us for several months. There’s no mistake about it, it’s a ticking time bomb now.”
o;That you appreciate me.”
“Well, that’s a shame,” I told him sincerely, “because I do. I always have. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Sophie. Thank you,” he said but I could tell his heart was the tinsiest bit lighter.
“Okay, I’ll ring you when we figure out a date. Thanks again, Pemmy.”
And with that, we hung up.
“Simon and Imogen have their pick of dates.”
“Thank you for that,” he said, kissing my temple and starting his engine.
Ian dropped me off at the guest suite door with a gentleman's kiss. Okay, maybe not a gentleman's kiss but I did eventually shut the door with him on the other side. It counts!
I hung my dress up and hopped in the shower, desperate to get the smell of smoke and outside off my skin and out of my hair. Humming Drivin’ Me Wild under my breath, I rinsed the conditioner and turned off the water. My hand shot out for the towel rack to grab my towel but it wasn’t there. I felt around the metal for it but figured it must have fallen to the ground.