Page 519 of Lodestar

At the abruptness of our entry, conversation drifted to a halt.

Awkwardly waving at them, I slunk over to the table where they were seated with those stupid, multitiered plates with cakes, scones, and sandwiches in front of them.

I’d have killed for a steak.

Doing this with Tryn Bowen was bad enough. Savannah just wanted to torture me.

“I wondered when you’d show your face,” Aoife drawled, her tone amused as she poured coffee into a china cup. “You look like you could use this.”

I plunked my ass down in one of the tiny seats. “Yeah, I need it. Savannah dragged me out of my apartment and brought me here. She’s more terrifying than Al Qaeda.”

Savannah shot me a smug smile. “I’ve been taking lessons from Aidan.”

“They’re working.” I yawned. “Okay, so you can carry on talking. Just pretend I’m not here.”

Aela stared at me over Cameron’s head. “Not likely. This isn’t school, you know? Attendance isn’t mandatory.”

Ouch.

Fuck me for being contrary, but Aela was growing on me more and more.

“Shut up, Aela,” Savannah sniped. “These gatherings are a ritual.”

“I thought it was a chance to bitch about our husbands. Apparently, I didn’t get the memo.”

I tipped my cup at her. “I’m here for the tea even if I’m drinking coffee.”

Aela studied me with wary eyes—she didn’t trust me yet.

Smart woman.

I found it interesting when Aoife reached over with a set of silver tongs and started loading up a dish which she proceeded to set in front of me.

Huh.

I wasn’t sure why it surprised me that she was in charge here, but surprise me it did.

“Aela’s right, Star. It isn’t mandatory to come to afternoon tea if you’re not interested. Saturday and Sunday dinner is enough familial obligation for one week for any sane woman.”

Call me contradictory but... “It’s not like it’s every week.”

Aoife chuckled. “I feel as if this is your idea of purgatory.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s definitely not my usual scene. Doesn’t mean it’s bad, just means it’s different.” The glance I shot Aela was loaded with my defiance.

“That reminds me. I need to thank you, actually, Star,” Inessa said, somewhat timidly.

I got the feeling I scared her.

My lips quirked up in a sharkish grin—loving Conor hadn’t made me soft. “Why?”

“Eoghan was happy after he came back from your poker game.”

“Glad to hear it. He won’t always be happy though,” I warned. “Sometimes, he might be angry. Sometimes, he might be sad. Hell, sometimes, he might not even want to come.”

“I know, but this seems healthier than what he was doing before.”

Camille’s snort was delicate. “Burying his troubles and pretending they didn’t exist while glowering at anyone in the vicinity who smiles at you?”

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