Page 41 of The House on Firefly Beach
“He went back to Malory’s.” Just the mention of his name gave her a rush of guilt and confusion.
“So the photographers are gone?”
Sydney shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“We get to find out our coaches and team members tonight, Mama!”
Sydney had already missed the fact that Robby’s football meeting was tonight because Nate had distracted her. She wouldn’t allow herself to be distracted anymore. “I’m excited!” she said to Robby, dropping the conversation about Nate, but today’s events lingering in her mind. “Maybe we can get ice cream after.”
“Yeah!” Robby bounced up and down, clearly delighted.
Beau must have sensed the anticipation in the air because he barked and then gobbled up his tennis ball, loping over to Robby and dropping it at his feet. Robby picked up the ball and opened the front door. “Wanna chase the ball, boy?” he asked. “Let’s go!” Robby and Beau sprinted out the door toward the yard.
“Your face looked like a storm cloud when you came in,” Jacqueline said. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Not really,” Sydney replied, offering a weak smile. She never did like talking about things. “But I got a few responses done for my column and I’m ready to relax. Know what I think you and I should do?” She draped her arm around her mother, ignoring the fact that all the little moments with Nate were still buzzing through her mind.
“What’s that?” Jacqueline grinned at her daughter.
“I think we should dig out the margarita mix and make ourselves some frozen drinks in the blender.”
“I like this plan,” her mother said. “We’ve got tequila in the cabinet.”
They went into the kitchen and Mama plugged in the blender. “It’s weird making drinks without Hallie,” she noted. “The three of us are usually together when we do this.”
“I miss her,” Sydney said. “I hope she and Ben are having a blast.”
“Has she texted you at all?”
“It’s only been three days since they left,” Sydney laughed. “I give her one more day before we get the text.”
“I think she’ll last five days. She and Ben are surely too… busy.” She winked.
“No. She won’t be able to stand not telling us what they’re doing.” Sydney grabbed the bag of ice from the freezer, topped up the blender and poured in the margarita mix.
“I hope she brings something back for us.” Mama handed Sydney the bottle of tequila. “I need a new keychain—one of those gold ones with the word ‘Barbados’ in brightly colored letters would be nice.”
“I’d like a coffee mug.”
“That’s boring.” Jacqueline smirked at her while salting the rims of two glasses. “You already have an entire cupboard of mugs.”
“But I don’t have one that says, ‘I know you think I’m hotter than this coffee’.” She laughed.
Jacqueline rolled her eyes playfully.
“Or how about, ‘I never intended to be the best sister, but here I am crushing it’.”
Her mother burst out laughing. “Ooooh,” she said, putting a hand on Sydney’s arm to interrupt her. “How about one of those woven beach bags—maybe one with an island picture intertwined in the rattan on the front. I’d like one of those.”
“She needs to text us now,” Sydney said with wide eyes as she hit the button on the blender, drowning out their conversation for a few seconds. When it finished mixing, she shook it around in a circle to get the slushy concoction off the sides. While she poured the margaritas into their glasses, she said, “Shouldwetexther?”
“We shouldn’t…” Jacqueline said before taking a sip from her glass. She eyed her phone, second-guessing her statement.
“You’re right. It’s her honeymoon. Let’s leave them alone.” Sydney held up her glass. “To this opportunity to be two Flynns instead of our usual three. We never get time with just the two of us and I’m thankful to have it.”
“Cheers.” Jacqueline tapped the rim of her glass against Sydney’s. “Why don’t we take our drinks outside and watch Robby and Beau play?” she suggested. “That way we won’t be tempted to pick up our phones!”
With a laugh, Sydney followed her mother out of the kitchen, hoping she could put her memories of Nate’s kiss aside and enjoy the moment.
