On the Rocks (A Turtle Island Novel) (23 page)

“You sounded incredible!” Ginger rushed to Roni’s side after the concert Saturday night, pulling her friend into her arms and hugging her tight. The top of Roni’s head came to Ginger’s chin, and her pregnant belly pressed into her lower abdomen. “And you’re so darned cute.”

She released her hold, but kept Roni’s hands in hers. With a sweep of her gaze, Ginger took in the formal black dress, Roni’s wild curls, and her seriously cute belly. She glowed.

They stood in a dressing room of the convention center, just the two of them because Ginger had literally run the moment the concert had ended. She hadn’t gotten to see Roni yet, and she’d needed to hug her friend.

“How are you?” Ginger asked.

“I’m good.” Roni smiled. “Really good. This has been a great tour.”

Ginger could see the exhaustion in the tightness around Roni’s eyes. “But you’re ready to get home? You miss your family?”

Roni chuckled. “Yes. Very.”

“And I’ve no doubt they’re ready to see you.”

They hugged once more before the door opened and they were joined by others.

Ginger’s mother and Clint came in first, followed by Andie, who held baby Teddy, Andie’s Aunt Ginny, and Andie’s mother, Cassie. Carter and Julie were only a few feet behind everyone, and they stopped just outside the door. Ginger had seen them before the concert started, but their tickets hadn’t been with hers so she’d asked them to meet her at the end of the night.

Roni and Andie hugged, and Roni greeted Teddy with the expected baby talk, then she passed around greetings to Ginny and Cassie before landing on Ginger’s mother.

“Pam.” Roni reached for her. “It’s so great to see you again. Huge congrats on the engagement.”

“Thank you.” Ginger’s mother pulled Roni in tight. “And your own congratulations are in order.” She pulled back and smiled down at the black-covered bump. “That stepdaughter of yours has to be as overjoyed as you.”

“We all are. January can’t get here fast enough.”

“Speaking of things that can’t get here fast enough . . .” Her mother brought Clint into the group. “Meet my fiancé, Clint.”

Clint looked dapper in a black suit with his salt-and-pepper hair. He kissed Roni’s hand and did a little dip of his head, and Ginger thought every woman in the room swooned. He was such a charmer.

He and Ginger’s mom spent a few moments talking with Roni, with Cassie and Ginny adding to the conversation as needed. Cassie took Teddy, and Andie moved to Ginger’s side. Flowers appeared—they’d been sent from Lucas and Gracie—and were deposited in the dressing room, then finally, talk slowed. At which point Roni turned a pleasant smile to Carter, who remained just outside the dressing-room door.

She flicked a very quick glance to Ginger—silently questioning if they’d
done it
or not—and Ginger felt her cheeks heat.

Anyone but Ginger and Andie might not have noticed the next look, but Roni totally took Carter in. In a you’re-doing-my-friend sort of way. The three of them had been close for years, and it was a given that they watched out for each other. Ginger might just be having a casual relationship with Carter, but she
was
involved with him. And Roni would take him out if he messed up.

“Carter Ridley.” Everyone around Roni parted so she could make her way to his and Julie’s side. “I remember you from years past.”

At that, Carter smiled. It was too wide, and Ginger had no doubt he was remembering his crush. “So good to see you again.” He looked at Andie. “And you, too, Andie,” he added. “I remember you three hanging out during the summers. You were inseparable. And you drove the boys crazy.”

Roni laughed at that. “I doubt it, but that’s sweet of you.”

“He used to have a crush on you,” Ginger informed her.

At the shocked look of both her friends—
and
Carter—Julie spoke up. “He’s moved on to Ginger now.”

Carter playfully thumped his sister on the back of the head. He smiled to the group. “I’m not sure if any of you remember my annoying baby sister, Julie?”

“I’m not a baby anything.” Julie elbowed her brother in the gut.

“I remember you,” Roni said. “But you were so young, I don’t think we saw a lot of you. Looks like you’re not a kid any longer. Congratulations on your baby.”

“Thank you.” Julie’s hands touched her stomach. “And to you, too.”

Julie had about six weeks left to go, and she was really beginning to show. And according to Carter, she was having a girl. He’d seemed quite proud that he’d soon have a niece.

Roni and Julie talked for a few minutes about babies and pregnancy, and Ginger tuned the two of them out. She ended up making faces at Teddy, who gooed like the sweetheart that he was from his grandmother’s arms. Ginger had only gotten to play with him for a few minutes earlier in the day.

After Andie’s meeting, she and Ginger had gone shopping. Teddy had stayed with his grandmother and great-aunt, which had given Ginger and Andie lots of time to catch up. And spend money. Ginger had once again racked up a hefty receipt buying items for the house.

But that left her lacking in the baby-playing department.

“You want your hands on my grandson, don’t you?” Cassie asked. Her short red hair was identical in color to her sister’s, and the two women stood the same height.

“I do.” Ginger reached out. “May I? He’s so cute. And I’m desperate for baby kisses.”

She took Teddy and proceeded to get lost in teasing the little boy. Baby laughs made her smile. She pressed her nose to his cheek and inhaled. He smelled perfectly adorable.

Carter leaned into her, one arm going around her back, and the fingers of his other hand tickling Teddy’s stomach. Teddy cackled with glee, and the two of them smiled at each other as if they’d accomplished something no one else had been able to.

Ginger watched on as Carter continued to play with the baby, and had a moment of sadness for him. He would’ve been a great dad.

She hated his ex even more at that moment. He deserved the kind of life he’d wanted. He deserved love. But he was closed off from it now, and that broke her heart for him. And if she were completely honest, it broke her heart for her, too. She still had that crush. Only . . . it was threatening to become more. She had to keep it in check.

She joined back in on the games with Carter and Teddy, getting lost in the laughs.

Catching on to the change in the room a few minutes later, they both looked up from the baby at the same time. Everyone had gone silent, all eyes on them. Andie and Roni gave her a strange look.

Carter straightened, clearing his throat, and moved to stand behind Ginger, and Ginger passed Teddy back to his grandmother.

“So we’re really staying out at your house?” Roni asked. She flicked one more look at Carter.

“Wait until you see it. It’s awesome. And empty.” Ginger snickered. “I’ve got tons of furniture ordered, but it can’t be delivered until everything is finished. They did install some of the fixtures today, though, so no more walking around with a flashlight, at least.”

“And there
is
a functioning toilet?” Roni questioned.

“Two,” Carter jumped in. “As well as a shower. You girls are all set.”

Andie and Roni once again eyed Carter.

“If we have time before you leave tomorrow, I’ll take you to the unit I rented today.” Ginger had bought so much in the last two days that she’d rented a storage unit to hold it all.

“I told her we had plenty of space at the house,” her mom informed the group. “She’s been out shopping for days. Or that she could take whatever she wants. It’s her stuff, too.” She put a hand on Ginger’s arm. “I hate that you’re having to buy everything new.”

“I want my own things, Mom.” Ginger patted her mom’s hand. “For
my
house.” She’d saved up for years for this, and she was having fun with it.

“I know, baby. And I’m so proud of you. We’ll have to have a housewarming party when it’s done. Maybe the day after the wedding? Everyone will still be in town. Will it be ready then? We could do brunch.”

“It’ll be done,” Carter assured her. “I talked to Gene today. Everything has been ordered, and they’re on track to finish a few days before the wedding.”

“You’re such a good boy, Carter.” Ginger’s mother smiled at Carter the way an elderly woman might smile at someone helping her across the street. Very sweet. And appreciative. “I’m so glad you came home to help Ginger.”

Julie guffawed. “Technically, he came home to help me. Not that I needed it.”

“Oh, you needed it,” Carter told her. “Look at how fat you are now. That’s because of me.”

Julie made a face at him, and everyone laughed.

“So . . .” Roni began. “About this slumber party we’re having.” She yawned. “Did I mention that I tend to need more sleep than I once did?”

“Tell me about it,” Julie agreed. “It might have something to do with sleeping with a basketball.”

There was more laughter all around, and Ginger found herself forcing a smile. She was happy for everyone with babies on the way, or a baby in the room. Truly. No vindictive, evil thoughts at all. But she wanted one, too.

Carter slipped a finger inside the back of her slacks, as if letting her know that he understood, and she leaned slightly back, pressing into his hand.

“Shall we go?” she asked. Roni and Andie readily agreed.

“Can I talk to you first?” Carter spoke near her ear.

“Sure.” She turned to her friends. “Give me five minutes.” She hugged Cassie and Ginny—and gave baby Teddy more snuggly kisses. “So good to see you all.”

The group disbanded, and Carter led Ginger from the room and out the back doors of the convention center. The deck was a story up from the ground, and the building sat directly on the beach. The wind immediately whipped Ginger’s hair into her face, and Carter brushed it back.

He kept his hands at the sides of her head, and leaned to touch his mouth to hers. His lips were hot and determined, and his tongue wasted no time slipping between her lips. When they finally separated, they both breathed hard, and she struggled to remember that she would be going home with her two friends and not him.

“What was that about?” She stared up at him, appreciative of his dark suit and freshly shaven jaw. He looked extra yummy tonight.

“I wanted a kiss,” he answered. “I needed something to tide me over
until tomorrow.” He stepped closer, and the fabric of his jacket brushed
against the silk of her shirt. Her breasts got in on the action, growing heavy with need. “How early are they leaving?” His words were hot at her ear. He wanted her. She felt a brush of the evidence down below.

“Don’t show up out there at sunrise,” she warned him. She teasingly bumped him below the belt.

He bumped back. “They’d probably still be sleeping.”

“I can’t . . .” Geez, he was naughty. She could see the thought in his head. “I am not having sex with you while my friends are asleep in another room,” she hissed.

He only laughed. “We could go to the pier.”

“Carter.”

“They know about us, right? You told Roni.”

“I
asked
her questions along the lines of ‘what if.’ But she doesn’t know for sure.”

Only, she did. As did Andie. Ginger had seen it in their looks. She couldn’t hide anything from her friends.

“Don’t you dare,” she warned again. The words were a plea as much as anything, because if he showed up at her house before sunrise, she suspected she’d let him do whatever he had on his mind.

“Okay, fine.” His sigh was long and fake. Then he winked at her, and a shiver raced down her spine. He could touch her without touching her. “Got plans for tomorrow?” he asked.

“Not for after they leave.”

“Take me fishing?”

“Really?” Pleasure filled her. He wanted to go fishing with her?

“Will a boat be available?”

She nodded. “I have a personal one at the marina. We can take it.” She paused for only a second. “Should we see if Julie wants to go?”

Surprise crossed his face, and then he kissed her once again. The touch lingered as he slowly pulled back. “Thank you for suggesting that,” he spoke against her mouth. “I’m sure she would love it.”

Happiness consumed her.

“I need to go. Roni and Andie will be waiting on me.” She squeezed his hands and took a step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll miss you tonight.”

A warm flush covered her, and with a smile on her face, she hurried to her car.

C
HAPTER
N
INETEEN

G
inger licked strawberry juice off her fingertips as she placed the pitcher on the serving tray, where she’d already arranged pretzels, grapes, cheese, and three daiquiri glasses. She worked quickly off the small table she’d grabbed when she’d run home after the concert to change into more comfortable clothing.

While she’d been gone, Andie and Roni had each done the same, with Andie also breast-feeding Teddy one last time for the night and Roni checking in with Lucas. Then they’d all met up at Ginger’s house. They’d been there for twenty minutes, and Ginger had already given them a tour, and Andie and Roni now waited on the deck.

Topping off the pitcher of virgin daiquiris with three squirts of whipped cream, Ginger hooked the sliding door handle with her elbow and pushed it open. “Drinks are served.”

Roni sat in the purple fold-out chair, a maxi dress covering her growing belly, and her head tilted back. Her eyes were closed, and turquoise-and-brown cowboy boots poked out beneath her dress. She’d always had a thing for cowboy boots.

Andie rose to help with the tray. “These look fabulous.”

While Ginger held the snacks, Andie poured the drinks. She passed one to Roni before taking the tray and setting it on Carter’s “desk” that Ginger had dragged down from the office. Andie’s long auburn curls swung with her movements, and her slightly rounded figure caught Ginger’s eye. She hadn’t quite lost all her pregnancy weight, but it didn’t hurt her looks in the least. Motherhood definitely looked good on her.

“To Ginger.” Andie lifted her glass.

“To friendship.” Roni followed suit.

“To
you
two,” Ginger added. It was nearing eleven o’clock, and though all three of them were exhausted for their own reasons, it was also their night. None of them wanted to call it a day.

“The house is beautiful.” Andie told her. “Though I can’t imagine how much you’ll destroy it trying to decorate it.”

Decorating was yet one more way Ginger didn’t quite uphold the typical woman’s abilities. Anything crafty, really. She could cook. And she could even host a dinner party. She could carry a conversation for hours. But when it came to prettying up a place, she was clueless.

“I picked out the wall colors,” she defended. She’d shown them the colors during the walkthrough.

“And that only took you how long?” Roni quipped.

“Touché.”

Andie chuckled as she drank.

“Those colors will look terrific, though.” Roni softened her earlier teasing. “Just don’t pick out any decorations until Andie and I can come back and help you.”

“Deal.” Choosing window treatments and knickknacks to pretty up the place was best left for someone who actually cared. Ginger was more about the bones than the intricacies.

“Did I mention that Carter recently built a house, too, and that it is apparently quite similar to mine?”

Roni cracked open her eyes to small slits. “How did that happen?”

“It’s the funniest thing. We used to plan out our dream house together. Even drew it out.”

“I remember that. You guys had this worn-out piece of paper you’d folded and refolded hundreds of times,” Andie said. “You showed it to us once. I thought it was adorable . . .” She snickered with the words.

Ginger dipped her fingers into her drink and flicked them at Andie. “I had a crush, remember? It’s a wonder I didn’t try to name our babies and put them on that sheet, too.” She took a sip of her drink before continuing. “The funny thing is, neither of us have that paper anymore. I didn’t even remember it until Carter came back. We started meeting up for sunrises like we used to, and that reminded me of sketching out a house together.”

“And yet you built the same house?” Roni looked skeptical.

“I guess the memory holds on to a lot more than we realize.”

Roni snacked on the cheese as she scrutinized Ginger, before the corners of her mouth suddenly curved and she put a hand to her stomach.

“Baby kicking?” Andie asked. She sat up in her chair.

“Big-time. He’s clearly going to be a soccer star.”

Ginger and Andie gasped. “He?” They asked the question at the same time.

They were both on their feet and kneeling beside Roni in an instant, their hands going to her stomach. And danged if the little guy didn’t kick them, too. Ginger’s heart tripped over a beat.

“I’m so happy for you.” She hugged Roni. She and Lucas were hoping for a boy.

“I haven’t told Lucas yet, so no posting anything on social media.” Roni set her drink on the deck and added her other hand to her stomach. Her fingers curved over her belly in a totally maternal way. “Since I was out of town, I couldn’t see my regular OB, but I had a checkup with a doctor she recommended. Lucas was sick that he couldn’t be there with me, so I told him they hadn’t been able to determine the sex. I wanted to surprise him with it in person.”

“Did you make it okay on the road without him?” Andie asked. The two of them returned to their chairs.

“I did. He and Gracie visited a couple of times. It was hard being away, but I needed to do this.” Roni had been through a rough time before she met Lucas, and had completely quit playing for money. Getting back out there had been huge for her. “I won’t tour every year,” she added. “I wouldn’t want to be away that much. But this one was important.”

They talked about tour stops, baby and pregnancy issues, and how family and other friends were doing for the next several minutes, before Andie suggested that they take their chairs to the beach.

“Andie,” Roni whined. She held out her feet. “I’m in boots.”

“Then take them off.” Andie and Ginger were already barefoot. “We’re at the beach. We need our toes in the sand.”

“You always loved the stinking beach,” Roni fussed, but she kicked off her boots and pushed up from the chair.

“I do. But I’m not the one who bought a beach house.” Andie turned to Ginger. “Or
built
one.” She grabbed the pitcher of drinks while Ginger scooped up the chairs, and together the three of them traipsed single file across the boardwalk. The moon remained high and
bright, and they all sighed the instant their toes dug into the damp sand.

With the tide about halfway out, they continued their trek in silent agreement until they reached the edge of the water. Where they splashed their toes in the ocean before unfolding the chairs. Then they plopped themselves down and didn’t move.

Roni let out a tired sigh to Ginger’s left, while Andie added one from the right. None of them had brought their glasses out with them, so Andie took a swig straight from the pitcher and passed it around. “Sure wish this had some liquor in it,” she mumbled.

Roni agreed. “You’re a good friend for staying sober with us.”

“Are you kidding me?” Ginger said. “It was a no-brainer. I’ve missed you both like crazy. I’d give up a heck of a lot more than rum for more nights like this.”

“Hear, hear,” Roni and Andie agreed.

Each of them took a hand of the person next to them, and they sat, letting the ocean wash up to their ankles and the moon shine on their faces. So much peace and joy filled Ginger that she wouldn’t have been able to describe her emotions if asked.

“These chairs are ugly, Gin,” Andie said a few minutes later. “Did I mention that yet?”

“They’re Mom’s.”

“We’re buying you new beach chairs for your housewarming party,” Roni added. “Pretty ones that match your pretty house.”

Ginger glanced back at the house. “Should we really have a party?”

“Absolutely.” Roni said. She was angled as far back in the chair as she could get, and looking about eighty percent asleep. “I might
invite Mrs. Rylander. I miss that intruding old woman.”

“You’ll get to see her at the wedding,” Ginger informed her. “Though she’ll be attending as a guest, she’s the center’s contact for reservations now, so she’s been sticking her nose into every decision Mom and Kayla make.” Ginger took another drink of daiquiri. “I also heard that Chester Brownbomb has been caught flirting with her. It’s driving Vanilla Bean crazy.”

Chester was Vanilla’s man, and all the seniors knew it. It didn’t keep him from testing out the waters elsewhere, though.

“I can’t imagine Mrs. R. would like his attention too much,” Roni mused.

“She called the police on him.”

The three of them laughed as they each remembered past run-ins with the seniors on the island. Andie once taught a basket-weaving class at the center, so there had been plenty of adventures.

Another wave rolled in, this one splashing them up to their knees.

“So . . .” Roni began. She yawned behind her hand. “About Carter . . .”

Ginger groaned. “I knew you’d eventually take us there.”

“Of course I would take us there. You called me the other day, in a near panic about the possibility of sleeping with the guy. Then he was practically drooling all over you tonight.” She rolled her head to look at Ginger. “I take it you slept with him?”

“I did sleep with him.”

“Which was my idea, I might add.” Andie took ownership before facing Ginger. “I told you to jump his bones when you first sent me that hot picture of him, if I remember correctly.”

“And how was it?” Roni asked before Ginger could reply to Andie. “As good as the kiss?”

Ginger couldn’t stop the smile that covered her mouth. “Better than the kiss. But I still can’t believe I’m having casual sex. I feel so . . .
easy.
”

“Casual does not make you easy,” Roni corrected. “Casual makes you satisfied.” She eyed Ginger then. “Better than the kiss?”

The question hung in the air, and Ginger found herself blushing.

“Spill,” Andie demanded. “I can’t see it in the dark, but I know you well enough. You’re beet red over there.”

When Ginger didn’t immediately reply, Roni added, “I’ll bet she’s not talking because he does dirty, dirty things to her.” She glanced at Ginger again. “What dirty, dirty things has he done to you, Gin?”

Andie leaned forward to look at Roni. “Do you think they’ve done it out here on the beach?”

“I would have.”

They continued teasing her, and Ginger found herself alternately laughing and fanning herself. The fanning came from thinking about Carter naked, and all the dirty, dirty things he
did
do to her. The laughing was from the pure enjoyment of being with her friends.

Finally she joined the conversation. “He does have this thing he does with his tongue . . .” she teased, and all three of them fell into a fit of giggles before she could add any additional details. They talked for several more minutes about men, sex, and the overall thrill of having
regular
sex, until the conversation shifted to become more serious.

“So it really is just casual?” Roni asked.

“It really is. He’s not looking for commitment.”

“Well, it didn’t look casual tonight,” Andie said.

“What do you mean?” Ginger turned to her. “What did you see?”

They’d kissed out on the deck, but she couldn’t imagine that being misconstrued as anything serious. It had been a kiss. And a little pelvic bump. But still.

“Playing with Teddy together, for starters,” Andie pointed out.

“And what’s wrong with playing with Teddy?”

“Sweetie.” Roni leaned toward Ginger. “You two were acting like it was
your
baby.”

“We most certainly were not!” Ginger looked from one friend to the other. “It was Teddy. A cute baby.
Her
cute baby. And we both like babies. We were playing with him. That’s all.”

“You’re different with him,” Andie said.

“Of course I’m different. I’m sleeping with him.”

“I don’t mean that. I mean different than you are with other men. Why are you okay with it just being casual? Why aren’t you all romantic and planning a wedding in your head like you’ve done since you were a teenager?”

Because there would be no point. But also, because somewhere inside her, Ginger knew that wanting too much from Carter could destroy her.

She shared Carter’s past with her friends then, wanting to be sure they understood what the relationship was between her and Carter. She couldn’t afford to have Roni and Andie pushing her to go for more. As her words wound down, they both sat shocked.

Andie was the first to speak. “Married? And pregnant? How does that even happen?”

“They had an unconventional marriage.”

“Do you think he’s over her?” Roni asked.

Ginger paused before answering. The same question had crossed her mind more than once. He hadn’t had Lisa thrown in jail. Was that because he still cared for her? “I don’t know. He still holds a lot of anger. He’s like me in a lot of ways. He had high hopes.”

“His anger could be either at the situation,” Roni observed, “or complete heartbreak.”

Exactly.
And neither one bode well for anything more than casual.