“Yes!” Mel clapped her hands together. “I’ve had so much fun quizzing him about his massive ark over the last year.”
Seren frowned deeply. “Sounds like a compliment to me …”
“It’s not a euphemism,” Mel declared loudly. “I’m talking about his boat, not his penis!”
Keira pressed a hand to her forehead. “Wow. We’ve not even had a drink yet.” She waved to the barman and ordered them a round. They’d taken the first sips when Seren spoke again.
“Noah’s boat’s pretty small though,” she said thoughtfully.
“What are you talking about?” Mel asked, her lips hinting at amusement.
“You said you tease Noah about his massive boat, but it’s only small …”
“Are you talking in euphemisms now?” Mel asked.
“No! I don’t understand the conversation.”
“I’m a bit lost too,” Keira confessed.
Mel shook her head. “I’m talking about the ark … where the animals go in two by two.”
“Oh.” Realisation spread slowly over Seren’s face. “Noah’s Ark?”
“Yes.” Mel grinned. “It’s massive!”
They both howled with laughter, and Keira took the opportunity to sneak away from them.
“What are those two laughing about?” Noah asked, breaking away from his conversation with a middle-aged guy.
“You don’t want to know.” Keira pressed onto her toes to give him a quick peck.
“Looks as though they’re enjoying themselves anyway.”
“Yes.” She followed his gaze to where Seren had a hand on Mel’s arm and seemed to be struggling to catch her breath through her laughter. “I’d say they’re going to be a nightmare after a few drinks. Though I suppose it’s better than cat fights.”
Noah slipped an arm around her waist and lowered his face to her ear. “I don’t want to stay long.”
“It’s your party,” Keira pointed out.
“I know but I think if we stay until ten thirty, no one will notice us sneaking out.”
“It’s a nice thought but I guess it won’t happen.”
“I just want to hang out with you,” he said. “Not chat to regulars from the bar who I’ll be glad to see the back of.”
“Noah!” Laughing, she gave him a friendly nudge.
“Well, it’s true.” He checked his watch. “Two hours and then we’re leaving. Seren’s got a spare key so she can sort herself out.”
“You can’t abandon her.”
He kissed her neck, just below her earlobe. “I can and I will.”
As it turned out, Seren didn’t seem at all concerned by their leaving. She and Mel had the same sense of humour and had spent all evening in fits of laughter. The more alcohol they consumed, the funnier everything became. Keira was relieved to get away from them.
“I reckon they’re going to have sore stomach muscles as well as heads tomorrow,” Noah remarked as they wandered up the road.
“They’re like a pair of witches, cackling away.”