I’m not sure, Finn starts, mussing with his hair, which falls perfectly back into place when he’s done. But I need a break from my family. He winces when he says this.
It’s only been a day, I blurt out. Could you be any more rude, Violet? I try to salvage it and say, Sorry, I mean—
But Finn replies at the same time. And? That’s long enough to warrant a break. Besides, Allie suggested it’s a good spot to visit and there’s a nice beach we can go to after lunch. He pauses, trying to gauge something from my expression. If you’re up for it?
A whole day alone with Finn?
Let me check with Alba, but yes, I’m up for it.
But traitorous meddler that she is, I have a very strong feeling that Alba will not be joining us.
Chapter 14
FINN
VIOLET, I THINK, IS THE only person in all of Cape Breton not on my last nerve.
She is, however, currently testing it.
I watch her as the group gathers around the meeting point. She’s talking animatedly to our tour guide, who I notice with a pang of annoyance is rather good-looking and is staring at Violet with heart-eyes. Smiling and nodding at her many, many questions.
I guess it isn’t her testing my patience, it’s the half-wit guide we’re about to spend an hour with—and the daft group joining us.
I am usually a self-guided kind of tourist, so I expected Violet and I would have a little look around, stopping only at things that appeared interesting, and then be on our merry way.
Violet, I learned, assumed the opposite—that of course we’d be joining a tour group. When we walked into the main building, she marched right over to the window and asked about tickets, and was so visibly excited I didn’t have the heart to deny her.
So here I find myself, in a group of about twenty or so, in one of my most nightmarish situations, trapped with people who are going to do my fucking head in, when I’m trying—for my pretend girlfriend’s sake—to be on my best behaviour. Cracking.
My ambush from Florence the other day still has me in a salty mood. My brother hasn’t said a word about it since then, and my mother, well, she’s always getting on my nerves. So this was my only chance to really escape. But then the woman at the window in the visitors’ centre started saying things like, really fun, immersive experience, and I had to wonder if I’d made the right choice.
I probably should have sent myself into the woods on a bike, alone and seething, rather than subject the people around me to this version of myself. But I wanted some distance and honestly, a little company. I’m regretting that now.
As the group starts to depart, Violet trails behind the knobhead tour guide, asking him more about the fortress, pointing towards a spire in the distance.
Great question, Violet, he says, his Canadian accent and smarmy tone reminding me of a cartoon character. And his little French costume is not helping the situation, either. He goes off about something to the group, but I could not give a single shite about what he’s saying, so I don’t even pretend to listen.
I hiss at Violet. Vi— it comes out in a half-whisper. She looks at me and I nod my head, motioning for her to come join me nearer the back of the group. She frowns and shakes her head, turning back towards Maple Meathead, whatever-the-fuck.
Violetttttttt, I singsong, a little louder but still quietly. She looks mortified and widens her big, brown eyes at me, pleading.
I can’t help the wicked grin that takes over my face. I feel wicked, too.
It’s to be a game, then. And a distraction, I suppose, from my own bullshit today.
I walk over to her while she continues nodding along to what’s-his-nuts, eyes raptured in fascination by whatever he’s saying. I can tell she’s enjoying learning about the history here, so I don’t want to spoil that for her.
But I do want to have a little fun. I’m in a pestering mood now and I want to figure out exactly how to push Violet’s buttons. This is the first chance we’ve really had to be alone together, and I kind of hate that it’s in this re-enactment hellhole.
She startles a little when she notices I’ve moved closer to her. I lean down, tucking some of her honey-brown hair behind her ear and lean down to whisper, Why, my darling, are you standing at the very front of this tour group?
I swear she shudders, but it’s not in a bad way—more that she’s very aware of how close we are, and my flirting. I can’t help it.
She shakes herself out of the daze, shoving me away from her. I laugh.
I want to listen, I’m here to learn, Finn. Go distract someone else.
I love when you say my name, I purr into her ear. And I only want to distract you.
