Page 177 of Time To Learn

Mum hefts William in her arms and nods atme.

“Text me when you get there, though. Is Gavin still picking you up tonight?”

I nod and can’t help but tremble when I hear a low knock on thedoor.

“Wait, who’s Gavin?” Dad buttsin.

“I’ve got to go.” I give them both a small wave and watch Mum grab ahold of Dad’s wrist, preventing him from coming outside with me. The way his eyes soften when he looks down at her doesn’t make me want to roll my eyes anymore. Instead, it makes me long for the day a man will look at me thatway.

As if I’m his whole world.

When I push down on the doorknob, Mum jerks her chin at me, laughter dancing in hereyes.

“Best get going before your dad here decides to tag along with you. Have fun, sweetie.”

A cacophony of butterflies sets off in my tummy when I open the door and find my crush waiting for me on the other side. I tuck my wild hair behind my ears when Gavin smiles at me, his blue eyes lighting up when they meetmine.

I give him a shy smile, fidgeting on thespot.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” he answers and takes a step back to let meout.

The butterflies break out in full force when he pulls away his hands from behind him and hands me a big bouquet of pink tulips, and I feel a flush spread on my cheeks.

“Happy birthday, Ailith.”

With trembling fingers, I take the flowers from his outstretched hand and beam at him. I’ve never had a boy bring me flowers before.

“They’re beautiful. Thankyou.”

He grins at me and takes my other hand in his, intertwining our fingers. I look down as we walk to his old car. A part of me is wondering what us holding hands means now, but another part of me wants to stop thinking too much about it and just enjoy myself for the night.

“Is thisokay?”

My head jerks up, and my brain feels like it’s short-circuiting a fuse when I stare back at him. The fluttering in my tummy eases up, though, when I notice the shy smile on his lips, and I realise that he’s probably as nervous as Iam.

“It’s like you read my mind,” I reply softly. “I think it’s okay, but don’t expect me to kiss you at the end of the night justyet.”

When his eyes twinkle with mirth, I relax evenmore.

“Okay, I won’t if you don’t want me to. I can be a gentleman, Ailith. I promise.”

We stop next to his car and Gavin takes a deep breath as he turns his head and looks at the horses grazing in the paddock next to where he’s parked.

“I’ve heard a lot about this place.”

His eyes turn thoughtful as he rests the hand not holding mine on the top of hiscar.

“Only good things, Ihope?”

He nods and jerks his head at the horses.

“Yup.” He shrugs lightly. “Your mum has a great reputation. I don’t know anything about horses, but it feels very peaceful here. A good place…quiet, but not lonely.”

His words fill me with happiness, and I squeeze his hand, grateful that he feels like that even though it’s his first visit.

“Thank you. I’ve always felt that way, too.”