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She glanced down, digging deep, desperate to elbow aside her fears and be present. She refused to let her own worries overtake her happiness for him. “I’m beyond chuffed for you. I’m thrilled and proud—so proud.”
“I hope I can carry it off.”
“Of course you will! I have zero doubts. Honestly, it feels like my heart’s about to burst.”
Nick winced playfully. “In a good way?”
“The best way,” she half-lied, hugging her stuffed orca.
“Would it be all right if I kept this for luck?” He lifted her Evie necklace, still adorning his neck.
“Yeah, provided you both come back.”
“Like a boomerang, baby!” Nick grinned and leaned in for another lingering kiss. “Hey! Enough about my stuff. What’s your news?”
Evie’s secret weighed heavily. She wanted to tell him about the looming surgery, but what if it caused a panic attack? Or made him stay? Staying would ruin everything he’s worked so hard for. Pulse pounding, she collected her water from the bedside table. I can’t risk it. Think of something else. Quick. She flashed a smile over the rim. “Mine’s nowhere near as exciting as yours.” She took a leisurely sip, playing for time.
“Come on, I’ll be the judge.”
“No, really”—leaning away, Evie cleared her throat—“it’s not.” She set down the glass beside a recent letter from Goldsmiths University of London. Her eyes snagged on the jagged tear scarring the envelope. That’ll do. It’s not definite, but it’s better than mentioning my surgery.
Shifting back, she faced Nick again. “Me and Sun will be sharing our uni flat with her cousin from Nottingham. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but he—”
“He?”
“Yeah. Vikram’s a fine art student. Has a live-in boyfriend, too, so I’ll have an instant London clan.”
“Aw, Tigs, that’s brilliant! Honestly, your new friends will make uni. I’m so excited for you!” Nick gathered her in a hug. “So much good stuff coming up.” His hand threaded through her hair. “You at uni, writing up a storm; me playing Judas, singing in Australia—talk about living the dream!”
Over his shoulder, Evie bit her bottom lip, fighting a surge of tears. So far apart…
TWENTY-EIGHT
NICK
Now, Tuesday, August 8
Ever since he was a kid, the last days of filming always gave Nick a buzzy brain and a stomach ache. The exhilarating sprint to the finish was a natural high like no other, but the tearful hugs and agonizing farewells with castmates (found family, really), often left him sad.
Luckily this time he had a cherished souvenir from set—Evie.
Nick relished the freedom they’d be gifted once the shoot wrapped, but it wouldn’t be all moonlight beach strolls and lazy mornings tangled in bed. Hard work loomed. Building a solid, loving relationship from the ashes of their split would take patience and persistence.
So much had gone unsaid for years, and Nick worried Evie wouldn’t feel the same about him once everything was laid bare, including his latest news from London. The fear of her possible rejection roused a panic attack while there as well as a review of his medication by his long-time therapist. The psychologist also advised Nick to keep an open mind, telling him that obsessively ruminating over something that might never happen was unhelpful and unproductive. Ultimately, though, Nick knew if Evie chose to walk away, he couldn’t blame her.
Looking up from a thirteen-year-old text, the last sent by teenage Evie, Nick shoved his phone in his jacket pocket and closed his laptop, joining his staff in the Tomlinson production trailer calling it a day.
“Nick, you coming with?” asked Ashley, tapping pink gloss on her lips with her finger.
He peeked outside at the boats nestled in Kirkwall Harbor, checking the weather: slight breeze with another hour or two of daylight. “No, I’m meeting Evie for a drive. I think we both need some air, sea views, and a good ol’ singalong in the car. Today was…” He blew out his lips.
“Frustrating, grueling, disappointing?” Ashley snickered. “Why do you think we’re all headed to the hotel bar?” She tossed the makeup inside her studded leather purse. “Well, enjoy. Meet us later if you get bored of fields and sky.”
“With Evie?” He grinned. “No chance.”
* * *
“I’m having major déjà vu.” Nick squeezed Evie’s left hand as she continued singing along to ‘Take What You Got’ from Kinky Boots. “Passing through Stromness, seeing beautiful Birsay…” He watched the ruins of Earl’s Palace, a 16th-century castle, surf past the windows as Evie lowered the music’s volume. “I feel like I’m twenty and you’re seventeen, and we’re driving around on the sly again.”
