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Evie gulped and tugged the hem of her jacket, curling it around her fingers.
“I’m sorry I left your place so quickly Thursday. I-I didn’t want to meet your parents like that.”
She nodded, recalling how he stumbled across their yard, blinded by the headlights of her dad’s car.
“I had, uh”—Nick scratched the back of his neck—“a little reaction.”
“Panic?”
He winced. “Hard-on.”
“Ohh!” Words catching in her throat, Evie felt a blush brewing but congratulated herself with a mental high five for getting Nick so hot and bothered. At the time, she’d felt something but didn’t want to assume.
“Actually…” He bit his lip. “It wasn’t so little.”
Evie’s blush became a full-on inferno inside and out. He likes me!
“I loved kissing you,” said Nick. “It’s all I can think about.”
“Really?! So you weren’t high?”
Nick snickered. “High?”
“Sun told me Rebecca put cannabis in her cupcakes—the ones you ate. Made me think you only kissed me ’cause you were off your tits.”
“I might’ve been, but that doesn’t change things.” Nick edged closer. “Tigs, I really fancy you. Have done ever since that afternoon in your shop. You took my breath away…”
Is this really happening?
Trying to stay grounded, Evie nervously sought out the elephant’s floppy ear, giving it a caress. “That wasn’t me. You were mid-panic attack.”
“No, before that, when I first saw you in the daisy dress. And then everything that followed—your concern, your kindness—made me like you even more.” His eyes dipped to her lips. “I think you’re amazing.”
Her insides felt all hot and gooey like molten lava cake. If Nick was knee-deep in the honesty pool, maybe she should wade in, too? Letting go of the soft toy, she ducked her chin, unsuccessfully hiding her huge grin. “You’re amazing, too. I’ve fancied you, like…forever.”
“Forever? Christ, looks like I have some catching up to do.” Smiling, Nick bent his neck to meet her gaze, his hair flopping forward. “So how ’bout it, eh? We’ll give this a go? You and me?”
Evie beamed back. “You want to date me?”
“Well, date and snog you senseless—if that’s all right?” He tucked the elephant under his arm.
“All right? Quickest wish granting EVER!”
Nick stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “Fancy that. Mine, too.”
Evie squealed inside as he leaned in and slid his lips over hers, kissing her slowly.
EIGHTEEN
EVIE
Now, Friday, July 21
“And then we hung around for another hour to make sure the orca didn’t head back to shore.” Evie looked across Fiona’s farmhouse table at Sunita. “Sorry, I know you’ve heard this a thousand times over the past twenty-four hours.”
“Yeah, but every time it makes me smile.” Sunita finished her can of ale. After a long catering shift of breakfast wraps and lunchtime soups, the friends were kicking back with sourdough pizza and alcoholic refreshments, spare Evie, who was Sunita’s designated driver.
“Any idea why it beached itself?” Fiona sipped her red Bordeaux, enjoying a rare child- and husband-free night after a day digging in the dirt at the Ness of Brodgar. Celebrating their love of all things stegosaurus, the girls (and Rupert) were at a ‘Dinosnores’ sleepover party at the Picky.
