Page 30

‘Bryn?’

I turn in surprise. Ryan stands a few feet away, one hand shoved into the pocket of his jeans, the other holding a takeaway coffee. He looks almost exactly the same as he did the other day: tall, with a lazy smile and that same confident energy he carried back in school.

‘Hey,’ he says, his smile widening when he realises it’s definitely me.

‘Ryan.’ I smile. ‘Hi.’

Elodie’s eyes flick between us immediately, interest sparking. ‘And hello to you, too,’ she says dryly. ‘I’m standing right here, you know.’

‘Hey, Elodie,’ Ryan says sheepishly. ‘Tess.’ She offers him a polite smile. He glances back at me, and I can feel the weight of his attention. ‘How is it being back in town?’

‘We’re on a very important mission,’ Elodie cuts in, nudging my arm.

Ryan’s brows lift. ‘Oh yeah?’

‘Searching for a birthday dress for yours truly.’

He laughs softly. ‘Right. Serious business then.’ His gaze flicks back to me. ‘Are you in town for long?’

‘Not really sure yet.’

Ryan nods slowly, his gaze lingering just a little longer than necessary. ‘Well,’ he says, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘I’m still keen for that catch up sometime. Coffee, dinner … something like that. If you’d want to.’

‘Oh. Sure,’ I say. ‘That sounds nice.’

Elodie clears her throat loudly. ‘Okay,’ she says, looping her arm through mine. ‘Back to the mission.’

Ryan laughs. ‘I’ll see you around.’

‘Bye,’ I say.

We walk on, and the second we’re out of earshot Elodie grabs my arm.

‘Excuse me,’ she hisses. ‘Ryan is so cute! Please tell me you’re into him.’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Umm … hello? Did you see those muscles? Those eyes? Talk about tall, dark, and handsome. Ryan still has a crush on you after all this time. So cute.’

Tess lets out a quiet laugh beside us. ‘He was definitely flirting with you,’ she says. ‘He is sweet.’

I shake my head, but I can’t stop the small smile tugging at my mouth.

Elodie points ahead suddenly. ‘Oooh. That place.’

The shop has darker lighting than the others, the window display filled with black lace, leather dresses, and an array of dark, gothic-looking accessories.

‘Yes,’ she says approvingly. ‘This is exactly the shop I’ve been looking for.’

Inside, it’s even edgier than it appeared. Clothes hang in rows of deep reds, blacks, velvet, and silk. My fingers brush along the fabrics as we move through the racks.

‘Elodie, this is very you,’ Tess says, holding up something sparkly, possibly the only sparkly dress in this shop, which is why I’m a little surprised Elodie chose it. She does have a darker vibe about her, but she has always loved flashy, sparkly dresses. Anything that draws the eye.

Elodie wrinkles her nose. ‘Too much sparkle, if there is ever such a thing.’ Then she stops suddenly. ‘Oh my God.’

I look up to see her holding a dress, shaking it in my direction. It’s a deep, rich red that seems to glow under the soft lighting.

‘You have to try this,’ she says. ‘It’s so you.’