Page 60 of Play On

“Eleven-thirty, if you don’t mind eating then.”

“I’ll check with Nicholas, but I’m positive he won’t care.” Amelia glances down at her phone. “I suppose I should get going. I’ll text you in a bit about lunch.”

“Sounds good.” I say goodbye and watch her walk out the door.

I smile to myself. I like Amelia a lot. She’s a good person, and I love the fact that she’s bringing out a new side of Nicholas, too.

As in the adoring, I’m-obsessed-with-my-girlfriend side of my twin.

Okay. I glance back at the clock hanging over the door. The estate opens in about twenty minutes.

So that’s time I can brainstorm ideas for an art event I can hold here on the grounds.

I know I’m still in the ideas stage—and I also know this is where I excel. I’m great at ideas.

It’s the follow through that is … lacking.

This time it will be different,I think with determination as I open a blank Word document.

And I can’t wait to get started.

Chapter Fifteen

The CV

I sit in the library as the rain pelts against the windows. The estate is closed, and I’ve tucked myself away to do some work. My laptop is open, I have a lovely cup of tea by my side, and the rumble of thunder and cracks of lightning provide a nice ambiance to my environment.

I pause and look at my screen. I’ve started two different documents. One with a list of all the skills I’ll need to demonstrate on my CV for the type of jobs I want to apply for. The other file has all kinds of ideas for things I can do at Wintersmith Hall to gain experience in those areas.

I bite my lip. It all hinges on my dad. He doesn’t like ideas that are not his own. I think he’s very threatened when Nicholas wants to take on something, that his son will suddenly replace him, which is so absurd, it’s laughable.

I don’t think he’ll be as threatened by me,I muse.After all, I can’t inherit the estate.

Because I’m not Nicholas.

Guilt surges through me. How can I do this, knowing Nicholas is hamstrung on every single thing he’d like to do? How would my twin feel if I ask to do something and immediately get Dad and Mum’s blessing to pursue it, when everything he does is shot down? Granted, I would never ask for somethinglike holding an exhibit in the Portrait Gallery, which I think Dad would veto regardless of who suggested it.

But if I get to do a little “Art in the Garden” kind of event, would that hurt Nicholas?

I cringe. I hope not. If it were to hurt him, I wouldn’t do it. I love my brother too much to cause him any kind of pain or remind him of preferential treatment I’d be receiving.

Buzz!

I glance down at my phone and smile when I see it’s a message from Aimee:

When are you coming back to London? I already miss your freckled face.

I smile and text her back:

Hopefully soon, if things go well with Noah this week. But who knows? Things could all go wrong when he chooses his pick and mix, and then I’ll have to break his heart.

I hit send. I move back to my documents, and within minutes, Aimee has replied:

HA! With a body like that, I would STRONGLY advise you to overlook any errors in pick and mix selection and PICK HIM. Ha!!!!

I decide to tease her back:

Well, if we’re going off this criteria, shouldn’t you be all over Kieran Doring?

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