Page 63 of Play On

I smile and remember how much Aimee liked Nicholas, but keep that to myself. My hope for my friend is that she will find her own version of Nicholas or Noah one day.

Her perfect cup of tea,I think happily.

Nicholas rises. “I’m going to work on some notes from the day. Oh, and I’d be happy to review your plans before you present them to Dad.”

“Oh yes, that would be fantastic. Thank you.”

He nods and exits the library, leaving me alone. I glance out the windows, and the rain is still coming down. I reach for my tea, taking another sip, and contentment settles over me.

My life was so different just a few weeks ago. My summer stretched out ahead, with nothing but days working in the gift shop and taking merchandise trips with Mum. I’d ride my horse. Walk the gardens. Come up with new ideas that I would discard myself or that other people would never let me take on because of my lack of follow through. I’d see my friends and hang out at the beach. My life was fun, but it was lacking in so many areas.

Now I look at how it’s changed.

I’m making plans for a career, and I’m devoted to completing any project I take on.

I’m renewing my friendship with Aimee and building new friends in Bella and Amelia.

Then there’s Noah.

He’s the one who has inspired me to be brave, both in trying to find a job in the art world and being brave enough to admit I messed up with him. To work past the fear, face him, and apologise for what I did. It’s like meeting him—the second time—has opened my eyes to things around me.

To make me believe I can not only have more, butdeservemore, too.

Anticipation ripples through me.

In two days, Noah will be here. We’re going to have our cinema date. I’ll get to spend time showing him Wintersmith Hall. We’ll go to the beach. Out to dinner. Walk the coast. Perhaps have a date with Nicholas and Amelia. I know our time will go by so fast, but I plan to make the most of every moment.

If things go the way I hope, by the end of his visit, we’ll be planning my next one to London.

And beyond.

Chapter Sixteen

Butterfly

“What do you think, Aimee? Which is better for a pub and cinema date?”

I hold up two outfits as she watches me from my phone via Connectivity Video Chat. Her blue eyes shift from one outfit to the other, then she bites on her lower lip as she carefully considers each one.

It’s Wednesday night, and Noah will be picking me up in about an hour to take me to dinner and a movie. Now I’m waiting for Aimee to help me make the very important decision of what to wear for my first real date with him.

Option number one is a new top I’ve never worn before. It’s a black apron top with ruffled straps and a zip up the back, and I would wear that with jeans and black strappy stilettos. The second option is a black crocheted cotton minidress.

“I like the top and jeans,” Aimee declares. “Save the dress for a nice dinner date.”

“Okay,” I say, setting the top down on my bed and going to my wardrobe and hanging the dress back up. I return to her, holding the cute little top up to my chest again.

“I love how that square neckline draws attention to your face,” she says. “And there’s something sweet—yet sexy—about those ruffles.”

“The top also exposes just a bit of my stomach, too,” I say. “Just a sliver before it hits the waistband of my jeans.”

Aimee grins. “Now that’s a nice way to torture him. Well done, Vi.”

I giggle. “Torturing him just a little is a good thing, right?”

“Torturing him alotis more like it, and yes, that’s a good thing! How are you going to wear your hair?”

“Down,” I say. “And I’m going with a red lip tonight.”

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