Page 102 of Oar Than Friends

‘Huh,’ my sister grunted, her fingers moving fast over her phone screen, ‘what did I say?’

‘That Kate is an excellent coxswain.’

‘Oh!’ Phoebe put her phone down and turned to us. ‘Yeah, you were so good the other day. We nailed the river. I’ve never made it along the course so quickly.’

Kate smiled softly. ‘Thank you. I appreciate you telling me.’

‘We’ll be there to cheer you both on,’ my mother laughed.

‘I’ll send you a Cambridge jersey.’

‘Please do, my dear.’

She was still smiling at my mother when Alex and Hector interrupted. Or rather their constantly growling stomachs did.

‘I’m cracking into the marshmallows. Who wants one?’

‘Yeah, make me one will you, Al?’ asked Phoebe who was back on her phone and didn’t bother looking up. Instead, my mother moved to help him before he set fire to something, likely himself.

Kate turned under my arms, her voice quiet, ‘Hey, you want to make s’mores with me?’

‘I would love to make s’mores with you.’ I laced my fingers through her hair until her head tipped back enough so I could kiss her delicately on the nose, and my heart suddenly punched against my ribcage so hard I thought it might have cracked. ‘Thank you, Kate Astley.’

She crooked her head as much as she could with me cupping her cheek. ‘What for?’

‘Just you. Everything. Being here and spending time with my family. I think this has been my favourite Christmas ever.’

‘Really?’

I nodded, ‘Yeah, I’ve always loved Christmas, but being home was always hard with my dad. I was worried Hector and Al wouldn’t enjoy it, but they’ve had such a great time too. And it’s everything to do with you.’

She reached up and stroked my cheek, ‘Oz …’

My heart was squeezing so tightly it was almost hard to breathe, ‘Can I tell you a secret?’

‘Of course.’

‘I don’t want to go back to Oxford, and have you at Cambridge.’

Her face fell, and her expression mirrored mine. ‘I know, me too. It sucks.’

‘Let’s spend tomorrow figuring out when we’re going to see each other? Because I can’t go a week without you, even over FaceTime.’

‘Yeah, that’s a great idea.’

As always the shorter strands of her hair had fallen loose from the tie and I wound them around my fingers ‘Can I tell you another secret?’

She nodded. I looked over at my family who were now too busy squabbling over marshmallows to overhear me.

‘I’ve fallen in love with you.’

Her bottom lip stuck onto her teeth, and I pulled it free.

‘Can I tellyoua secret?’ she asked.

I nodded slowly.

‘I’ve fallen in love with you too.’ Her face lifted up until her lips pressed against mine. ‘Happy New Year, Ozzy.’

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