Page 132 of You Float My Boat

I took a deep breath before the anger bubbling through my veins turned into full-on rage. I was close though, especially when Violet was standing in front of me questioning my loyalty to her. Loyalty and feelings.

‘No, Violet. You’re wrong. That day I nearly punched Bitters, do you remember what else happened? We walked back and you asked me to trust you. Do you remember that?’

There was a tiny hesitation before she nodded.

‘Well, I do. I trust you. I’ve never not trusted you. Now you need to trust me.’

‘I do, I just … you loved her so much. I remember. I remember you loving her, and I remember when she broke your heart.’ One fat tear slid down her cheek but I managed to brush it away before it fell.

‘Loved,’ I repeated, wondering how many times I needed to before the message got through. ‘Loved. Past tense. I don’t love her now and haven’t for a long time. Years, in fact. Evie is so irrelevant to me now, unless she’s causing a problem for you, because you showed me that Evie Waters is nothing to me. That’s all this was about. Getting her to leave you alone. You’re the one I want, Violet Brooks. Please don’t let Evie ruin things between us,’ I begged, and I could sense the desperation in my tone. ‘It was less than twelve hours ago that I sat in bed with you and asked you to be my girlfriend.’

I thought I had her then. I thought I saw her eyes brighten, and maybe they did for a fraction of a second before she shook her head slowly. ‘You didn’t actually. Ibrought it up, and then you asked me to repeat it. The word girlfriend was never mentioned.’

‘Violet, come on. Of course I want you to be my girlfriend. You are my girlfriend for fuck’s sake.’

‘By default.’

‘What?’

‘I’m your girlfriend by default, because we decided we were going to see how it went. But we’ve never talked about it.’

My nostrils flared wide as I took another deep breath. ‘Violet, of course you’re my girlfriend.’

‘Actually, I’m a secret –’

‘You’re not a secret. Everyone knows,’ I snapped.

‘No, they don’t. Everyone who knew we were fake, still thinks we’re fake. Except Stella,’ she snapped back. ‘My brother doesn’t know.’

Never in a million years could I have predicted today would go so drastically wrong.

Not after this morning.

I also didn’t know Violet moonlighted for the debating team, because it was clear this wasn’t an argument I was going to win. She had a response for everything I said, and the fact that they were all valid made it all the more annoying.

But the only thing she was reallytrulycorrect about was Brooks. And there was a very simple fix to that problem, I just prayed she’d step in before he punched me.

‘Come on.’ I held my hand out.

‘Where are we going?’

‘To tell him. Let’s go.’

All this time Stella had been on the phone, and Iwasn’t sure if it was a coincidence that she hung up the exact same time I suggested we leave. But I wasn’t about to question it.

Instead of taking my hand, Violet walked next to me, Stella on her other side, and we made our way silently back down the path to the boathouse. I didn’t point out that Stella was about to get her wish of being present when Brooks was told, though the thought did ease my nerves a little.

On second thoughts, the nerves had simply been replaced by the gurgling nausea I had at the thought of losing Violet through my own stupidity.

I wasn’t going to lose her when I’d only just found her.

I don’t know how the three of us looked as we rounded the corner, but from the way Brooks’ arms were crossed over his chest, I’d say not great. Oz was standing next to him, the pair of them waiting for us like the parents of errant teenagers. I’d had enough of that when I wasactuallya teenager. The only plus side I could find was that the rest of the boys were nowhere to be seen, no doubt lured away with the promise of a cold pint to celebrate our win.

‘Care to explain what’s going on?’

I reached for Violet’s hand only for her to snatch it away. Okay … guess I deserved that. Unfortunately, everyone else caught it too. Brooks’ eyes narrowed a further degree, and I think Oz shook his head, but I was concentrating too hard on steadying my heart rate so I could get this out in one go.

‘Someone speak.’

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