Page 153 of You Float My Boat

She nodded.

‘First, why would you think we lost because of you?’ I held my hand up before she could interrupt. ‘Wait, let me get to the end. You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell Brooks sooner, I’m sorry about Evie, I’m sorry for the whole mess I created.’

She opened her mouth to speak, but I covered it with my hand. ‘Violet Brooks, I love you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone, and the past two weeks without you have been awful. I never want to be without you again. I should have said this a long time ago, but will you be my real girlfriend for real. One that everyone knows about?’

A smile broke across her face so quickly that even my cheeks ached from it. ‘Charlie Masterson, I thought you’d never ask.’

Stepping in, I tugged on her ponytail, tipping her head until her lips were directly below mine.

‘Are you ready for our first kiss?’

The tiny crease appeared on her nose, as it always did when she was confused, ‘But we already kissed –’

‘Not as my girlfriend, not as someone I officially like –’

She cocked her head, ‘You didn’t like me before? Huh.’

‘Shut up,’ I laughed, as a future of never getting a word in edgeways flashed before my eyes. A future of fun, so much fun and love. And non-stop talking. A future of Violet. ‘You know what I mean. Just shut up and let me kiss you.’

‘No,’ she shook her head, ‘because I’m going to kiss you.’

Unfortunately, neither of us got the chance for a kiss, because that was the exact moment all the parents decided to make an appearance. Mine, Violet’s, and Oz’s mum. As well as Gordon, who still seemed to be catching his breath.

But then I got a better idea. A much better idea.

Lacing our fingers together, I tugged Violet up to where everyone was standing.

‘Oh, darling,’ my mum cried, throwing her arms around me, ‘I’m so sorry about the race. You all fought brilliantly.’

‘Thanks, Mum,’ I replied, easing myself from her grip. ‘Hang on. I just need to do something.’

‘Charlie, what’s going on?’ Violet hissed, as I tapped her dad on the shoulder.

Timothy Brooks was exactly how Brooks would look in thirty years. Tall, broad, and with the type of smile that said he was up to no good. Except right now, as he glanced down to where I was holding Violet’s hand, he looked confused.

My eyes flicked between him and Jane, who was talking to Oz’s mum and only stopped when Tim nudged her hard in the ribs. Harder than he needed given the way she nearly fell into Daphne.

I cleared my throat. ‘Jane. Tim. I need to tell you something. I love your daughter.’

Violet mumbled something unintelligible next to me.

To be fair to them, after a few seconds of unblinking staring, they recovered surprisingly quickly.

‘And does she love you back?’ asked Tim, looking at Violet.

Thankfully she nodded. ‘Yes, I do. Very much.’

Jane’s head cocked, I could almost hear the whirring going on in her brain. Though it wasn’t quite figuring out what I thought it was figuring out.

‘Oh!’ she snapped her fingers, eventually, ‘That’s why you ate Buddy’s Easter Egg.’

‘Mum, Jesus!’

‘Wait? Wh …’ I turned to Violet, ‘Um, what? You ate dog chocolates?’

Gripping my shoulders she moved me away from our parents, though they’d already lost interest and were back talking among themselves. That was much easier than I’d expected.

‘It’s a long story. And you already said you loved me, you can’t take it back. No matter what.’

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