Page 16 of You Float My Boat

‘Probably. I’ve never tried though.’ I tapped the pages again hoping to move the subject away from anything which would likely get me kicked out of Oxford, and probably invited to do some prison time. ‘Anyway, you can see on the grids where we both have study periods and where our classes overlap. And this one here is the class which Evie is attending, thankfully you have free time here.’

‘Wow, you’ve really thought this through,’ she muttered under her breath.

I just about stopped myself from telling her that I definitely hadn’t thought it through at all.

‘This Evie class is tomorrow.’

I nodded. ‘Yeah.’

‘And you want me to come and meet you afterwards?’

‘Yeah, if that’s still okay.’ I pushed my hands deep into my jogging bottoms suddenly feeling so awkward it was all I could do to drop my head with a pitiful shake. ‘Sorry, I know it’s short notice. I should have texted youthis week. I was trying to figure out how this is going to work, especially with your brother.’

‘Huey?’ Her perfectly shaped brows dropped in a frown. ‘What’s he got to do with this?’

‘Um … well, you’re his little sister.’

I’d hoped she’d catch my drift, but her frown only deepened. ‘And?’

‘I haven’t told him we kissed.’ I winced, and checked my watch, cursing Coach. I definitely wasn’t going to have enough time. ‘Look, are you around tonight? I’m so sorry, Coach called us in early and I wanted to have more time to talk. Can you meet me in the Blue Oar, we can go over all the rules of how we’re going to do this?’

‘Rules?’

‘Yeah. Fake Dating Rules.’ I replied, remembering once more about the way she’d slipped her hand in my back pocket. ‘You seemed much more adept last week at how we should behave, but I have a few thoughts we can discuss. Also, it’ll help things with Brooks. I’m sure he won’t care that much about us kissing, because it’s not real or anything, but I still feel like I should have told him. I just can’t figure out how to broach it. Maybe I just need to take a leaf out of your book and use it as an opportunity to brush up on my acting skills. You know, for when I’m filling out my tights.’

I grinned, but it wasn’t a smile which flashed across her face.

‘Of course.’ She nodded slowly. ‘We’re acting. It’s not real. Rules are a great idea. We can make it believable, and I promise you, my brother won’t care.’

‘Great. Thank you, Violet, seriously. I really appreciateyou giving up your time for me. And if there’s anything I can do … I can’t get on stage, but I can definitely help learn lines with you.’

She chuckled, ‘You might regret saying that.’

I shook my head, ‘Nope. You can hold me to it. I promise. See you at eight?’

‘Yep, I’ll see you, and let’s not sit so close to the fire this time.’ She grinned.

I bent down to unlock my bike. ‘Deal.’

Sister or not. Real or not. Something about the way Violet was looking at me as I cycled off had my heart beating faster than usual.

4. Charlie:

(Charlie and Violet’s Rules for Fake Dating)

Glass of wine for Violet. Check.

Sparkling water for me (plus another for Violet). Check.

Far away from the fire. Check.

I lined up the edges of my notebook so they were perpendicular to the edges of the table, placed my pen on top and sat back to watch the door.

I’d never left training quite so fast. I’d showered, dressed and cycled to the Blue Oar in less than twenty minutes, and still managed to get here before Violet. It wasn’t quite eight yet, however, so she wasn’t technically late but I wasn’t holding onto the belief that she’d be on time.

Truth be told I kind of liked that I’d arrived first. I wasn’t quite as on edge as I’d been last week waiting for her, and this time I’d get to enjoy seeing her hurry in, remove 90 per cent of her clothing and drop down into the seat I’d moved so it was next to mine, instead of across the table.

I’d made the reasoning that couples sit next to each other, but really I just wanted to be close to her. There was something about being in her presence that made my entire nervous system relax.

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