Page 21 of You Float My Boat

She opened her mouth to answer, but instead of her usual dulcet tones a muchmuchdeeper voice sounded out.

‘Hi, mate.’

I glanced up to find Bitters – one of my nosier crewmates – peering down at me with an ill-concealed grin. In fact, it wasn’t ill-concealed. He hadn’t made the slightest effort to conceal it at all. It was right there out in the open for everyone to see exactly why he was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Of all my crewmates to discover me in the pub with Violet on my lap, it had to be him. Of course it bloody did. Though on the plus side I wouldn’t have to break it to anyone else – including Brooks – because they’d all know I was dating someone before Violet had gotten off my lap.

Bitters moved faster than a rocket at take-off when it came to gossip.

‘What’s going on here, then?’

In an ideal situation I would have preferred a little more notice before going public. Especially as the ink hadn’t yet dried on our agreement, but at least the notebook was shut.

‘Just taking a study break.’

Bitters raised one thick eyebrow. ‘A study break?’

I waited a beat, not daring to look at Violet in case I bottled it, and I could sense she was waiting to see what I would do. Here goes nothing.

‘Yes, a study break. With my girlfriend, Violet.’ Before Bitters could jump in with one of his trademark borderline inappropriate comments I added, ‘Violet, meet Otis Bitterson, one of my crewmates. Bitters, Violet.’

‘Only my grandmother calls me Otis. Call me Bitters.’ He thrust his hand out for Violet to shake, and she took it.

‘Hello.’

He turned to me, though I didn’t fail to notice he was yet to release Violet’s hand. ‘Now I understand why you rushed off from training.’

‘I didn’t want to be late,’ I answered truthfully.

I glanced from him to Violet and back, expecting Bitters to realize she was Brooks’ sister any second. But we were now two minutes in, and it didn’t appear he was going to recognize her any time soon. I couldn’t decide if that was a good thing. It probably was.

‘Anyway,’ he thumbed behind him, ‘I should go and join my friends. Nice to meet you, Violet. Charlie, see you bright and early.’

‘See you, mate,’ I replied, watching him walk off,slowly taking one backward step after another. The second Violet looked away his two thumbs shot up and he mouthed ‘NICE!’ before disappearing out of sight.

‘Sothat’sBitters.’

‘Yes. Do you know him?’

Violet shook her head. ‘No, just heard Huey talking about him.’

‘I thought he might have known you, but I guarantee he’ll have texted everyone before he’s even sat down.’

In fact, I thought I could already feel my phone vibrating with messages.

‘Oh well, like my granny used to say, “better to rip it off all at once than do it slowly”.’

‘Is that what we’ve done? Ripped it all off.’

‘Yes,’ she laughed, her deep gravelly tone warming my skin until I questioned whether we were still too close to the fire. ‘Do you need me to kiss it better for you?’

I stayed quiet. I figured it was better all round if I didn’t answer that.

5. Violet:

(That Instagram life)

‘This pic is cute. You make a great fake couple, plus you look hot. Both of you.’

I spun around, almost garrotting myself on the cord for my curling irons in the process, to find Stella standing in my doorway, scrolling through her Instagram with a grin you could have seen from space. Or … you know … a significant distance.

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