Page 35 of You Float My Boat

And not kissing meant I’d never smell the rich dark floral and cedar scent she drenched herself in without thinking of this exact moment.

Every cell in my body screamed at me to close the distance. Instead, I inched back.

‘Is she still there?’ I asked, reluctantly loosening my grip in her hair, though not fully. I wasn’t ready to let go.

Her eyes flicked to where she’d spotted Evie, but shook her head. ‘No.’

I should have moved farther away, I should have dropped my hand, but as the opportunity had presented itself, I raked my fingers through her violet strands. They really were as soft as they looked.

I looked up to find her watching me twist the ends around my index finger, because I didn’t seem to ever be able to stop myself. ‘I like this colour. It suits you.’

‘Thank you,’ she replied softly, and I couldn’t help but notice it got me a bigger smile than the one she’d shot Gordon’s way when he’d said the same thing.

My dick noticed too, and this time I stepped back.

‘No, thankyou, Violet. I really appreciate you helping me, I don’t know how I’d manage without you.’ I paused, my eyes catching the time on the church clock. Bollocks. I was soooo late, yet I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay. ‘Um … I need to hustle to my next class, but I owe you massively. You saved me twice in five minutes. We need to add rehearsing lines to the rules. Quid pro quo. I’ll text you about it later, okay?’

I swear I caught a tiny hesitation, but it disappeared into a smile before I could think more about it. ‘Sure.’

‘Great.’ I took one quick look around.

I couldn’t see Evie, but I’d learned long ago she could be lurking around any corner.

But this time when I leaned in to kiss Violet’s cheek, I wasn’t sure whether that was in case Evie was watching or because I couldn’t not.

And if I really wanted to know the answer.

7. Violet:

(There is no emoji more confusing than the winky face)

Charlie:

Well?

Violet:

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