Page 95 of You Float My Boat

I take it back. It wasn’t devilish, it was thoroughly shit stirring.

‘What?’ This time the annoyance and the glare were all mine, so much so I barely noticed when the heavy arm was draped over my shoulder. ‘Hugo. What is he talking about?’

‘See, Brooks. Don’t think Violet’s too happy about you making decisions for her. Even less than I am at the news I couldn’t ask you on a date.’

I was too busy glaring at Hugo to tell Bitters I had no intention of dating him. ‘Hugo. What is he talking about?’

‘Come on, Violet. What d’you say?’

Ignoring Bitters again, my eyes narrowed on my brother, though I knew it wouldn’t make the slightest bit of difference, just like I knew he had no intention of answering me. My brother was more stubborn than a mule. Sometimes it was like playing a game of chicken – who’d give in first – especially when he raised my glare with pursed lips and a clenched jaw.

‘Not sure she’s too happy you’re dictating her dating life, mate,’ Bitters added with a deep chuckle.

‘Will you shut up.’ I shrugged his arm off me, just as the doors to the gym opened and out walked a small group of the boys, including the one I’d been waiting for. The only one I wanted to see.

The one whose face was becoming more thunderous the closer he got.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Nothing,’ I snapped, hoping the deep frown and the large step away from my brother and his idiot crewmate would get the message across to them and Charlie, that I was not happy about whatever was happening right now. Not to mention, it was far too cold to be standing outside arguing.

‘Just trying to convince Brooks to let me take Violet on a date once you two are done with your project.’

I’d never been tempted to punch someone in the face before, but Bitters was veering dangerously close to that line. I’d never seen Charlie in a bad mood, there was always a smile nearby. But from the expression he was currently wearing it was clear that if I told him I wanted to punch Bitters, he’d hold him still for me.

‘What?’ Charlie growled, the lines on his forehead deepening.

‘To be clear, I date who I want and my brother has no say in it,’ I snapped, daring Hugo to reply.

‘Great. How about Valentine’s Day then?’ Bitters barked out a loud laugh, enormously pleased with this super fun game he’d just invented, and a couple of guys in the audience we seemed to have acquired chuckled along with him.

On any other day, and if he’d found something elseto annoy my brother with, I’d have captained the team. But seeing as I was the subject, and now couldn’t tell who was more annoyed – Charlie or me – I couldn’t shut it down quick enough. I’d barely glanced at Charlie since he’d arrived, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t feel his eyes on me. And it wasn’t in a good way. The way I was getting used to. The way he managed to make me feel like I was the only girl he’d ever seen.

I spun around to Bitters, ‘No!’

He clearly wasn’t the type of guy who liked to take no for an answer, however, because I could see him on the verge of replying when Charlie interrupted.

‘Shut the fuck up, will you? She said no. Stop being a dick.’

Wisely, for a guy who seemed to have limited brain cells, Bitters stayed silent. Though I still wanted to punch that smirk right off his stupid face. No one said anything for a good ten seconds, which thankfully lost the attention of ninety-five per cent of our audience who presumably had left to find warmth. Sensible.

‘Violet, let’s go,’ ordered Charlie, and stormed off so quickly, he was down the path before I even realized.

‘Violet –’

‘We’ll talk about this tomorrow,’ I snarled at Hugo, jogging off to catch up with Charlie, but not before I noticed Oz standing to the side, witness to the entire interaction. Or the way his eyes flicked from a rapidly distant Charlie to mine with a frown that had nervous knots twisting in my belly.

He’d covered a surprising amount of ground by the time the moon reappeared from behind a cloud and Ispotted him in the distance, turning down an alleyway. Must be those long legs, good job mine were too.

‘Charlie … Charlie, slow down.’ I jogged a little further, grabbing his arm. ‘Charlie.’

He stopped dead and turned. For a split second the rage shadowing his face had me stepping back, but it vanished just as quickly. When he refocused on me, his expression held confusion. It was almost as though he hadn’t realized I was there.

‘Didn’t you hear me calling?’

He dropped his head with a shake.

‘Are you okay?’

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