Page 26 of Worth the Wait
Freddie groaned. “Oh, for f—course she has.”
“She’s already ordered tarot cards. Says she saw a blue aura around the postman and that means she’s aligned with the spirit world now.”
Freddie stared at the ceiling trying to summon strength from the gods. “Do you think we can get her banned from Etsy?”
“Not unless you want a hex put on you.”
“Might be worth it.”
Piper snorted. “But in other news. Have you heard who’s back in town?”
She couldn’t be talking about Nathan. “Who?”
“Nate.”
Ah. So, she was.Jesus.News in Worthbridge travelled faster than broadband.
“Yeah. I know. How doyouknow?”
“Mandy.”
Freddie wrinkled his brow.
“Cook?” Piper reached for her phone. “Married Lenny from your old football team. Works the fryer atOh My Cod!. Her eldest’s in Tilly’s class, so she’s in the WhatsApp group. She sent a pic last night. Nate’s arse leaving the chippy.”
She unlocked her phone with a swipe and handed it over. Freddie blinked at the screen. The photo was, technically, illegal. But was also undeniablyhot.
Nathan, the back of him anyway, caught mid-stride, running shorts clinging to an arse that looked like it could break heartsandfurniture, with his T-shirt soaked through, plastered to a torso that hadn’t seen the inside of a takeaway in years. And across the top of the image, in bold group chat energy, was the caption:The one that got away’s back in townwith three heart-eyes emojis, a scorching hot face emoji and a flame.
Freddie handed the phone back. “Classy.”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t zoom in.”
He didn’t dignify that with a response.
“So…What do you think about that?”
Freddie glanced at her. “I think I should caution Mandy for a creepshot.”
“Miaow. Someone’s jealous.”
“Fuck off. It’s been a long time since I had to watch Mandy snog him behind the youth club bins.”
Piper barked a laugh. “You were such a moody little shit after that.”
“Fuck off.”
“Even to me. You didn’t talk to either of us for a week. AndIhad a crush on him first, remember?”
Of course, Freddie remembered. How could he not? Half the bloody town had fancied Nathan Carter. He was golden. Beautiful. Untouchable. Even the straight lads got flustered around him. Too much eye contact, too many lingering handshakes. Freddie had fallen early and hard and had spent most of his teenage years pretending he hadn’t.
Piper nudged his arm. “I noticed his thighs before you did.”
“I doubt that.”
Piper tilted her neck with that sympathetic look. “Butyou’renot over him, though.”
Freddie said nothing.
