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Sunita chuckled. “Sounds like you.”
“It’s nice to feel wanted and liked—”
“And fucked senseless. It’s what you’ve been dreaming of for ages!”
“I know, but…” Evie played for time, adjusting her Swatch as I wish he was more like Nick flashed like a Piccadilly Circus billboard in her head. “He barely talks.”
“Talks?” Sunita swiveled her empty beer can into the sand.
“Yeah—and I don’t mean post-blow job ramblings about windfarms and solar panels.”
“What’s wrong with you? That’s hot!” A giggle flew through Sunita’s lips, fanning Evie’s smoldering frustration.
“It’s so not.” She snatched the silver Evie, pulling the charm to the front of her neck. “It’s great he’s passionate about his course, but sometimes it feels like he knows nothing about me.” She sighed, exasperated. “He never asks about my hobbies, where I might go for uni. He just assumes I’ll follow him to Strathclyde in two years.”
“Hmm, so what you’re saying is”—Sunita touched Evie’s knee—“Mr. Moodie isn’t the most chatty?”
Finally, she gets it. “If we never talk, I’ll never know him. Not properly. Sun, how can I fall in love with someone I don’t even know?”
“But if you’re screwing, who needs talk?”
“Honestly?” Evie addressed the heavens. “Why do I bother?”
Lifting her hand, Sunita’s amused glint dimmed. “Look, it’s not your fault if the feelings aren’t there.”
Torn, Evie met her eyes. “So I should break it off?”
“Oh no. It’s still early days.”
“It’s been a year, Sun—a year. I don’t know what to do. I always thought I’d love my first boyfriend.”
“Who says you won’t? Give it more time, especially now you’re banging each other.”
Evie shot her a sidelong glance. “Nicely put…” She let out a mournful sigh and surrendered to a troublesome thought that wouldn’t quit. “Maybe I should’ve waited.”
“And be the last virgin in our class? Eves, you did yourself a favor. People were beginning to talk.”
“What? Who was?”
Ignoring Evie’s question, Sunita leaned in. “Good boyfriends are hard to find, and Stu adores you. Plus, he’s old enough to buy us booze”—she rammed her point home with an annoying finger poke—“so no binning him just yet!”
Is this as good as it’s gonna get? Evie’s shoulders sank along with her heart. Maybe Sunita was right. Maybe love would bloom if she stopped being so picky. I’m gonna try.
“At least wait till you orgasm with him.” Sunita smirked. “I promise, coming will change everything.”
“Well…this looks intense.” Nick’s voice wafted over their heads.
Evie sucked in a breath.
“What’d I miss?” he asked.
Oh god, what’d he hear? A flush crept across her cheeks as she yanked up the neckline of her top. “Uhh…” Painting on a tight smile, Evie turned around.
Nick looked as gorgeous as always, but also older, more sculpted, his to-die-for cheekbones more high-flying runway model than adolescent heartthrob. Nineteen looked great on him.
Gulping back a captivated gasp, Evie’s grin burst wide open. “You’re here!” she cooed, her effusive glee earning a frown from Sunita.
“Surprise!” Hiding something bulbous and heavy under his turquoise bowling shirt, which finally fit him properly, Nick rocked back on his heels, his buzzy smile matching her joy. “I know yesterday’s text said otherwise, but we managed to escape Mum and Dad’s bickering after all.”
