Page 54 of Almost Ours

“Yeah.”

Josh nods to Brooke, then to me, another small, quick look, one that lands and lingers for a fraction longer than it should. Then the boys turn and head for the door. Only Josh stops just before he’s about to head out. “You should wear them.” He turns to me and points. “The bunny ears. They look cute.” There’s nothing shy about him as he grins. “If you were doubting it. I don’t think anyone will suspect they’re part of your foreplay.”

I feel my cheeks blaze. “They’re not part of my foreplay!”

“I don’t believe you, Ruby. But I will be sure to keep it in mind.”

“Yeah, I bet you will.”

“Oh,” he lets out a soft chuckle. “Try and avoid the lake if I’m not with you, will you?” Then the good-looking prat winks at me, making my knees knock, before they’re gone and out the door. Leaving my cheeks hot enough to rival the neon paint in Abi's basket.

“Alright,” Abi’s voice is pitched high, her free hand clutching my arm. “He is so into you.”

“Who is?”

“Josh!”

I gape at her. “No, he isn’t!”

“Yes! The chemistry was flying between you.”

“We barely spoke?”

Brooke snorts. “You barely took your eyes off each other too.”

“Oh, come on.”

“Eurgh!” Abi groans. “Why is everyone having sex but me?”

“I’m not having sex!”

“Yet.” Abi frowns. “You’re not having sex with that stud yet.”

Chapter Fourteen

Saturday

October 17th 2015

Joshua:

The noise in the pub seems to swell around me as I enter. The place is cramped, low-ceilinged, full of heat and overlapping voices. Small wooden stools sit unevenly around short tables, legs scraping every time someone moves. The carpet is dark red and worn flat in the places where people walk the most.

Every football team is here. Firsts, Seconds, Thirds, all of them crowded into the same narrow space, shoulders bumping, glasses clinking, everyone talking over each other.

Ewan is across the room, shouting something at a group of lads I don’t recognise. He could make friends with a lamppost, that one.

Oscar is at the far table with the other Captains, leaning back on his stool, smiling at something Axel Fitz is saying, with Cam nowhere in sight.

I turn to the bar and order a beer, feeling wildly out of place. The bartender fills the glass, foam creeping to the edge, and I watch it like an idiot, feeling unbelievably uncomfortable. James could talk to anyone. He’d make friends with the bloke next to him within thirty seconds. I was always the quiet one. Still am, I guess.

Cam rocks up out of nowhere and leans his elbow on the bar beside me. “I’ll have what he’s having.”

The bartender gives a quick nod as he hands me my pint and starts pouring Cam’s, the tap hissing softly.

“You on the piss tonight?” He tilts his head toward my glass.

I look at the glass too. “I’m not really a drinker.”