“Good idea, but”—Evan rises to his feet—“this is something to include in a presentation to the entire group. Everyone in the house needs to know this.”
Although he always acts like our equal, there’s something about Evan, a sense of command, that makes me see him as our boss. At least my boss. He walks away and most of the others drift away.
Alex and I agree to walk around the garden tomorrow to see if he can spot anything I missed.
When we settle this, I look around; both Osian and Nora have gone.
Chapter Nineteen
At half-past six in the morning, I’m just out of the shower and still in my underwear when there’s a knock on my balcony door.
Snatching up a pashmina, I clamp and wrap it under my arms to cover my upper body, then go to the glass doors.
Osian instantly retreats and turns his head away. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to… erm… Sorry.” He folds his arms, and even from behind his body looks tense.
“What is it?” I ask, using the bottom of the floaty white curtain to cover my legs.
“Erm… take your time? We’ll have coffee whenever you’re ready.”
“Sure. I’ll come out in a sec.”
Still averting his eyes, Osian moves sideways and disappears past my windows.
Is Nora still asleep or did she sneak back to her own bed? Hers and Llewellyn’s.
The thought makes me angry. Llewellyn doesn’t deserve this. Even if his girlfriend is Nymphet Nora, Osian should have had better sense.
Of course, my logical mind tells me it’s Nora who is the cheater, hurting her boyfriend, but my anger is all for Osian. I have to give myself a very serious pep talk while drying my hair.
Stop dwelling on this, Evie. Get dressed.
Lemon-yellow dungarees, this morning, and a navy-blue tee and…
And this is none of my business. No matter how he chooses to behave, it’s not for me to judge. He’s not mine; we only met a couple of weeks ago.
By the time I’m dressed and ready, my feelings are back in their proper place. I decide to make the coffee myself on my snazzy machine and walk out on the balcony with two steaming mugs.
Osian is leaning over the balustrade, looking at the garden, but straightens up when he sees me. “I didn’t mean for you to bring the coffee.”
There’s a happy expression on his face. Not from seeing me. It was there before.
“You haven’t tried this new blend.” I hand him a mug.
When he takes a sniff, his eyes close and he groans; a deep chesty groan that feels too private for me to hear.
“This is very good.” He opens his eyes. “What is it?”
“Jamaican Blue Mountain.”
Is it bad that the look of bliss on his face makes me happy?
And also sad. I’m trying really, really hard not to think about him having a similar look, closed eyes and deep groan, last night in bed with Nora.
God, how could he spend the night with someone like her? Besides, this kind of high school drama can’t be good for the community spirit in Kendric House that Evan and Haneen are trying to create.
He’s in faded jeans this morning; they hug his hips and look as good on him as the black trousers last night. I wonder how quickly those came off last night, with her.
“Evie?” Osian is suddenly standing much closer to me.
