“Who knows? He might be too busy for a party. Are you really going to let him stop you from doing what you want? You haven’t before.”
True. I wanted to go to Eilidh’s wrap party. It sounded fun. And I missed her. Although we spoke every week, I hadn’t seen her in over a year. She came to Paris for a few daysat the beginning of last year, but that was the last time we’d seen each other in person.
I’ll be there. Just tell me where and when.
Mum chuckled as she got out of the car. “I take it you said yes.”
“I did.”
“Good. Guess you need to book some flights.”
My phone buzzed.
Ahhhhhhhh! I can’t wait to hug you and squeeze your gorgeous fucking face!!!
I burst into laughter. Eilidh was worth the risk of seeing Lewis, I promised myself. Even as my gut suddenly felt like an entire kaleidoscope of butterflies had taken up residence in it.
Four
CALLIE
NINE YEARS AGO
“Ican’t believe your parents are trusting you two to camp together,” Michael said with a knowing smirk.
“Uh, correction, they’re trusting us all to camp together … and they’re trusting Lewis. Not me.”
Our friends laughed as Lewis shook his head with a wry smile. He knew it was true. While my boyfriend had been a total gentleman the past year we’d been dating, I was the one leading the way with the physical part of our relationship. Lewis was all about taking it slow because he didn’t want me to feel rushed or to regret anything we did together.
“Ourparents are cool withus,” Michael’s girlfriend, Lana, reminded him.
“And ours are trusting me and Fyfe,” Eilidh threw in as she helped Lewis’s best friend build his tent.
Fyfe looked up in panic. “Eh, what?”
I bit my lip against a smile as Lewis huffed, “You and Fyfe aren’t dating, Eils.”
“Only because Fyfe is stubborn.” She stood up, hand on her hip. Tumbles of black curls fell down her back, the dark hair and olive skin only making the blue of her eyes more striking. Even at fourteen, Eilidh Adair was a beauty. But still too young.
“And completely uninterested in you,” Lewis informed her gently.
“Lethimsay that.”
Fyfe’s expression said he wanted to melt into the soil beneath our feet.
“He’s dating Carianne.” I gave Eilidh a chiding look because Carianne was my friend.
“And where is Carianne?” Eilidh asked, all sass.
“Herparents don’t trustme.” Fyfe scowled as he put the last peg in his tent. “I’m going to get firewood.”
“I’ll come with.” Eilidh followed him.
“Eilidh—”
I grabbed Lewis’s arm, stopping him. “Leave her. She really doesn’t bother Fyfe.”
“Until the day she really doesn’t bother him.” Michael waggled his brows.
