Definitely the necklace.
My brain, operating on a cocktail of caffeine and insomnia since the note appeared, immediately jumps to a conclusion.
Dark hair.
Dark eyes.
Just like the boy in the woods.
Could he…?
No.
That’s ridiculous.
The silent boy who used to trail like a stray puppy didn’t exactly scream future economics lecturer. Or assistant. Whatever.
But maybe…
Fourteen yearsisa long time, and people change.
‘Can I ask you something?’
Greg’s brows lift. ‘Of course.’
I hesitate, feeling ridiculous. What do I say? Did you happen to be a little kid I met one summer way backwhen? The one whose name I never knew, but have thought about for years.
Completely ridiculous.
And yet…
‘What do you think of frogs?’
Greg’s lips twist into a frown.
‘Frogs,’ he says.
‘Yes.’ I’m painfully aware that I sound off my head.
He studies me for an uncomfortably long time, looking like he’s ticking through his thoughts to make sense of my question.
‘I’ve never given them much thought,’ he says. ‘Slimy. Gross.’
Ah. That’s disappointing.
The boy in the woods had spent an entire day helping me fish frogs out of the stream and trying to find them suitable spouses.
He’d laughed when one of them jumped straight into my wellies. A sound that had made my childish heart sing.
Greg doesn’t look like someone who has tried to play an amphibian matchmaker.
‘So,’ he says, leaning a little closer. ‘What are you doing tonight?’
The corridor behind him feels far too empty as he takes a step towards me. I instinctively inch back. Greg’s gaze flicks downward again. Definitely to my tits.
‘I’mbusy,’ I say.
‘Are you?’
