Page 89 of Take the Plunge

I fake a smile and nod.

He presses his lips together and quirks his brow into an ‘I don’t believe you’ line.

I wave my hand in what I hope is an ‘I’ll talk to you later’ gesture. I’ve never been any good at the whole silent communication thing.

He nods, so maybe my gesture was good enough after all. Keeping his hand on my knee, he eats some pizza.

“The lake looks beautiful,” Halle says. “Is it safe to swim in?”

Kian glances at me. “Yes. We’ve been swimming in it since we were kids.” He’s animated and beautiful as he speaks, and for a moment, his eyes shine, reflecting the stars like they did the night we spent at the lake.

“Only in summer, though.” Rufus fakes another dramatic shiver.

“So, if we went soon, we could swim?” Halle asks.

Kian laughs. “I think that’s a hint.”

I’ll never get over how magical his laugh is or the way it makes my heart pitter-patter.

“Oh, no. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—” Halle covers her face with her hands.

“He was teasing.” Rufus shoots a glare at Kian. “I’m sure we can get up there before the end of the summer. You’re game, aren’t you, Jett?”

“Huh? Yes, of course.”

I focus on eating my pizza as they continue talking. Their conversation washes over me as I lose myself in thoughts of the future. Six weeks isn’t that long. Maybe I could go to Spain and visit Kian for a few days. Except I can’t. I can’t afford it. Well, maybe I could if I scrimped and saved, flew on the cheapest budget airline there is, and stayed in a hostel when I got there. But can I justify it? Would Kian even want me there, getting in the way because I’m needy? But a lot can happen in six weeks. Feelings can change. Hearts and minds can change.

“This has been great,” Kian says, breaking into my thoughts. “But I’m tired, and I’ve got an early start in the morning, so I’m going to bail.” He looks at me. “Shall we?”

“Define early,” Rufus says.

Kian smothers a yawn with his hand. “I’ll have to get up at five. We’re doing fieldwork tomorrow, but we’ve got to get to the Wirral to do it.”

“Why?”

“Because we’ll see different species of flora and fauna near Birkenhead than we will here, and I’m doing a course in biodiversity. You know, emphasis on the diversity?”

“But five?” Rufus looks aghast.

Kian yawns again. “We’re going by minibus, so I’ll get to nap on the way there.”

“I’ll stick to my office job.”

Kian stands. “It was lovely meeting you, Halle. Enjoy dinner with our parents tomorrow.”

Halle smiles. “Thank you.”

“Are you staying?” Rufus asks me.

“Uh, no.” Kian takes my hand and tugs me to my feet. “He’s mine.” He plasters himself against my side as he hugs my arm. “And I need cuddles.”

Rufus puts his hand up. “TMI.”

“Oh, so you don’t want to know what happened last time we were at the holiday house?”

Rufus glances at Halle. “Not right now, no.” His voice is stiff, with a hint of curiosity tugging at the edges.

Kian laughs and waves. “Later.”