Page 53 (1/2)

PROLOGUE

Scotland Street Edinburgh

I think I’d worn Gran out withon and on about Ewan Her eyes kept fluttering closed and popping open and she’d mutter, “Oh dear,” every once in a while My boyfriend, the aforeh soon to pickout on Gran’s front stoop and letting her take a much-needed nap

When I kissed her papery cheek and said good-bye, Gran offerede house, I hesitated awhen Granddad was alive, but ever since he’d passed away three years ago, the house er and colder Whenever I could, as I had done last night, I’d travel from my parents’ house in our sht, sometimes even the whole weekend Since Gran’s house had always felt more like home than my parents’ did, I took any opportunity I could to stay with her

However, I couldn’t stay the whole weekend because Ewan’s band was playing a gig tonight and he wanted me there He was the band’s bassist I was really excited to see hi to chat him up after the show, like my friend Caro warned me would probably happen

Shutting Gran’s door, I turned and walked down a few steps to stand near the bottom of the stoop so Ewan could see me He was seventeen, a few years older than otten his driver’s license He liked any old excuse to drive his wee, banged-up Punto, so I didn’t feel bad about dragging his arse all the way to Edinburgh to coet me

Digging throughfortoconcrete behind me and I jerked around in surprise

My eyes instantly collided with those of a boy

He stood on the stoop of the house next door, a few steps farther up thanakin to shock As I took him in, I felt my heart rate start to pick up

His strawberry blond hair was slightly too long and disheveled, but he worked it becauseI sucked in a breath, suddenly feeling a flutter of nerves in row them like him at ly light green color of his eyes became clearer They were “” eyes that I felt like I could drown in, and it occurred to ht When our eye contact finally broke, it was only because he was distracted by my hair

Self-conscious, I tucked a strand behind my ear The boy’s eyes followed thetiet compliments on it This meant I was really unsure about other people’s reaction to e it I’d inheritedwe had in common

It hung down to just above er, not strawberry blond It was closer to auburn, but even then it was just a hint too red to be auburn When the sun or artificial light hit my hair, Gran said it was like a halo of fire around my head

The boy’s eyes returned to mine