Shadows of the Past by H.M. Ward, Stacey Mosteller Page B

off.”
    I turn and walk the other way, pulling out the box of truffles as I go. I pop one in my mouth and moan. The woman walking next to me laughs.  
    “Those are so good, but they go straight to my hips,” she says regretfully. She hurries off before I can reply.
    I look at the little box in my hands and decide I should walk home so I can eat a few more.

CHAPTER 15

    The next day, he's the first to text.
    - You up yet?
    - I’m awake, not up.
    His answering text makes me giggle.
    - … Not cool
    I don't immediately answer back I'm laughing so hard, and he quickly texts again.
    - Breakfast?
    - Where?
    - Let me pick you up. What's your address?
    Staring down at my phone, I try to decide if giving it to him is a smart thing to do. He must sense this because he sends another message when I don't reply.
    - I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
    - What are we 12?
    - Come on...you know you want to.
    Okay, obviously we are twelve. I text him the address before I can change my mind and he sends one final message.
    - See you soon, American Girl.
    Crap! I haven't even gotten out of bed yet. I run into the bathroom and get blasted with cold water and brush my hair, but that’s about it. I pull on clothes and run out into the kitchen. This morning is even more of a rush than yesterday, and by the time I leave my room, he is here.
    Emily is standing in the living room gathering her things, and when I enter, she lifts an eyebrow at me.  
    "Thanks for the heads up, Kayla."
    Oops. I probably should have mentioned he was coming. My face heats. I was too preoccupied with getting ready.  
    "Sorry, I didn’t think he’d get here this fast."  
    Oliver laughs and I turn to glare over at where he's sprawled on our couch like he's been here a hundred times. His long legs are stretched out, his arms resting on the back of the sofa, and he looks almost edible in a long sleeved blue Henley and designer jeans.  
    I feel almost frumpy in my own well-worn clothes. London isn't a cheap city to live in, especially since I keep comparing things to how much it’d cost at home.  
    "No worries," Emily says in a chipper tone. “I’ll be sure to return the favor when your hair looks like a rat’s nest that was taken over by a pack of rabid pigeons.” She waves her fingers through the air, making flighty bird movements.
    I laugh out loud; I can’t help it. No matter how much I mess up, it never seems to bother her.  
    “I wish I was more like you.”
    She walks by and touches the tip of my nose.  
    “Boop. No, you don’t. You like guys, remember?” She laughs and disappears down the hall.
    Oliver sits up and looks at me. We get lost in time, staring at each other for who knows how long. He breaks the connection first, looking around the flat appraisingly.  
    "This is a nice place."
    "Yeah, it's Emily's. I'm lucky to have found her since I don't really make enough to live in this area—or anywhere else in London." I immediately regret the words because it just shows how far apart we are. I'm Cup O' Noodles while he's champagne chocolates.  
    Sensing my discomfort, or maybe he just realizes what I already know, he stands and holds out a hand for mine.  
    "Come on. I'm hungry."  
    When I place my hand in his, he pulls me out of the flat and leads me down the street where his car is waiting. He holds the door open for me to get in before sliding in beside me. The driver pulls away from the curb, taking us to wherever Oliver's planning to eat, and I can only hope it isn't too expensive. I don’t want him paying for me every single time. I never even saw the bill for tea. He must have paid it before we arrived.
    The car pulls up in front of a six-story white building. Oliver gets out of the car before reaching in to help me out, keeping my hand in his as he walks inside the huge building. "The lift is over here."  
    He pulls me behind him into the elevator and inserts a key to start it. We exit on the top floor into a flat that looks