The Heir and the Spare (32 page)

“You ready to go?” Caroline leaned in my open doorway and checked her watch.

Edmund, Marissa, and Preston were sharing an off-campus flat. I suspected Caroline and I would be spending a lot of time there together. Tonight, we'd been invited over to celebrate surviving the first week of school.

“Yup, let's go.” I tucked my sapphire blue leather clutch under my arm and locked the door behind me.

Sitting in the cab, Caroline giggled. “You totally came back because of Edmund, but I don't care. Whatever it was that brought you back, I'm just glad it did.”

“It wasn't just Edmund. I realized this is my home.” I patted her knee. “Is Suze coming tonight?”

“That's the plan. I think she's bringing her professor. He's nervous about it. I guess he
actually
likes his job.”

“I hope he comes; I'm dying to meet him.”

Caroline smiled and put on a fresh coat of burgundy lipstick.

We rolled up to a fashionable townhouse. It reminded me of mine in London.
That's still so surreal.

Caroline paid the driver, bounded up the front steps, and knocked. A man I didn't recognize opened the door as I caught up to her.

“Hello.” He pushed his wire-rimmed glasses up on his nose.

I knew this was the right place, but I still double-checked the house numbers. “Hi?”

“I'm Leo.” He offered his hand, which Caroline took first.

“Oh, you're Suzy's . . .” I faltered, unsure how to finish. “Friend?”

He smiled and shook my hand. He was as adorable as I thought he'd be. With slightly messy brown hair and a kind smile, he looked like someone who belonged with Suzy—sweet and unassuming.

“I'm Evie; this is Caroline.”

“Nice to meet you both.”

Edmund came over and pulled me in the door and into his arms, spinning me around. I squealed with delight and kissed him. Leo and Caroline vanished, giving us privacy. Kissing and whispering, we spent a few minutes sequestered in the entryway.

“Did you bring an overnight bag?”

I bit my bottom lip and shook my head. “I guess you'll have to come to my place.”

“Deal.” His eyes twinkled as he ushered me toward the back of the house where everyone had gathered.

Leo and Suzy stood apart, talking and smiling. The way he looked at her told me he was crazy about her. In the kitchen, Marissa and Caroline stood feeding each other. And Preston had spread out on the couch, watching a movie.

He so needs a girlfriend.

Looking up, Preston spotted me and hopped up to give me a quick hug. “How was your first week?”

“Can't complain. Yours?”

“I survived.” He chuckled.

Squinting my eyes, I blurted, “Why didn't you bring a date tonight?”

Preston cleared his throat and glanced at the floor, his cheeks coloring. “The girl I'd like to bring is a little too far away.”

“Really? So there
is
a someone?” I tried not to sound shocked.

“You could say that.” He brushed it off. “I'm gonna grab a drink. You want anything?”

“We're good,” Edmund replied.

I turned to Edmund. “Did you know about this girl?”

He nodded. “He met her in Scotland. I don't know much more than that.” He leaned closer, his lips brushing my hair. “I'm just relieved he's moved on from you.”

I looked at him and rolled my eyes. “Please, his attention wasn't on me for long.”

“You'd be surprised.” One of Edmund's eyebrows arched.

By the end of the evening, Suzy and Leo finally relaxed enough to cuddle on the couch, cautiously. Meaning, their legs touched.

Caroline and Marissa had retired for the evening.

“You ready to head to your place?” Edmund came up behind me and kissed the side of my neck as Preston and I cleared the table and straightened the kitchen.

“I am. Why don't we walk back? It's so nice out.”

He nodded. “I'll be right back.” Edmund ran upstairs to grab his backpack and, I assumed, to stuff in the essentials. “Night all,” he called as he returned to my side and grasped my hand.

“Good night!” chorused through the house.

“Let's cut through the park,” Edmund suggested. Security in tow, we veered around an ivy hedge into a public garden.

Lampposts lit our way, guiding us toward the small creek trickling through. A warm breeze lifted my hair. I loved late summer nights like this. I stepped onto the wooden bridge and stopped, looking up to admire the stars.

“I have something for you,” Edmund said.

“Really?” I turned, thinking he wanted to kiss me.

“I came across this the other day; it made me think of you. I want you to have it.” From his pocket, Edmund pulled out a small navy leather case and handed it to me.

“Oh.” I took a tiny step back. This was unexpected. My heart fluttered and my eyes darted up to his. A smile filled his face as I flipped up the lid.

I gasped. A glittering necklace stared up at me from a bed of white satin. My fingertips ran over a large, cushion-cut blue topaz: my birthstone. Wreathed around it were baguette-cut diamonds. I'd never held something so sparkly or so beautiful—or, I suspected, so real—before.

“Edmund,” I whispered. “It's beautiful.” I covered my mouth with my hand.

“It was my grandmother's favorite necklace; she wore it all the time. Blue topaz was her birthstone, too.”

I glanced up at him and shook my head. “This is too much. I can't.” I closed the lid and tried to hand it back. “It's way too special; it wouldn't be right. This should stay in your family.”

“You are far more special to me than any necklace or bauble. I want to share a piece of my grandmother with you. She would've adored you,” he whispered as he slipped the necklace from its case. Taking both ends of the chain in his hands, he leaned in and brushed my hair aside. Reaching behind me, he clasped it. Once it was secure, he placed a kiss on the side of my neck. “It suits you; I want you to have it. And who's to say I'm
not
keeping it in the family?”

My eyes watered.
Did he just say what I think he did?
I clasped the pendant between my fingertips.

“I love you so much.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him.

“I'm glad you like it.”

I chuckled. “I don't like it, I love it. How could I not?”

Edmund captured my lips in another kiss, this one more demanding. His fingers twined in my hair and he breathlessly broke his lips from mine. “Let's get to your room.”

“Smashing idea.” I smiled.

Edmund pulled me to his side and we walked down the path, our arms around each other. I was right where I should be. And more importantly, thanks to Mom's quests taking me halfway around the world, I'd found exactly where I
wanted
to be.
Home.

The End