Page 17 of Strings Attached
As we take our positions on the beach, I can feel the tension radiating off Evander. He's standing closer than necessary, probably to help me with my injured arm, but it's making it hard to concentrate.
"Remember," I say, trying to keep my voice steady, "it's all about teamwork. We need to work together to keep the kite in the air."
Evander nods, his expression serious. "Right. Teamwork."
The whistle blows, signalling the start of the competition. We launch our kite into the air, our movements more in sync than I expected given the awkwardness between us. Perhaps muscle memory from our earlier lesson is kicking in.
"You're doing great," I tell Evander, genuinely impressed by how quickly he's picked this up.
He gives me a small smile, the first real one since our... incident. "I have a good partner."
The words hang between us, loaded with meaning. Are we still talking about kite flying?
Before I can dwell on it, a strong gust of wind catches our kite, sending it into a tailspin. Without thinking, I press back against Evander's chest, guiding his hands on the string to regain control.
We manage to stabilize the kite, sending it soaring higher into the sky. A cheer goes up from the crowd, and I realize with a start that we're actually doing quite well in the competition.
Minutes pass and I realize we might actually have a shot at winning. Our kite is one of the few still airborne. I glance at Evander and see that he’s got a big grin on his face, he looks so much younger, so carefree, I love seeing him like this.
"And the winners of this year's couples' kite flying competition are..." Lilian's voice booms over the loudspeaker, "Mireille Fontaine and Evander Prescott!"
The crowd erupts in applause. I turn to Evander, a wide grin spreading across my face despite myself. "We did it!" I exclaim.
For a moment, Evander's professional facade cracks, and he grins back at me. It's a rare, unguarded smile that makes my heart skip a beat. Without thinking, I throw my arms around him in a celebratory hug.
Evander stiffens for a moment before hesitantly returning the hug. His arms wrap around me gently, mindful of my injured wrist. For a brief moment, I allow myself to savor the feeling of being held by him, to breathe in his scent and feel the warmth of his body against mine.
But all too soon, reality comes crashing back. We're in public, surrounded by members of the community. And more importantly, we're boss and employee, with all the complications that entails.
I pull away quickly, my face flushing. "Sorry," I mumble, not meeting his eyes. "I got caught up in the moment."
Evander clears his throat, taking a step back. "It's... it's fine. Congratulations on our win."
Before I can respond, we're surrounded by well-wishers offering congratulations. Lilian appears, grinning widely as she hands us a small trophy.
"Well done, you two!" she exclaims. "Who knew Mr. Prescott had such hidden talents?"
I force a smile, trying to ignore the lingering tension between Evander and me. "He's full of surprises."
Evander shifts uncomfortably beside me. "Yes, well, I had an excellent teacher," he says, his voice carefully neutral.
As the crowd begins to disperse, an awkward silence falls between us. I fidget with the trophy, unsure of what to say or do next.
"I suppose we should..." Evander begins.
"Yeah," I agree quickly, grateful for the out. "I should probably head home. My arm is starting to ache a bit."
Concern flashes across Evander's face. "Of course. Do you need a ride?"
I shake my head, perhaps too quickly. "No, no, I'll be fine. I can call a cab."
"Nonsense," Lilian interjects, appearing at my side. "I can give you a ride, Miri. My shift is just about over anyway."
Relief washes over me. "That would be great, Lil. Thanks."
I turn to Evander, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "Thank you for today, Evander. It was... interesting."
He nods, his expression unreadable. "Yes, it certainly was. I'll see you at the office on Monday, Mireille."
