Page 23 of Best Summer Ever

‘Nice technique, by the way,’ Josh then said to me. ‘Swimming technique,’ he quickly added as his coloured deepened. ‘You swim well.’

‘Thanks.’ I nodded, feeling rather warm myself. ‘And you should know, the huts aren’t for exploring. They’re private property.’

‘I do know that now,’ he said falteringly. ‘Sam told me when I mentioned them the other day.’

‘But you didn’t mention the walking in on me getting changed part?’

‘I did not.’ He grinned sheepishly.

I turned to Sam to ask if he was satisfied with the context Josh had now furnished him with, but he’d had to move away to serve someone else.

‘So,’ I said, looking back at Josh, ‘were you looking for somewhere to stay that day?’

‘I wasn’t planning on hiding out in the huts if that’s what you were thinking,’ he said. ‘I already had somewhere lined up to go to. I just needed to kill some time until I could collect the key.’

‘Where are you staying then?’ I asked. ‘Is it somewhere local?’

‘Yes,’ he said with a nod. ‘Crow’s Nest Cottage. It’s just—’

‘Next door,’ I cut in. ‘Sam’s place. I know it.’

He had just named one of the tiny brick and flint cottages.

‘It’s pretty cosy,’ he shrugged, ‘but I don’t mind that.’

‘Are you going to be around for long?’

‘I’ve booked for the whole of the summer.’

‘Wow.’ I grinned. ‘As long as that.’

There would be plenty of time for us to watch a film or two together – if he’d been serious about that.

‘It’s a beautiful spot here.’ He smiled back. ‘I’m in no rush to leave it.’

‘There’s not much to do though,’ I pointed out.

‘Exactly,’ he said. ‘I’m not looking for a lot to do, just enough to keep me occupied for the next few weeks and there’s that in abundance.’

‘I’m beginning to feel the same way myself,’ I replied, rather brazenly.

We looked at one another again and I wondered if his pupils were so dilated because of the low light level in the pub or because I was what he was thinking might keep him occupied. I was certainly thinking that about him.

Nick’s summer fling suggestion was looking more attractive by the minute.

Chapter 6

Sam was mightily amused that Josh had walked in on me while I was getting changed in the beach hut – he did say he wouldn’t have been as entertained if Josh hadn’t been a stand-up guy who had made a genuine mistake – however, he wasn’t quite so merry as he watched me trying and consistently failing to get to grips with the art of pint pulling during the early part of the evening.

‘You’re not tipping the glass back far enough,’ he patiently reminded me as I lined up yet another froth-filled glass on the bar.

‘But it’ll spill if I keep it at such a tilted angle,’ I protested.

Sam shook his head.

‘No,’ he said. ‘Watch.’ He grabbed a glass and again showed me the required technique he had honed to perfection. ‘As the glass fills, you straighten it.’

‘Right,’ I said. ‘Right. I’ll do it this time, I promise.’

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