Page 30 of Best Summer Ever

‘I’m happy to drink to that,’ I said, my mind playing out all the possibilities of how we could set about transforming the forthcoming sunny few weeks. ‘Here’s to the best summer ever.’

Josh was excited to explore the Lilliputian proportions of the beach hut and offered to make the next drink. I stayed put, while he exclaimed over everything in the background and I looked out to the horizon, my eyes dazzled by the sparkling reflection of the sun on the sea.

If Mum and Dad really were now going to properly let the Laurence situation go, then the next couple of months, having uncomplicated fun with Josh, did have the potential to be perfect – and with no ulterior motive.

‘Here you go.’

‘Thank you,’ I said, taking the refilled mug.

‘It doesn’t look as good as yours,’ Josh said, peering into the depths of his own. ‘But practice makes perfect, right?’

‘So I’ve been told,’ I acquiesced. ‘Unfortunately, I seem to have developed this habit of giving up on things before I’ve been practising them for very long.’

‘What sort of things?’ Josh asked, as he carefully lowered himself back into his deckchair.

‘Well,’ I said, ‘in all the years I’ve been working since I left home, I haven’t found a job that’s the right fit yet. My record for sticking at something is far less than a year.’

‘I daresay that’s only because you still haven’t found the thing you love,’ Josh kindly said. ‘When the right thing comes along, you’ll know it and you won’t want to give it up.’

That seemed to be a popular opinion and I hoped it was the right one. I had already loved and lost one thing I thought I could go the distance working at and I wasn’t sure I’d find another, no matter how long or hard I searched.

‘What about you?’ I asked, not wanting to dwell. ‘Have you found a career you love? How have you managed to wangle a whole summer away from work?’

Josh puffed out his cheeks and took a deep breath.

‘Don’t feel obliged to answer that,’ I said quickly, when I realised I’d put him on the spot. ‘I’m just being nosy.’

Given that I was only sizing him up as a summer fling, I didn’t need to know every little thing about him, did I?

‘Well, let’s just say, I was definitely due some time off and decided to take it all in one go.’

‘And somehow, you ended up here,’ I said, looking at the beach again, rather than asking what he was taking time off from.

‘I ended up here,’ he repeated.

‘I know I’ve already mentioned the lack of things to do and see here,’ I reminded him, ‘and there really are far more thrillingplaces in the UK to spend your summer than Wynmouth, especially if you haven’t got a car.’

‘And like I said,’ he smoothly responded, holding my gaze, ‘this place might be quiet and quaint, but it has its attractions.’

I felt myself turning much warmer than the sun could take the credit for.

‘I have strawberries,’ I said, jumping up because I didn’t want to get swept along too soon. The summer had barely started, after all. ‘From Wynbrook.’

I went to grab them, along with the beach hut sugar canister and cream I’d pilfered from the cottage.

‘The famous Wynbrook Manor Estate,’ Josh said thoughtfully, taking the bowl that I’d doled half of the succulent, ruby-coloured berries into.

‘I’m not sure it’s famous,’ I said, as I sprinkled half a teaspoon of sugar over the top.

‘Well,’ he smiled, adding a hefty dollop of cream to my bowl and then his, ‘tell me about it anyway. I want to hear all about the idyllic childhood you must have had there. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to grow up in one place.’

‘You didn’t?’ I frowned.

‘I did not. My dad moved us around a whole lot while he was getting himself established in my mom’s family business and setting up offices in different states. We were never in the same place for long.’

‘That must have been difficult,’ I said, trying to imagine it. ‘How did you maintain friendships?’

‘I didn’t.’ He shrugged. ‘It was impossible to put down roots or feel settled anywhere. Nowhere felt like home and I’m an only child, so it was lonely at times.’

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