Page 34 of Best Summer Ever

My mouth fell open in shock.

‘Don’t look like that,’ she tutted. ‘He’s the hot goss right now, and as a result of your beach frolics, so are you.’

‘There was no frolicking,’ I tutted back. ‘And we weren’t on the beach the whole day. We spent some time in the Wynbrook beach hut too.’

‘Did you now?’

‘And in the sea,’ I added, with a smile I couldn’t suppress. ‘We had a picnic and a chat. That’s all. Don’t forget I’m literally just days out of a long-term relationship, so you can keep your summer fling speculating to yourself.’

I might have been speculating as well, but I wasn’t about tomake that common knowledge. Not even to one of my best friends.

‘Who said anything about a summer fling?’ Penny laughed.

‘Nick did,’ I batted back. ‘And you two seem pretty chatty these days, so I know you’ll have had your heads together and discussed it.’

She didn’t comment about that.

‘You might only be days out of a long-term relationship,’ she said instead, ‘but it was one that you were glad to see the back of.’

She had a point.

‘Anyway,’ I countered, ‘how can you accuse me of being dressed up for Josh when he isn’t even here tonight?’

‘Oh, Josh, is it?’ Penny said in a teasing tone.

‘You know it is,’ I nudged. ‘Are you smitten with him too?’

‘You must be joking,’ she spluttered. ‘I haven’t got time to wash my hair, let alone be smitten with anyone. My work–life balance is totally shot so I’ve no time for romance.’

I couldn’t help thinking that taking over Sophie’s beach café for the summer wasn’t going to help her address that balance.

‘Tell me about the café,’ I said, as keen to know the details as I was to change the subject. ‘Is it open now Sophie’s away? I haven’t been along the beach that way.’

The café was situated on the opposite side of the beach to the huts and so far, I hadn’t walked along the shore in that direction.

‘No,’ said Penny, ‘it’s closed at the moment, but I’ve been in today to check the fridge and freezer are running as they should be and as there’s quite a bit of stock in, I’ve decided I’m going to open it for a while tomorrow.’

I didn’t think that was a good idea.

‘Are you sure you can manage it?’ I asked cautiously. ‘You’ve still got two days left in school, haven’t you?’

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘the term ends on Tuesday, but we’re only tidying up, playing games and watching films now. Thankfully nothing too taxing.’

‘What about inset training?’

‘That’s scheduled for September, and I’ll get the classroom ready then too. I’ll be opening the café properly next Wednesday and then carrying on until Sophie returns. It’s always been closed on a Monday and Tuesday, but I might open in the afternoons if the beach is busy. Thankfully, all I’ve got to do is walk down the lane to decide.’

‘Your proximity to the beach will be a bonus,’ I agreed, ‘but I’m worried that you’re going to burn yourself out.’

‘You sound like Nick.’ Penny smiled, nudging me. ‘He’s worried about it too, but I can’t wait to get started. Sophie has agreed that I can add a couple of my own dishes to the menu.’

She did sound excited and I had no desire to dampen her enthusiasm. Her taking the café on was obviously more than a whim.

‘Well,’ I smiled, ‘I look forward to seeing you behind the counter and sampling what you’ve come up with. You can count on my business, that’s for sure.’

‘You’ll have to bring Josh along,’ she suggested and I rolled my eyes.

‘I’m sure Josh can find his own way,’ I responded. ‘Besides, who knows, I might never bump into him again.’

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