Page 35 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
‘Do they have any of that local cider?’
The requests came thick and fast, each one more specific than the last. Scarlett bit her lip, casting an apologetic glance at Pete, but he just laughed.
‘No problem at all,’ he said, completely unfazed. ‘Libby, fancy giving me a hand?’
‘Sure, as you’re the one buying,’ she said with a grin.
‘I’ll be right back,’ Pete promised Scarlett with a warm smile that made her stomach flutter. ‘Don’t go anywhere.’
‘I’ll make sure she doesn’t,’ said Lou, looping her arm through Scarlett’s as Pete and Libby disappeared towards the bar. ‘So…’ she said, as soon as the pair of them were safely out of earshot. ‘When’s the wedding?’
‘Wedding?!’ said Scarlett. ‘What on earth are you on about?’
‘You. Pete. Heart eyes and smoochy faces!’ said Lou.
‘Honestly, you’re ridiculous,’ said Scarlett with a little shake of her head. ‘I only met him last night…’
‘And I’ve never seen two people look quite so in love so quickly,’ said Lou, her usually mischievous face looking oddly serious.
‘Love? You’ve lost it!’ spluttered Scarlett, doing her best to ignore the fact that her stomach was doing backflips.
‘Have I, though?’ said Lou with a raised eyebrow. ‘Have you seen how he looks at you?’
‘It’s just the dress,’ said Scarlett, doing her best to sound matter-of-fact as she stroked the silk.
‘I’m not denying the fact you look practically edible in that thing,’ said Lou, ‘but it’snotthe dress. Mr Cutie Bum was looking at you like that earlier—you know, back when you were coughing and spluttering and looking like a half-drowned rabbit.’
‘Rabbit?!’ huffed Scarlett.
‘Would you prefer chipmunk?’ said Lou, cocking her head.
‘I’d prefer it if you’d stop talking,’ said Scarlett, rolling her eyes.
‘I would… but it’s notjusthim, is it?’ said Lou. ‘I’ve literally never seen you look at anyone the way you were just looking at him.’
Scarlett chewed on her lip. Part of her desperately wanted Lou to drop the subject, but the other part was desperate to blurt out how she was feeling. But no… she’d better not. Saying anything within earshot of some of the biggest gossips Seabury had ever produced might be a bad idea.
‘Tell me one thing, and I’ll shut up,’ Lou persisted.
‘Now that sounds like a price worth paying!’ said Scarlett.
‘If he asked you to stay in Crumbleton Sands a bit longer, would you?’
‘I… erm…’ Scarlett fidgeted. ‘I mean… I…’
‘I’ll just take that as a yes,’ laughed Lou.
Scarlett was about to protest, but she spotted Pete making his way back across the room, bearing a vast tray of drinks. So instead, she simply nodded.
Lou let out a little whoop of triumph, and Scarlett couldn’t help but grin at her friend. ‘Just… keep it to yourself, okay?’
‘Sure, sure,’ said Lou, sounding so vague it didn’t exactly fill her with confidence. ‘Hey… isn’t that…?!
Scarlett jumped as Lou grabbed her elbow in excitement.
‘What? Who?’ she said, surprised at the lightning-quick change of subject as Lou pointed across the dancefloor.
Scarlett followed her excited gaze to where a woman with a cascade of wavy, auburn hair was dragging a reluctant-looking man towards the centre of the room. The woman was laughing, her face alight with determination as she practically hauled him onto the empty dance floor.
