Page 37 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
‘Pete’s ex,’ Libby clarified grimly. ‘The one that cheated on him.’
The song came to an abrupt end, and for a moment, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence as Brian struggled to queue up the next track.
Muttering broke out around the edges of the dance floor as people started to nudge each other, staring at Pete as he watched his ex.
The moment stretched out painfully, seconds feeling like hours as Pete remained rooted to the spot. The woman looked oddly smug, clearly relishing all the attention, but Pete looked a bit like he was going to pass out. His face had gone from pale to ashen, and Scarlett could see his chest rising and falling with rapid, shallow breaths.
‘We’ve got to do something!’ muttered Libby.
Without a second thought, Scarlett rushed forward, weaving between gawping people until she was on the dance floor. She reached Pete, and in one fluid movement, she stepped directly in front of him, blocking his view of his ex.
Scarlett placed her hands gently on either side of Pete’s pale face, drawing his gaze down to her. His eyes, wide with shock, gradually focused on her instead of whatever memories were threatening to overwhelm him.
‘Scarlett?’ he whispered.
She simply rose onto her tiptoes and, heart hammering, pressed her lips against his.
For a heartbeat, Pete was still—too still—and her chest clenched in panic. But then his hands came up, one settling on her waist, the other cupping the back of her neck as the rest of the room dissolved. The tension in Pete’s body melted as his mouth moved with hers—hesitant at first, then surer, like he’d been waiting for this kiss for years.
Cheers erupted around them, but Scarlett barely heard them. All she could focus on was the thrum of Pete’s pulse against her fingertips and the way he was holding her like she was his anchor in a world that had just shifted beneath his feet.
CHAPTER13
PETE
Pete woke to the sound of seagulls arguing raucously on the Surf Club’s roof. Morning sunlight filtered through the high windows of the changing room, and he turned over to hide his face, wincing slightly at the feel of the concrete floor beneath his mound of bedding.
He grinned into the pillow as the events of the previous night played through his mind like a highlight reel—all of them centred around Scarlett. The look on her face when she’d first seen him in Murray’s suit. Her laugh as they’d danced to Brian’s questionable music choices. The way she’d felt in his arms when she’d launched at him for that first, surprising kiss. The way it had wiped everything—and everyone—else from his brain.
There was her. Just her.
‘Blimey,’ Pete murmured, grinning like a loon. It still didn’t quite seem real. More like a delicious dream he was bound to wake up from.
Then again… if thiswasa dream, he wouldn’t be bedded down in the Surf Club’s changing room, would he?!
And Scarlett wouldn’t be leaving today…
Nope—he wasn’t going down that rabbit hole yet. He didn’t want to waste his last few hours with her moping.
With a sigh, Pete forced himself up into a sitting position and let out a huge yawn, before wincing at several new knots in his back. He really should have taken the time to reinstate his bed in the back of the van when they’d got back last night… but it was so late, it hadn’t been worth it.
When they’d got back to Crumbleton Sands, Pete had dropped Libby off at his parent’s place and then walked Scarlett along the boardwalk to the shepherd’s hut. They’d spent several long minutes—or maybe it was hours—twined around each other on the porch as the waves crashed nearby.
It had taken every ounce of willpower he had to eventually tear himself away and watch her head inside alone. He had a feeling Scarlett had wanted him to follow her, but despite everything, he knew it was too soon.
Now? He was cursing his own restraint! Still… at least they’d get to hang out again at the fancy dress swim…
Pete glanced at his watch and swore softly. Speaking of which, he was going to be late if he didn’t get a move on.
Throwing back the covers, he clambered out of bed and quickly started to roll it up so that he could shove it back into the van before the others arrived and wanted to use the facilities.
As he headed out into the bright sunshine with the mound of bedding clutched in his arms, Pete thanked his lucky stars that as last night’s designated driver, he didn’t have a hangover to contend with. The fancy dress swim was always a lot of fun… but not so much if you’d had a skin-full the night before!
With some difficulty, he yanked open the van’s side door and bundled the bedding inside. Then he grabbed the package he’d stashed behind the back seat the previous day. This had been his second errand after picking up his suit.
Unzipping the bag, Pete grimaced at the contents. Perhaps he should have chosen something a bit more dignified? But beggars couldn’t be choosers, and these were the only matching costumes he’d been able to get his hands on at the last minute. At least they were appropriate for a sea-themed event.
The question was… would Scarlett even want hers?! Libby had said she might not have one, but still…
