Page 5 of Three's a Crowd
Normally, she was a confident person, in control of her emotions and actions, but she seemed to have turned into a gibbering wreck in the face of Zach’sbloody annoyingpresence.
So much for looking forward to seeing him.
She sighed and started to stack the plates into the dishwasher, giving the surge of adrenaline rushing through her veins an outlet.
This weekend was turning out to be even more of a trial than she’d anticipated.
2
Leaving the adults to clean up the kitchen, Adam, Sam, Zach and Daisy strolled down through the steep, narrow streets that led into the centre of Fowey. Colourful terraces lined the way, many sporting bright window boxes housing festoons of delicate trailing flowers. Further down, they passed independent clothes and knick-knack shops, their eclectic displays drawing them in for a closer look.
‘So, which pub are we going to?’ Adam asked, looking around at them all with raised eyebrows.
‘The Ship Inn?’ Zach suggested.
‘Is that the one we got kicked out of a couple of years ago, when Adam puked all over the doorstep?’
They all guffawed.
‘Do you think they’ll remember us?’ Daisy asked.
‘Nah,’ said Adam, batting away her question. ‘Hope not anyway, I’m gasping.’
When they finally reached the Ship Inn, a quaint little pub overlooking the harbour, they found it thronged with people.
‘Look, someone’s just leaving that table in the corner. Let’s grab it,’ Adam said, already making a bee-line for it.
They squeezed around it, Daisy jammed in between Adam and Sam. There were only three chairs though so Zach, as the last one to make it over, was left standing.
‘I’ll get the drinks in then,’ Zach said, deadpan.
Adam grinned, as if his cunning ploy had worked. ‘Great. Lager all round?’
‘I’ll have a rum and coke,’ Daisy said.
Zach turned to give her an incredulous look, then, when she held her ground and stared him down, gave a curt not and walked off towards the bar. Daisy noticed a group of women at a nearby table watch him pass them, giggling, then whispering to each other. He ignored them, but Daisy could swear he pulled himself up taller and deepened his swagger.
‘So, Daisy. I guess you’re off to uni really soon?’ Adam said into her ear, making her jump and drag her gaze away from Zach’s retreating figure.
‘Hmm? Er, yeah. Off to Manchester in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait. I’m sick of being at home. My mum’s driving me nuts, flapping around and staring at me tearfully when she thinks I’m not looking.’
‘Empty nest syndrome. Our mum was the same when I first left.’
‘Yeah. I feel a bit bad about leaving them, but it’s time.’
‘You’re going to love uni. I think I’m going to actually have to do some work this year though. Maybe go out every other night, cut back a bit, you know?’ he said with a smile.
‘Hmm.’ Daisy was distracted by the sight of Zach returning to the table with a tray loaded with their drinks. Somehow, he’d managed to get served straight away, even though there was a crowd three people deep at the bar.
He nodded curtly to her as he reverently placed her rum and coke in front of her.
‘Milady.’
‘Thanks.’ She gave him a friendly smile, determined not to hold his previous slight towards her against him.
She’d just be really cool about it. Like a grown up.
Zach handed Sam and Adam their drinks, then took his own and leant against the wall next to where Sam was sitting as there still wasn’t a free chair for him.
