Page 65 of A Secret Cornish Wish
‘Oh,’ I say quietly, slightly distracted as I glance behind Eddie’s head. ‘I see.’
‘Are they giving him a bodysuit?’ Eddie asks, still playing along. Since Claire arrived, his back is to the bar now. ‘He was hardly buff the last time I saw him.’ He attempts to flex his biceps. ‘Superheroes need muscles, you know!’
‘They do indeed!’ a familiar voice says, making Eddie jump. Eddie spins around on his stool to find Rob standing behind him in a fitted navy T-shirt flexing very well-developed biceps.
‘Rob!’ Eddie stands up immediately. ‘Good to see you, man! Wow, you have filled out . . . ’ Eddie says admiringly as they give each other a hug.
‘Claire.’ Rob smiles at her as Eddie releases him. ‘Good to see you again.’
‘Hello, Rob,’ Claire says, looking pleased to see him. ‘I’m glad you could make it.’
‘Frankie.’ Rob finally looks at me. ‘How have you been?’
‘Good, thanks,’ I say quickly. ‘Very well.’
‘Good. Good.’ Rob holds my gaze for a moment and annoyingly I feel my stomach do that silly thing it always used to do when I first knew Rob, taking me right back to my school days once more. ‘Oh, sorry, mate,’ he says to a man behind him who I’ve only just noticed standing there. ‘I should introduce you.’
I look with interest at the man who steps forward. I’d guess he’s about our age, tall like Rob, and fit-looking, with a healthy LA glow to his skin. A pair of piercing blue eyes smile from under a mop of dark glossy hair, which he runs his hand through to push it back off his face.
‘This is Mack,’ Rob says. ‘He’s a mate from the States. Mack used to live here in St Felix too. I bet none of you remember him?’
‘I would definitely remember if we’d met before,’ Eddie says, eagerly standing up to shake Mack’s hand.
‘Good to meet you, Eddie,’ Mack says with a strong American accent as he firmly shakes Eddie’s hand. ‘And you, Claire, and, of course, Frankie.’ He smiles at me. ‘Rob’s told me a lot about all of you.’
‘I’ll get the drinks in,’ Rob says. ‘Usual, Mack?’
Mack nods, pulling up a seat opposite me.
‘Lager for you, Eddie?’ Rob asks.
Eddie nods. ‘Yes, please.’
‘Claire – still a gin and tonic?’
‘Well remembered, Rob, but, no, I’ll have a glass of white wine, please.’
‘Frankie?’ Rob asks, looking at me. ‘Still the same Jack and Coke?’
‘No, I’m just on the orange juice tonight, thanks,’ I tell him.
‘Frankie’s got a dodgy tummy,’ Eddie says. ‘Amazingly, she’s not touched a drop all night.’
Rob looks surprised. ‘Orange juice it is, then,’ he says, holding my gaze again. ‘Back in a mo.’
‘You all make me sound like an alcoholic.’ I shake my head. ‘What will Mack think?’
Mack shrugs. ‘Mack will think nothing of it,’ he says. ‘Because I am one.’
I stare in horror at Rob’s friend.
‘Oh my . . . I’m so sorry!’ I say quickly, absolutely mortified. ‘I . . . I didn’t mean . . . I mean, I did mean . . . but I wasn’t poking fun or anything like that.’
‘Please,’ Mack says quietly but firmly. ‘I’m not in the least offended. So why should you be upset?’
I nod, but I feel myself blushing furiously.
‘So,’ Claire says quickly. ‘Rob said you used to live here in St Felix, but you’ve clearly been in America a long time. What’s your story?’
