Page 63 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
‘There’s nothing about this situation that feels particularly horrible,’ Thea said. ‘Not unless there’s a huge stormcoming in, or at this time every day a prowling monster with the ability to swim comes out of the forest in search of human blood, or the killer spiders all wake up and starting scuttling about—’ she shuddered. ‘Actually, let’s not joke about that last one.’
Ben dropped his head, running his hand over the back of it. His hair was cropped short there, and Thea knew that if she ever got to touch it, it would be that delicious combination of soft and slightly prickly.
‘Come on,’ she said, ‘it’s not that bad. There are still two brownies left. There’s more fizz, more ginger beer – more water for Scooter?’
‘Yeah, there’s more water.’
‘We have a blanket, it’s a beautiful day. How long until the causeway reappears?’
Ben glanced at his watch. ‘This isn’t fully high tide yet, though it’s on the way in, but that means …’ he grimaced. ‘It’ll be hours until we can cross again.’
‘Right. And there aren’t any … working facilities?’
‘The plumbing uses a rainwater cistern. Finn and I checked it out last time we were here. There’s a working toilet, but it’s not … it wouldn’t even get one star on TripAdvisor, put it like that.’
‘I might be sharing my private moment with some of the spiders?’
He mirrored her smile, but it fell quickly. ‘Thea, I’m so sorry. This was meant to be fun.’
‘Itisfun,’ she said. ‘It’s an actual adventure, being stuck here. Unique in a good way.’
He leaned his head against the glass. ‘I don’t think you mean that.’
‘I have tissues and hand sanitiser, and there’s a half bottle of wine that you canshare with me, now. And, if you want details about my humiliating school years, then I can regale you with stories for hours.’
He sat up straighter. ‘I don’t want to hear about how shitty people have been to you, unless – do you really want to talk about it?’
‘No.’ She sighed. ‘Not really. But do you know what will make this a whole lot less fun?’
‘What’s that?’
‘If you spend the next few hours moping because you feel guilty about landing us in this situation.’ She burrowed in her rucksack, finding her tissues and hand sanitiser. ‘I’m going to be brave and find the toilet. Please,pleasedon’t berate yourself too much for what’s happened.’
His eyes followed her as she stood. ‘First floor,’ he said. ‘Do you want to take a stick, to ward off spiders?’
‘I’ll kick them, it’s fine.’ She sounded braver than she felt. She took a deep breath. ‘Right, if I’m not back in five minutes, please come looking for me. But sing, or something, so I know you’re not a ghost.’
‘Understood.’
Thea gave a quick nod and went in search of the ancient, and quite possibly traumatising, facilities.
When she returned to the top of the lighthouse, a lot less traumatised than she had anticipated but definitely missing the high spec bathroom in Sunfish Cottage, Ben had filled the two glasses with fizzy wine, and had laid what looked like a grey hoody over the blanket. He was tussling with Scooter, who clearly thought the extra layer of comfort was for him.
‘Have you forgiven yourself?’ she asked.
‘I have, but I haven’t stopped being sorry.’
‘I’ve accepted your apology,’ she said gently. ‘I guess, now we’re here, we need to make the most of it. And also,’ she went on, sitting back down, ‘now I’ve confessed about my school days, I feel like I should tell you something else.’
‘What’s that?’
She held her glass up, and he clinked his against it.
‘The thing is,’ she said, ‘I didn’t exactly warm to you, the first time we met.’
Ben gave her an awkward smile. ‘I didn’t show you my best side. I was pretty mean to you.’
Thea shook her head. ‘I didn’t think you were mean. But you seemed like one ofthoseguys. One of the popular, unapproachable ones. With your – your …’ she gestured at him, and he frowned. ‘Oh come on, don’t be deliberately obtuse.’
