‘So then why did you pull away?’ she eventually manages.
He winces slightly, brushing a hand through his curls.
‘I knew you’d had … some wine to drink. I didn’t know if you were kissing me because it was me or just because I was there.’
Sitting opposite her in the rowing boat, having just said what he’s said, he looks vulnerable and exposed but OK with it too.
‘It wasn’t just because you were there,’ she says quietly, looking up so that their eyes meet and the river and the fields around them disappear completely. ‘I mean, I was glad youwerethere,’ she adds with a wry smile. ‘But it was because of the way you absolutely always have food somewhere on your face and when you talk about ingredients, it’s like you’re anextremely nerdy fan talking about an underrated album of your favourite band. Because you left me a care package on my doorstep even after I’d yelled at you. Because of how much you care about your business and how hard you’ve worked to make it a reality.’
There’s more she could say too. The way he danced without inhibitions to his mum’s favourite song in the middle of his deli with his dad. The way that one curl of hair always falls in front of his left eyebrow. The way that, ever since she found out he was her neighbour, it’s been an absolute nightmare having to think about him right there in the space below hers.
It’s his turn to appear lost for words. At the same moment, they both seem to decide they don’t need to say anything at all as they each lean forward decisively, bridging the gap between them in the rowing boat. As they reach for one another, the boat rocks. And instead of finding herself falling forward into Luca’s arms, Phoebe lets out a sharp scream as the boat tips and they capsize into the river.
Water rushes into her nose and mouth as she scrabbles about before bobbing up to the surface to see Luca opposite her, treading water and with his hair wet and bedraggled, making her think of an Old English sheepdog who has been caught in the rain.
‘Shit,’ says Luca, paddling with his arms, the upturned boat and oars floating beside them.
‘The snacks!’ cries Phoebe.
And then they both start to laugh.
Together, they push the boat over towards the bank where it is shallower and then plant their feet on the bottom. Phoebe’shair drips around her face and her sodden clothes cling to her. Luca’s muscles are even more visible than usual through his soaking grey T-shirt and there’s a strand of pondweed stuck to one shoulder. He strides through the water towards her.
‘Come here,’ he says, pushing strands of wet hair out of her face. He wraps his arms around her as they stand waist-deep in the river. ‘This isn’t exactly how I pictured it,’ he says, revealing another little bit of himself that makes her shiver, and not just from the cold water. ‘This date sucks, doesn’t it?’ He takes a step closer to her and she does the same, reaching her hands up and across his broad, solid back.
‘It’s the absolute worst,’ she mumbles as their bodies press flush against one another and she tilts her face towards his and kisses him. This time, he doesn’t pull away.
Phoebe’s whole body tingles, and not just from the cold, as they drag the boat back up onto the riverbank and into the beach hut boat store, stacking the oars alongside. After the unexpected dip in the river, she’s glad they thought to leave their phones and keys in here, tucked away under an upturned boat. As Phoebe reaches for her phone, she notices a whole string of messages in the swimming group’s WhatsApp chat.
‘Oh shit,’ she says as she scrolls through, catching up on the frantic conversation she missed while she was on the water.
‘It looks like something’s going on outside,’ Luca says, peering around the boathouse door. Her attention still half on her phone, they follow the rising sound of conversation back outside, where they spot a crowd gathered around the Kingfisher. The lifeguard is there, alongside a collection of swimmers, some of whom Phoebe recognises from previous dips. In themiddle of them all is Hamish, handing out copies of the local newspaper.
Once they’ve joined the group, Luca reaches out for a copy, Phoebe catching snatches of the conversations happening around them.
‘I can’t believe it …’
‘It’s just awful …’
‘What are we going to do?’
‘To think we’ve beenswimmingin that …’
Luca unfurls the newspaper and together they silently read the front page.
Sewage in the Avon
Locals told ‘stay away from the river!’
A new water report conducted by the River Trust has revealed that levels of pollution in the stretch of river between Farleigh-on-Avon and Waterford are among the worst in the country.
Dangerously high levels of sewage have been detected in the river water, attributed to overflow from the local water treatment plant. Environmental laws state that overflow sewage is only allowed to be released into the river during storms or at other points when the drainage system is overwhelmed, but investigations by theAvon Timesand the River Trust suggest that waste is being dumped in the river far more frequently.
The local environmental board has issued instructions to immediately cease water activities on this stretch of river due to the serious risk of ill health posed by the polluted water. This includes rowing, kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming.
The water will be tested again by Somerset Council in two weeks and another statement will be issued then as to whether it is safe to return to the river.
Once she’s finished reading, Phoebe looks up and catches Luca’s eye. His expression looks just as horrified as she feels.
