He laughs, affects agreement. “Oh, absolutely. But weirdly... I still wanted you to have my number.”
I smile. “Well. Thank you.”
“I would have waited for you to come back actually, but I had to meet someone.”
I hesitate for a moment, confused.
“I was waiting for a mate when I saw you,” he explains, “but I’d got the wrong pub.”
Serendipitous, I think but don’t say.
“Anyway. Your job...”
“Oh. Well, essentially, they promised me a certain role, then hired someone else for it.”
“Ouch. So, what’s your plan now?”
I release a breath. “You know how you said suggesting we meet here might make you seem like a bit of a tosser?”
He laughs. “Yep.”
“Well, I can probably top that.”
“Go for it.”
“I’ve decided to... write a novel.”
“What are you talking about? That’s cool.”
I bite my lip. “Thanks. Have no idea if I can even do it, though.”
He leans back in his chair. “How long are you giving yourself?”
“Not sure,” I say, realizing as I’m speaking how little of a plan I actually have. “I’ve got a part-time job at that gift shop to tide me over. Pebbles & Paper.”
Caleb’s face lights up when I say this, and all at once he looks like he’s struggling to hold back a laugh.
My eyes widen. “What?”
“I’m barred from that place.”
“How can you be barred from a gift shop in Shoreley?”
“I had a sort of... heated debate with the owner.”
“Ivan? About what?”
“Oh, he was selling these wooden trinkets that he claimed were handmade by a local carpenter. Unique, bespoke, all that bollocks.” Caleb makes liberal use of air quotes as he speaks. “So I bought my mum a couple of bits for her birthday. Came to seventy quid. Except it turned out my stepsister had a load of stuff from theexact same range. Bear in mind she lives in Newcastle and has never set foot in Shoreley.”
I smile. “Oh no. What did you do?”
“Well, I went down there and politely suggested he stop lying to his customers. And Imighthave mentioned Trading Standards, which was when he got all sweaty and defensive and barred me.” He laughs. “I mean, it’s not even like I’ve been barred from a pub or a cool nightclub. It’s Pebbles & Paper.”
I shake my head, start laughing too.
“Sorry. Being a bit tactless, aren’t I?”
“Not at all. It’s good to be prepared.”
