I laughed. I’d had this reaction before but after a few days on my own, I wanted someone my own age to talk to and he was cute. It was a long time since I’d spoken to a cute boy. The flyer was for the opening of a community centre in the town, a big event for the residents.
“Thank you. I saw the banners on the road – I’m hoping I’ll be able to come along. Do you want to come in and have a coffee?” Coffee sounded grown up although I hated the stuff and preferred hot chocolate, only it was too warm for hot chocolate. I wondered if Renata was going to kill me for inviting two strangers into my house. She was hovering though. No doubt I’d receive a lecture later.
The man looked at the boy, obviously amused that he was starstruck. “Yes, I’m dying for a drink!”
The boy found his words as soon as they were inside, and his awkwardness faded.“I’m Caleb. I know you’re Zoey. What are you doing here?”
His eyes smiled and he had a small dimple that made him look even cuter.
I gave him an abbreviated version of what I was doing, figuring he seemed unlike a serial killer. His dad – because it was his dad – stepped back, checking his phone and keeping an eye on Caleb as we started chatting.
“Do you live here?”
Caleb nodded. “We’re moving into the house that’s for sale a few places down from here. My mum’s moving here too with my half-sister. Roman’s my dad but I only found out about him a couple of years ago when I needed a liver donor, so I want to get to know him better and this is where I want to be, really.” He glanced out of the window towards the sea.
“Why here?”
“I want to study marine biology and the university at Menai is one of the best places to do it and I like being near the sea.” He sat down at the kitchen island, accepting a can of cola. We opened our drinks at the same time. Renata made Roman a coffee, which was probably wise.
“What’s there to do here? I’ve been here a few days and I need to leave the house at some point.” I wanted to do something normal, not just write songs.
“You can go out on the boat – have you been round Puffin Island?” He looked so enthusiastic, which made him even cuter.
“No. What’s that?”
“It’s a nature reserve with loads of different types of sea birds on there, including puffins when it’s the breeding season. There are also seals – it’s uninhabited so the only way you can see it is by boat. I can ask Thane if he’ll take you out.” He folded his arms, the beginnings of biceps prominent under his T-shirt.
I nodded, because that sounded amazing. “I’d like that. Do you think he’d mind?”
Caleb shook his head, grinning hard again. “If he does, he’ll say, but if it gives him an excuse to be on the water he’ll usually do it. He’s one of the lifeboat crew as well – I’m going to join that as soon as I’m old enough.”
“How old are you?” I couldn’t work it out.
“Sixteen. Seventeen in September.”
“I’m eighteen on Christmas Day.” Finally an adult. Finally my mother’s grip on me would have to lessen.
“I think I knew that.” He blushed slightly, which suited him. “Not that I’m a stalker but I do like your music.”
It was always nice to hear, and it still gave me a thrill when someone said that.
“Thank you. I’m meant to be writing more songs when I’m here.”
“Have you done any yet?”
I shook my head. “No. But I’m getting some ideas.”
And that was the first time I met Caleb Tominey.
Caleb
“So how long are you staying for?” Amelie passed Zoey a glass of wine and sat down next to her. “Caleb hasn’t said.”
Zoey pulled her hair back and tied it up in what she called a messy bun. We were wind swept and cold, the day not the warmest which wasn’t surprising given it was early October.
“A couple of months. Maybe more.” She shot me a grin, knowing that was what I wanted to hear.
I knew more than what she thought, mainly because I’d stored nuggets of information that she’d dropped over the last few months when we’d spoken. Her contract with her record company was up for renewal, she wasn’t settled with the direction they wanted her to take and she’d seemed at a crossroads for a while. Years of phone calls and texting, meeting up at least a couple of times a year, meant I knew her, maybe better than I knew anyone else.
