‘Whatever. It’s not about that,’ I insisted. ‘I just… I just think we’d be better off staying in our lanes, that’s all. Let Sarah do her romance brainstorming, tell me what she thinks we need in a report, I’ll read it and give my thoughts. It’ll be much simplerthat way. We spent most of the meeting bickering about bloody tropes. That’s not a productive use of time. For either of us.’
‘Jess and I want you to work together, so just suck it up and get on with it. Okay?’
‘Fine,’ I huffed.
‘On an unrelated note, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.’
‘Please tell me it doesn’t involve anything to do with Sarah.’
‘No. It’s about my wedding…’ His voice trailed off and my stomach twisted.
‘What do you need?’
‘I was going to ask if you’d…’ Theo shook his head. ‘Forget it.’
‘No, tell me.’
He paused again, then stopped walking and stood in front of me.
‘It’s just, I wondered if you’d consider being my best man.’
My eyes popped and I swallowed the lump in my throat.
‘Wow. Whoa. Um…’ My gaze dropped to the sand. ‘I mean, weddings aren’t really my thing, but yeah, sure, course.’
‘Really?’ Theo asked. ‘I know it’ll be?—’
‘What?’ I jumped in. ‘No, I didn’t even think about that,’ I lied. ‘I just thought you’d ask Tom, because he’s the middle brother and more responsible, that’s all. I’d be honoured. Truly. Thanks for asking me.’
Theo beamed, and seeing how happy he was told me I’d said the right thing.
‘Thanks, bro!’ He threw his arms round me and patted me on the back.
‘You know I’d do anything for you, Big T. Listen, about… y’know, what happened before, you haven’t told Jess, have you? I know you two are close, but?—’
‘No,’ Theo said firmly. ‘You asked me to keep it between us, so I haven’t told a soul. Your secret’s safe with me.’
‘Thanks,’ I said as a wave of relief washed over me.
Only a handful of the people closest to me knew about my past and I needed to make sure it stayed that way.
7
SARAH
‘I’m telling you, Jess, the guy’s a nightmare!’ I said before shoving a forkful of fish and chips in my mouth.
When Jess had suggested we have dinner together at May’s Fish and Chips, I’d jumped at the chance. It was known as Sunshine Bay’s best restaurant and I could understand why.
The fish tasted like it’d just been caught. It was so fresh and literally melted in my mouth. And the chunky chips had been fried to perfection. They were crispy on the outside and beautifully fluffy on the inside. Exactly how I liked them.
The restaurant had pine tables and chairs. Silver metal fishes were mounted on the wood-panelled walls to give the impression of them swimming in the sea. And there was a large blackboard which listed today’s special in colourful chalk.
‘Ben’s not so bad,’ Jess insisted. ‘Yeah, he’s a bit of a flirt and says the wrong thing sometimes, but deep down he’s a sweetheart.’
‘How deep we talking? Billions of miles beneath the earth?’ I scoffed.
‘You two just got off to a bad start, that’s all. I’m sure you’ll work it out.’
