‘Hmm.’
‘You’re not falling asleep, are you, mate?’ Nick dug the end of his paddle into Luke’s shoulder.
‘Oi, leave it out.’ Luke rubbed his shoulder and scowled. ‘I’ve been working since seven this morning so I could finish on time. I’m enjoying a few minutes’ relaxation before we need to head back.’
Nick tried to focus on the gently rolling of waves beneath him and ignore his annoyance that Luke wasn’t present, even when physically there. If this was what a nine-to-five job did to people, he’d avoid one for as long as he could.
‘How are things going with Alice?’ he asked.
Luke instantly perked up, turning his head and grinning. ‘Brilliant. Yeah, really great.’
‘You planning to move in together?’ Nick crossed his fingers. If Luke and Alice moved in together, the novelty of their relationship would soon wear off, and Luke would be far more available for pub trips.
‘No, no plans. Alice still hasn’t decided whether to pursue her long-held dream of going to university. She’s worried about being a mature student, but I’ve pointed out she’s still in her twenties. I want her to be free to choose the best place for her if she goes. I don’t want to be a consideration in her plans, and if we were living together, she’d feel pressure to stay local.’
‘You mean you’re encouraging her to move away? Things can’t be that serious between you.’ A bubble of joy rose in Nick’s chest, and he hid a smile.
‘On the contrary, we’re both secure enough in the relationship to know it would survive long-distance.’
‘Isn’t she already making compromises? I thought she wanted to go this September?’ A shoal of fish passing beneath them in a flash of turquoise interested Nick far more than Alice’s uni dilemmas, but he tried to focus on the conversation at hand.
‘It made sense for her to wait another year, and it’s got nothing to do with me. Her sister May will have finished A-levels by next year, and it also gives Alice longer to get to know her dad.’
‘They’ve had a year already.’
‘They’ve got twenty-five years to make up for.’
‘Fair point.’ It was hard not to resent the way Alice’s family dramas had drawn Luke away from their friendship, and Nick longed for the days when they were free and single and closer to each other than anyone else.
Luke picked up his paddle and turned the kayak around. ‘We’d better head back or we’ll be late for those drinks.’
Nick gritted his teeth and paddled half-heartedly to shore. Alice delaying her university plans was bad news for him. It meant another year of playing third wheel to Saffron Bay’sgolden couple, and Nick was already over it. He needed to find a girlfriend of his own. There must be some woman not too far away looking for a no-strings, regular hook-ups kind of vibe. ‘Tell me more about this girl,’ he said.
Luke laughed. ‘I’ve got no idea what she’s like. At least give her five minutes to settle into village life before making any moves.’
‘Who said I was going to make any moves? She may be ancient, or married.’
‘Not that either of those things has stopped you before.’
The kayak ground to a halt in shallow water, and they climbed out, pulling the boat up the beach. Nick had a spring in his step, which had nothing to do with exercise endorphins. Provided this new girl was at least average looking and unattached, he could be in for a fun summer.
Chapter 5
Kitty hovered in the pub car park, willing her feet to move. She wasn’t just scared; nausea roiled in her stomach. Her palms were sweating, her jaw locked. What if she forgot who she was supposed to be? It was stupid to be frightened of going for a drink, and yet she couldn’t calm her hammering heart or trembling limbs. She tried to calculate how long it had been since she had gone to the pub with friends. Her hand flew to her mouth. Five years? It had been over five years since she had led anything resembling a normal life.
‘Kitty! You came!’ Alice jogged along the path towards her.
Kitty jumped, her name still feeling like it belonged to someone else. How long would it take for her to get used to being Kitty, not Catherine? And the surprise in Alice’s voice made her kick herself. This was an invitation she could have ducked out of. A missed opportunity.
‘Luke and Nick should already be there. I’m running late.’ She gave Kitty a wide smile and linked arms with her, leading her across the carpark.
‘Luke is your boyfriend?’
‘That’s right, and Nick is his best friend. Sam and Steve were coming but had a last-minute delivery so can’t make it.’
Kitty’s heart sank. Was Alice trying to set her up with this Nick person? A new relationship was the last thing she wanted or needed.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Alice, reading Kitty’s expression like a book. ‘This isn’t a double date. I’m not trying to set you up with Nick, far from it. If anything, I’d advise you to avoid him like the plague. He has a bit of a reputation where women are concerned.’
