‘Er, yeah,’ I admit.
He nods, his jaw twitching as he stares out of the front window. ‘Well, if there’s anything else you need to know, you can always ask me.’
‘Really?’
‘Why do you sound surprised?’
‘Er, your...’
‘My...?’ he prompts, casting me a quick sideways look.
‘Your mum offered the same thing.’
‘Did she?’ He appears alarmed, then shakes his head. ‘Seriously, you can ask me. I’m not as fragile as she thinks I am.’
‘I wasn’t going to ask her anyway,’ I say, then giggle. ‘I’m sorry, that sounded really petulant.’
He smirks. ‘She brings out the teenager in me, too.’
‘I like your mum,’ I say with a smile.
‘Yeah, she’s all right,’ he replies fondly. ‘I’m lucky to have her.’ A beat. ‘Even if she does annoy the fuck out of me sometimes.’
I burst out laughing and he grins.
‘My mum always annoys the fuck out of me,’ I say, then jolt and turn around to look at April. ‘Should we be swearing in front of her?’ I whisper at Charlie.
‘It’ll be a while before we need to worry about that sort of thing. She can’t even speak yet.’
‘Phew.’
When we arrive at the campsite, Charlie parks up by the office and gets April out.
‘I’ll bring the tent over in a bit. Just going to say hi to Julia and Justin.’
‘I’ll take it,’ I offer.
‘You sure?’
‘Yep.’
As he passes me the bright-blue tent bag, I wonder if this is goodbye.
‘Be over in a bit,’ he says.
I’m pleased. I’ve enjoyed the company today.
I get back toHermieand unzip the bag, lifting the tent out.
Hmm... Now what?
‘You look like you’re having fun,’ Charlie says a few minutes later, wandering over with April.
‘Do I seem like the sort of person who knows how to put up a tent?’
‘You seem like the sort of person who can do anything she puts her mind to,’ he replies matter-of-factly, putting April down on the grass.
Whoa, was that a compliment?
