By the time the chorus comes around again, I’m singing and dancing too.
Luckily, Chas and our customers indulge us, because no one is getting served during those three minutes.
I don’t know what this thing with Finn is, or where it can go, but I’ve never felt so lit up.
CHAPTER NINE
It’s the first Saturday of August and I’m out on the balcony, collecting empties. It was the St Agnes Carnival today and loads of people ended up here for the after-party. I could have gone home an hour ago, but Chas did a lock-in and I decided to stay, even though I’m the walking dead.
I place the stack of cups I’ve gathered on the ground beside me so they don’t blow away, then lean against the railing, allowing the frigid breeze to cool my hot skin. The tide is on its way in and waves are galloping towards Seaglass like a herd of wild horses, gleaming black and shining white. It’s windy tonight, and every breath I take feels stolen.
Finn walks out onto the balcony through the only door I haven’t yet locked and looks around, spying me.
I turn around and he comes over, kicking my feet apart with his big boots. I laugh lightly at his impertinence and he gives me a small smile as he steps into the space he’s created between my feet.
‘Hi,’ he says, staring down at me.
Ever since I gave him my phone number after our walk on the beach ten days ago, we’ve been texting back and forth, and I’ve barely stopped listening to the playlist he made for me. He leaves a week tomorrow, but right now he’s right here.
‘Look at you two,’ Amy says, coming out onto the balcony, trailed by Dan.
They’re fully seeing each other now. I don’t want to jinx it, but Dan seems smitten and Iknowshe is.
‘What about us?’ Finn asks.
He moves so he’s leaning against the balustrade next to me, his elbows propped on the wooden railing.
‘You look like a beach advert, with your tumbling dark locks and long eyelashes.’
We laugh and glance at each other.
My hair was coming loose so I let it down half an hour ago.
‘I don’t really think you could describe me as having tumbling dark locks,’ Finn muses, his eyes still resting on mine. ‘And her eyelashes are way longer.’
‘No, they’re not,’ I scoff.
‘Theydefinitelyare,’ he insists.
‘So, are we all travelling to Boardies together?’ Amy asks, losing interest in our silly argument and moving on to talk about the festival next weekend.
‘Sounds like it. Rach is keen too,’ I say.
I was thrilled when Finn asked me to go with him, but I wasn’t disappointed to hear that my friends and Dan are up for it too. It will be fun with a bunch of us going.
‘Wonder if we can all get off work for Saturday night,’ Amy muses.
Dan shakes his head. ‘It’s our last gig before Finn returns to LA. We can’t miss it.’
My heart recoils at the thought of him leaving. Finn gives me a sidelong look, as if sensing my inner turmoil. He drops his gaze to the ground and releases an audible sigh.
Kieran returns a few days after Finn goes, so he’ll be stepping back into the spotlight as frontman until the end of August. I can’t imagine watching the band and not seeing Finn hanging off the mic stand. It’s going to be weird.
It’s going to behard.
All the more reason to get myself together and head to London, now that I’ve paid back my parents. I still haven’t worked up the courage to tell them my plans.
‘Who’ll drive?’ Dan asks.
