Shit, I’ve been staring at his mouth and he’s noticed.
‘What’s the point of me going to another beach if you’re going to watch me anyway?’ he asks, looking down at me.
‘Oh. I didn’t think of that. But I’d really love to watch you at work. What do you use? I mean, what tools?’
‘I borrowed a rake from your garden shed, actually.’
‘Youdefinitelyhave to let me watch you then!’ I exclaim, slapping his hard chest. ‘I’m part of your process!’
‘We’ll see,’ he says gently, lifting his chin to indicate something up ahead.
I’m gutted to realise that we’re home.
‘Are you going to be all right?’ he asks, releasing me and opening the front door with his keys before holding it back for me.
‘Yeah, I’ll fall straight into bed,’ I reply, feeling dejected as I duck under his arm.
‘Drink a pint of water first.’
I dig out my keys and salute him, unlocking the door.
He waits until I’m over the threshold of my apartment before entering the hall.
‘Thanks again for coming,’ I say, turning to face him.
He gives me a warm smile, his golden eyes shining underthe ceiling light. ‘It was fun. Ask me again sometime if anyone drops out.’
‘I will. Night, Tom.’
‘Night, Liv.’
I close the door on the crushing thought that ‘sometime’ will probably be ‘never’. He’ll be gone in less than three weeks and then I’ll have new guests staying in the downstairs apartment.
I walk up the stairs feeling cold and miserable and oddly untethered without the weight of his arm around my shoulders.
Why do I keep doing this to myself? Why can’t I meet a nice local boy, someone who isn’t going to up and leave me at the end of their holiday?
FOUR SUMMERS AGO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
‘What the fuck?’ Rach says when I show her the latest creation to be etched onto the foam on top of my latte.
‘Elephant?’ I ponder, sounding dubious as we carefully wind our way between holidaymakers, trying not to kick sand onto their patchwork of colourful beach towels.
Where have all these peoplecomefrom? Where have theyparked? They surely can’t all be staying in St Agnes.
‘That’s not a fucking elephant, Liv. That’s a cock and balls.’
‘Shh!’ I say, unable to keep from laughing, even as I flash a concerned look at some nearby children.
Thankfully they’re too caught up in their sandcastle to pay my foul-mouthed friend any attention.
‘He’s trying to show you what you’re missing out on,’ Rach teases, shoving my arm.
‘If this is it, I’m not sure I want it.’
‘I don’t know. I mean, that’s a hefty length.’
