‘I don’t know.’ It’s the truth. ‘What do you think it is?’
I sound nervous, but his eye contact is unwavering.
‘It feels like something.’
Goosebumps race down my arms as I nod at him. ‘It feels like something to me too.’
He’s studying me, his eyes glinting.
‘Come to the beach with me,’ he murmurs.
‘To swim?’
‘No, to sleep. Don’t catch your train this afternoon.’
My eyes widen. ‘But my parents are expecting me.’
‘Can’t they expect you tomorrow?’
Ash is asking me to sleep under the stars with him. The thought of it is tantalising, dizzying.
‘But I can’t even call them,’ I point out.
‘We’ll find a phone.’
Another idea occurs to me. ‘If we could get to an internet café, I could email their PA.’ Then I wouldn’t even have to speak to them. Do I dare?
‘Come on,’ Ash encourages. ‘You can do it.’
I let out a giddy laugh and he closes his eyes and lets his head fall back momentarily before looking at me again through lowered lashes.
‘What’s that look for?’ I ask, baffled.
‘I really,reallylove your laugh,’ he says slowly, candidly, placing his hand over his heart.
Snakes could come slithering down these walls and they wouldn’t wipe the smile from my face.
I nod at him. ‘Yes. Yeah, let’s do it. Let’s go.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
Adrenaline is pumping through my body as we collect our rucksacks from lockers at the train station – I’m so glad I followed Ash’s lead and brought mine with me to Sintra instead of leaving it back in Lisbon; I’d be gutted if I didn’t have my things.
Climbing into a waiting taxi, Ash pulls out a map and shows the driver, pointing at a beach.
‘Retro,’ I tease after he’s leaned back in his seat.
He shoots me a smile that livens up the butterflies that have been residing in my stomach since the cave. ‘Get on board, Ellie. You’re off-grid now.’
I love it when he says my name.
Our rucksacks are on the seat between us and I’m glad of the separation. I need a minute.
Turns out I need half an hour, which is about how long the journey takes.
When I started seeing a counsellor in the wake of Stella’s death, it brought up other things I’d never dealt with, and my counsellor recommended that I wait until I’m in a proper relationship before getting intimate again. But what I’m feeling for Ash – itdoesfeel like the start of something real, something permanent. The thought of it makes me breathless with hope.
We’re high up on a cliff when we catch our first glimpse of the ocean through the taxi windows, and then we wind our way down a dirt track, between tall wild grasses blowing in the wind, and come to a stop at the edge of the sand. On our left are a café and surf school that have already closed for the evening, and way over on the right is a wooden walkway with steps up to a restaurant and other buildings.
