He’s still smiling, and this time he’s torturing me with a view of those teeth. ‘I prefer to think of you as a mermaid. So long as I find enough of the right kind of star fish, I’m sure I’ll be able to tempt you when the time’s good.’
I stop imagining how his incisors would taste if I ran my tongue over them, and go for my least ethereal, most earthbound voice. ‘Don’t count on it, mate.’ I’m taking a swig from my can to indicate the conversation’s over when I hear a creak from down the garden. As I peer past the honeysuckle arch, I catch a glimpse of mussed up auburn hair and ripped jeans, and let out a yelp. ‘Shit, Hobson, you left the gate open.’ I drop my voice to a whisper. ‘It’s Joe Marlow, I’m stuffed here.’
‘Damn.’ Charlie’s voice is low. ‘Sit tight, don’t worry, I’ve got this.’ A moment later his hip thumps down next to mine.
As his arm flops around my shoulder, I let out a loud squawk. ‘What the …?’
His arm clenches me tighter and his breath is warm in my ear as his scent engulfs me. ‘Just look him straight in the eye, leave the rest to me.’ Then he looks up and clears his throat. ‘Hello, there, anything we can help with?’
Joe jumps up the steps to the lawn, and strides towards us. ‘I’m looking for Clemmie Hamilton. She moved into my grandmother’s flat on the top floor a few weeks back?’ What a shame those athletic genes passed me by. And it’s significant he’s talking about the flat as Laura’s not mine. Although I can’t blame him for that. He’s got a lot more right to it than I have.
Charlie hesitates. ‘I’m Charlie Hobson, and this is my girlfriend.’ It rolls straight out.
My heart is already banging so loudly, Joe has to hear, but with that gem it does an extra lurch. ‘Were you in Trenowden’s yesterday?’ As my cheek is crushed against Charlie’s soft cotton shirt, I might as well join in here. ‘I was the one shouting about cake fests in Reception. Did you find the Crusty Cobs shop?’
Joe scratches his head, then smiles as he gets it. ‘Yes, thanks for the tip, the tarts were great.’
I’m on a roll here, so I nod at the box. ‘Charlie’s just bought me a food mixer. Hopefully from now on I’ll be baking my own.’ All bollocks, but I’m getting right into character. And hopefully beingsoobvious he won’t see me as myself at all.
Charlie’s fingers give my arm a double squeeze. ‘I’m Clemmie’s neighbour. Shall I tell her you dropped by? Or when you’ll be coming again?’ That genius stroke from Charlie goes halfway to making up for leaving the gate open.
Joe pulls a face. ‘I’m off now, but she knows I’m looking to catch up. Let’s hope I’ll be luckier next trip. I haven’t fixed a date yet, but I’ll definitely be here for longer next time to get properly back in touch with my roots.’
My heart sinks at how thorough and committed he sounds. ‘Maybe see you again then.’ As I watch him make his way back along the garden I can’t help thinking I could have done with either of those genes too. The moment the gate clicks shut I shrug out from under Charlie’s arm. ‘Thanks for jumping in to save me there.’
‘You’re welcome. Any time.’ He realigns his legs and rests his elbows on his knees. ‘Was that an actual ginger man-bun then?’
I roll my eyes that this would be his first comment. ‘I think it was.’ I push back my hair and rearrange my breathing and get onto more important stuff. ‘I’m digging a hell of a hole for myself here, and I’m feeling awful for lying. But realistically I never intend to let him catch up with me.’ I glance at my phone. ‘And I’d better get on too.’
Charlie’s eyes narrow. ‘So you definitely aren’t up for the long lost family happy reunion thing?’
I push my foot into a sandal, and fumble with the ankle strap. ‘That doesn’t work for everybody.’
He rubs a thumb over the stubble on his chin. ‘It’s your call, obviously. But that family is fifty per cent of who you are. It’s a lot to cut yourself off from.’
This has to be said. ‘Iwasn’t the one who did the cutting off,Ididn’t actually have a choice. But I’ve never been anything other than fine as I am, and I’m damn well not going to change that now.’ I’m shocked at how snappy it’s making me feel. ‘And did youhaveto do the whole girlfriend thing back there?’
He grins as he gets up. ‘It worked, didn’t it? And we’re both back to our single status now, so no harm’s done.’ He grasps my hand and hauls me to my feet, then picks up the box. ‘Ready to go?’ He whistles Diesel.
I know there’s no point wishing I could wind the clock back. But if I could go back to that first day in George’s office, and not come and see the flat, I might do it that way. I never imagined one pocket handkerchief apartment in Seaspray Cottage could open up such a can of worms. Before it life was simple and straightforward. I existed. End of. Now there are new complications every day. Pavlova parties being the tip of the proverbial complication iceberg. And I really didn’t sign up for any of it. But now it’s happening, unless someone can point me in the direction of a time machine, I need to ignore the nightmare it’s become and push on through to the end of it. Wherever that might be.
As we wind our way back up the stairs, there are a couple more things I need to check out with Charlie.
‘So what about this evening. Are you up for another helping of meringue?’
He laughs. ‘Of course.’
‘And how did you get on with Nell?’ I’ve been dying to ask this. Sending her along the balcony to deliver his free puddings is the main Operation Cupid thrust. Although how I’d cope with the insane jealousy of seeing my bestie with her hands all over Hobson, I’ve no idea.
He raises an eyebrow. ‘Who?’
‘Nell … the pretty one with short blonde hair and the gingham blouse.’ Maybe more details will jog his memory, and hopefully he won’t confuse blonde with Dakota. ‘She brought you last night’s party carry-out?’ Although to be fair Nell did boomerang back very fast.
He gives me a blank stare. ‘Is it the wrong answer to say I was looking at the meringue?’
I roll my eyes. ‘Well tonight please at least try and chat when you take the tray from her. She’s an accountant, you both have pound signs in your eyes instead of stars. You’ll get on, and she could do with a break.’ Hopefully that will appeal to this compassionate side he seems so keen to prove he has.
‘So what’s inyoureyes then, Clemmie?’ He pauses as he reaches the top of the last flight. ‘Starfish?’
