As soon as they’re settled Clemmie begins. ‘So guess what? We’ve been offered a vintage ice-cream van for the evening this Sunday!’
‘Great!’ I have no idea what the fuss is about. ‘And that would interest me because…?’
Nell slaps her hand on her knee. ‘For the joint singles club evening you and Kit offered to do! What else would it be for?’
I take it from Kit and Rye’s broad yet entirely unsurprised smiles that they’ve known this for hours, if not days.
‘But Sunday is so soon?’ I’d counted on having at least a couple of months to build up to this. I’d actually hoped everyone would forget about it altogether.
Nell stares at her stomach doubtfully. ‘I needed a distraction.’ Then she perks up. ‘So many people have signed up to come, we couldn’t possibly send them all onto The Hideaway veranda, so we’ve gone to Plan B.’
The more I hear about this, the more it sounds like it’s been going on for ever.
Clemmie’s eyes are bright. ‘We thought an open marquee and bar next to Kit’s, then people can take their drinks into his to browse and have a tour of the studio. If we park the ice-cream van close by and put out your beach hut signs, you will have an independent base. That way you’re free to add in whatever else you’re comfortable with, and serve from there.’
Plum’s somehow manoeuvred herself right across the room and onto the slice of the sofa next to Rye, who is sitting there like a beach god in his Aztec trousers and sun-bleached T-shirt. She’s staring at me as she squeezes her shoulder in next to his. ‘You don’t evenhaveto be there, Floss. But if you gave out teensy ice-cream cones and a few flyers, at least it tells the world that your business is up and running.’
Rye coughs. ‘Or, better still, how about a cake halt?’
Plum’s fuzzy adoring eyes as she stares at Rye could have come straight out of aGraziapiece, but even though her swishing ponytail keeps catching him under the chin, the inch of air between them suggests that she hasn’t progressed to the hands-on phase yet. Which unfortunately leads my gaze three feet to the left, where it lands on denim, stretched tight across Kit’s thighs. For a fleeting moment I regret my decision to be a thoroughly committed singleton, then I remember who I am, and redouble my resolve. It still takes a full ten seconds to unstick my own eyes from that view and get back to the business in hand.
Ducking out of the singles night might be my preference, but however much I’d rather have a hundred miles between me and High Tides, with the challenges ahead it would be rash to waste this opportunity. I need to embrace it and make it work for me.
‘So how many people are we talking?’
Kit raises an eyebrow. ‘Definitely less than a hundred and ninety-nine.’
‘Thanks, Kit.’ I can’t cope with jeansandattitude. I turn back to Nell.
She’s looking at her phone. ‘Forty to fifty. Sixty max.’
My chest implodes. There’s no way I can do that number.But then, I can’t afford not to.
Nell carries on. ‘The more you give them the more we’ll charge – and the bigger impact you’ll make.’
I stare around the expectant faces and screw up every bit of my courage.
‘I’ll do lucky dip puddings.’ I’m so far out of my comfort zone here, as I turn to Nell again it’s like some entrepreneur fromThe Apprenticehas taken me over. ‘In mini ice-cream tubs to keep on theme. One tub per person –or two?’
Nell brings her fist down on her knee. ‘Call it three, and we’ll really put you on the map.’
‘Three it is!’ It’s like someone else is operating my mouth. It takes a minute to do the sums and when it hits me what I’ve agreed to, my blood runs cold. But it’s out there! It’s too late to turn back now.
As I see Rye’s smile fade, I take pity. ‘And there will be chocolate brownies too. For the purists.’
Rye gives the air a punch as he stands up. ‘Great! Now everyone’s on board and up to speed, we’ll leave you to your decorating.’
Kit sits forwards on the sofa edge and holds up a fan of tickets. ‘One last thing…’
Sophie’s like a terrier on a scent. ‘Are those … High Tides Spa vouchers?’
I can’t believe he’s brought this up again. ‘It’s more a girls’ night in a hot tub, with seaweed crisp snacks and salt-water fizz. Florence wasn’t sure last time I offered.’ Kit’s looking at me, querying.
Clemmie’s looking at me too, her eyes full of concern. ‘It’s always worth a second try, Kit. No pressure, Floss, but if you fancy giving it a go the rest of us will all be there to support you.’
Mum’s nudging my arm and Plum’s nodding so hard her head might drop off.
Sophie fixes me with her significant, hard-headed stare. ‘We have to admit, it would beso goodto check the place out.’ And she has a point. Knowing what’s inside High Tides may well give me an advantage in the future. In fact, it could be another gift I’d be mad to turn down.
