The Surf Shack, St Aidan
Dancers with bruised knees
Saturday
‘Do Saturday nights in summer come any better?’
You guessed it. We’re at the Surf Shack, Miles is bigging up the evening he pushed me into, but to be fair I couldn’t have asked for a better companion. He’s danced without a thought every time I’ve asked, he’s just fought his way to the bar with me for the fourth time and now he’s lounging on the sand under the light strands that are swinging above us on the edge of the Surf Shack deck, drinking craft bitter from the bottle and getting more snoggable with every wave that comes up the beach.
As I watch the wind tangling his hair and the crowds of lively revellers melt out of focus in the half-light beyond him it’s almost as if we were the only people here. ‘A Sea Breeze cocktail in one hand, a Beachcomber in the other, “Flowers in the Rain” belting out across the sand dunes, the whole beach erupting every time Abba sing “Waterloo”.’ I take a sip through my straw. ‘What’s not to like?
‘You know the only downside?’ I don’t think I’m slurring, but I’ve lost count of how many Strawberry Daiquiris I’ve had from Zach. He refuses to take no for an answer, and drops them into my hand in return for the briefest word in my ear before he disappears into the crowd again. Me being about to tell Miles about tonight’s wardrobe disaster is a definite sign they’re going to my head. ‘I was in such a rush, I came out in two dresses rather than four, so I’m only half dressed.’
Miles’s eyes narrow as he holds my gaze. ‘Am I allowed to say you look great in your underwear?’
Questions like that are why I should never have started this. ‘Two months ago you wouldn’t have been. This once, I’ll let it go.’ I’d usually be appalled by the electric tingles that are zinging up and down my spine, but the sea and the tiredness from a full-on week mean for once I give in and enjoy the shivers.
Miles gives me that look where he seems to be peering right inside my head. ‘You know that Zach’s going to ask you to go home with him?’
I bite my lip and consider. ‘If you’re talking about the drinks he’s been bringing over, I tried to refuse them, but the price he charges for those bales, Scarlett’s paid for them three times over.’ I’m being true to myself here. ‘I might have been tempted once, but I’m not going to go now. Shall we dance again?’
Spot the deliberate mistake. As Miles stands up I’m still holding two full glasses, but I’m happy to say I’ve not lost my ability to down drinks. A few moments later I’ve pushed my empty glasses onto the Surf Shack deck and he’s reaching out to pull me to my feet.
I smile up at him as he tugs on my hand. ‘That’s another thing I’ve learned in St Aidan. It’s okay to say “no”. And careful selection isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I might even have discovered why I always ended up with the wrong people.’
As I join him jumping around to the music I’m shouting at him. ‘For someone so up themselves you’re surprisingly willing to dance.’
He bends and yells back into my ear. ‘I can’t be that aloof and distant, Bets. I’m pogo-ing to Plastique Bertrand here.’
It’s not a great time to start an interrogation, but in the dusk, on the beach, with the wind whipping away the answers it’s somehow easier to ask. ‘All those hoops a woman has to jump through to get a date with you. What’s that about?’
He calls back. ‘Every requirement is a no-brainer. Do they support themselves? Do they know their own mind? Can they create a spreadsheet, host a party, make a playlist, drive a car…’
I cup my hand around his ear. ‘You’re effing unbelievable, Milo.’
He’s still bouncing on the spot. ‘It was my mum’s contribution that held me back.Must be able to sing along to Abba. If only I’d come to a St Aidan disco earlier, I’d have known the whole town would qualify for that.’
‘The sheer arrogance…’
He actually sounds pleased with himself. ‘It’s a comprehensive list. It certainly saved me a lot of wasted time.’
‘Me showing an interest doesn’t mean I condone it.’ I’m shaking my head. ‘What happens once some poor woman satisfies all your ridiculous conditions?’ Enquiring for a friend here, obviously not for myself.
‘If you’re wondering how you’re doing, you’d ticked every box but one, and you’ve nailed the final one this evening.’ He shrugs. ‘Anyone else, I’d go ahead and ask them out. But you’re a special case, so you’ve got to ask me.’
I’m not even trying to hide my incredulity. ‘That’s it?’
His voice is very low. ‘Try me and see?’
I’m right back at him. ‘You don’t mean that. If we’re in another one of those head-to-head situations, you know better than to challenge me. I’m very stubborn. I won’t rise.’
As ever, it’s three steps forwards two steps back with Milo-pie. Just when I think I’m uncovering his warmer, softer, approachable side, he comes out with this!
I’m reeling at the audacity. The assumptions. The whole overblown confidence that I’ll fall at his feet. The more infuriating he is, the more I want to grind my body against his. At the same time, it’s comforting to think it’s onlythisextreme because I’m on my seventh drink.
As Zofia comes into view her arm linked through Zach’s, we ease off on the dancing and suspend the argument.
‘Excuse us interrupting, but can you clear something up for lovely Zach here please.’
