They laughed and talked between themselves, and I could only catch the name Antoine.
Sébastian shook his head when he saw the name had caught my attention. ‘Antoine never parties with us. Not any more. He likes to keep an eye on the ocean. I told you,le flic de la plage.’
I was trying to work out why Antoine would hide from the party, when the guy with the guitar started playing another song and everyone erupted in a cheer and moved towards him.
Then I found myself alone again. I looked down the beach, at the surf hut that seemed so lonely in the darkness, and without really thinking, I walked towards it.
The wind had picked up, and I was so far from the bonfire that I felt a bit cold for the first time since I’d got to France. I pulled my cardigan round me and gazed out at the waves that were crashing against the sand.
‘Les vagues,’ I whispered into the night. And I found myself walking towards them like they were calling me.
I slid off my sandals and walked into the water. I stared up at the blanket of stars above me and wondered why I never saw this many in Belfast. I took small steps into deeper water, enjoying the coolness of the waves that swelled against my legs, then took another sip of my beer. I breathed in the salted air, closing my eyes to really get lost in it.
And I nearly dropped my beer when a voice said out of nowhere, ‘What are you doing?’
I turned round to see Antoine on the sand, hands in the pockets of his board shorts, looking at me with a serious expression on his face.
I gave a small laugh. ‘Em, I was just looking at the stars.’
‘The stars are in the sky,non?’ Antoine pointed upwards. ‘So why is it that are you in the water? You need to come back to the sand.’
I was about to wade back but changed my mind. Why should I?
‘I’m in the water because Iwantto be in the water.’
‘Because you want to?’ Antoine repeated.
I turned round, taking a sip of beer and enjoying the view of the whole ocean.
‘The ocean is dangerous. I thought we had talked about this,’ Antoine said.
‘I’m not swimming,’ I said.
‘Not yet. I have seen it before.Les mecs, les filleswho go into the water when they drink alcohol. It is stupid. It is dangerous.’
I squeezed my hand round my beer can then turned back to him. ‘So you think I’m just going to go for a swim right now? Why would I do that?’ I demanded.
‘I do not know. I do not know you,’ Antoine replied. ‘But I would like it if you came out of the water.’ He didn’t move towards me, just stood in the same place.
‘What’s in it for me?’ I asked playfully, thanks to the beer.
‘I will show you my hut,’ Antoine said. He didn’t return my smile.
‘What’s so special about your hut?’ I asked, stumbling slightly as a wave smashed into the back of my legs.
‘Come and find out.’
And then a million reasons flashed in my head about why Ishouldn’tgo into Antoine’s hut alone with him. Felix being one of them. And I don’t know why I didn’t just shut it down right there.
‘OK,’ I said and left the water, watching his shoulders visibly relax.
‘I can make you coffee?’ he offered.
‘I don’t like coffee,’ I replied.
‘Chocolatthen. I have a feeling it is going to be hard work to teach you.’ He sounded more chilled-out now. The clipped tone from a few moments ago had morphed into something marginally softer.
‘Deal. I like hot chocolate.’ I picked up my sandals and we walked towards the hut.
