Summer Loving

by Lise Gold et al.

  “What? It’s just a little bit of skunk.” She put the tightly rolled cigarette to her lips and lit it, sucking at it a couple of times before finally inhaling. When she blew out the smoke, Alex couldn’t help but be captivated by the perfect O shape her mouth made. “Shit, that is good.”

  Alex pulled a face. She had never been one for smoking anything, preferring to try and keep her lungs in working order. “I’m sure it is.” Of course, she also hated it because Chris had given it to Freya, and that had caused her to feel jealous, which she also didn’t like. It was a trait she wasn’t used to dealing with.

  “Alex?”

  “Huh?” She looked around quickly and found Freya’s hand holding out the joint and her face inches away from her own. For one moment, Alex thought she might kiss her. “Oh, no, thanks though, but I’m good.” She lifted the almost empty bottle and took a quick swig as proof, turning away but kicking herself.

  Freya shrugged and sat back, putting the joint to her lips again, sucking gently as she kept her eyes on Alex the entire time. It was a sexy sight in Alex’s opinion.

  “So, Chris?” Alex ventured timidly.

  “Chris? What about him?” Freya said, taking a third pull on the joint. The aroma of wackybacky filled the air.

  “He seems like…I get the impression if you’re chasing him, it wouldn’t take much to catch him.”

  Freya burst out laughing. “What? Chris?” She shook her head. “Oh god, no. I mean he is alright. Good for a night of fun now and then, but Chris?”

  Freya stared at her for almost a minute, maybe longer. Alex didn’t know; she was lost in it.

  “Alex, I’m not interested in Chris.” She winked.

  Alex felt her heart lighten. Chris wasn’t the object of Freya’s fascination, but then a new problem arose. Who was?

  “Good, he isn’t good enough for you,” Alex said without thinking.

  There was silence for a moment. When Alex looked up, she found Freya staring at her. “You are an idiot, you do know that, don’t you?”

  “What?” Alex said, slightly stunned until she realised that Freya was smiling. They were looking at one another intensely again, trying to read the situation. At one-point Alex considered just leaning in and kissing her, but she chickened out when she thought about being rebuffed and the almighty shitstorm that embarrassment would bring to their friendship.

  The joint was almost gone, and Freya flicked what was left into the fire. The flames were dying down now, and the chill in the air brought goosebumps to her skin – or was it the way in which Freya was staring at her?

  “Work it out, dimwit.” Freya grinned before standing abruptly and swaying a little. “I’m going to bed, you coming?”

  Alex sat there, on the grass, wondering what the hell was happening. She sighed when she remembered there was only one sleeping bag, and she would have to share it with the object of her desire.

  She moved around slowly, put the fire out, and collected up their rubbish. She pushed it all into a bin bag and tied it up, weighting it down with a couple of rocks she found near the cliff edge. By the time she had crawled into the tent and pulled off her clothes, Freya was asleep. In just her underwear, she pulled back the cover and wriggled in, and that was when it happened. Freya moved forward, her arm snaking around Alex, and her lips made contact with Alex’s neck. In the darkness, she froze.

  “Sorry,” a sleepy voice mumbled before the warm body turned and was gently snoring again.

  Chapter 10

  The first holidaymakers to arrive at Angel Falls were settling in. Eighteen caravans were filled, and the sounds of people enjoying themselves could be heard from the office that Alex had locked herself inside. This summer was already looking like a lot of work.

  The camping trip had been weird, and it had created an environment where she kept herself busy and out of the way. Even now, three days later, she felt like an idiot. Apart from the moment around the fire where she almost leaned in and kissed her friend, she had then continued to be an embarrassment the following morning.

  Why she had felt the need to make a joke as they had packed up their stuff about Freya trying it on her in her sleep, she didn’t know. Freya’s arm had slid around her at some point in the night – it was nothing – but Alex had been self-conscious.

  Clearly, she had embarrassed her friend by making fun of it, and Freya had looked at her in horror, and then before she had a chance to fix things, Freya was up and grabbing her bag. She was halfway down the hill before Alex even realised. And now both of them were keeping busy and out of each other’s way, and she didn’t even know why.

  That was fine until the family in caravan 4 reported a leak. Now, she waited, fidgeting around in her chair for Freya to come to the office. When the knock came, she almost fell of the seat; Freya never knocked.

  “Hey, can I come in?” The usually confident voice now seemed timid and unsure.

  Alex swivelled in her chair to face the doorway. “Of course,”

  “You wanted to see me?” Freya asked cautiously as she entered the room more fully.

  “I did, yeah. Number 4 reported a leak.”

  “Ah, right. I’ll get on over there then and…” She shuffled from foot to foot. “Are we…are we okay, I mean after…”

  “Sure, yeah. I mean…”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

  “It’s fine, no harm done… I didn’t dis…” The phone rang loudly on her desk. “Sorry, I need to…” She swung back around and plucked the handset from its cradle, bringing it to her ear. “Hello, Angel Falls. Could you hold the line?” she said cheerily, but as she turned around again, Freya had left the room.

  Sighing, she put the phone back to her ear. “Hi, how can I help?”

  The rest of the week was a blur. Alex would rise early and go to bed late, and there was always something or someone that needed her attention. Staffing issues. Trips to the wholesalers. Taking in deliveries and organising more entertainment for later in the year. It was exhausting, and each night she had all but crawled into bed and slept soundly until the alarm went off and she got up to start it all over again.

  By the following Saturday evening, she was ready to fall into bed. Instead, she found herself in the bar area watching Franco mix drinks and chat up the punters. The band had just been on for their first set of the night. There was a good atmosphere in the room, although it wasn’t filled as much as she would like it to be. But the following weeks were looking hopeful. With the discounts and offers she had floating around the holiday booking sites, she was getting a lot more interest, and by the time they got to June and July, she was expecting a full occupancy.

  Her line of sight as she sipped a piña colada led right to the front of the stage and Chris talking to Freya. She felt her cheeks flush as she watched them together, flirting and laughing. She could have kicked herself. Why hadn’t she just kissed her? Now, she was going to have to spend the rest of the summer watching as Chris took centre stage with Freya again.

  When Freya suddenly turned and looked in Alex’s direction, it was all Alex could do to smile before downing the rest of her drink.

  “I’m going to head off back to my room,” she said across the bar to Franco.

  He nodded, grinned, and then turned back to the latest customer to appear and order an exotic drink. Alex glanced back to the stage. Freya and Chris were gone.

  Lying on her bed, Alex rolled over to face the wall. She had taken a shower and quickly eaten a bowl of cereal, but now, as she lay there in the semi-dark listening to the sounds inside the house, she grimaced. Freya giggling had alerted her first, and then the low, monotonous tones of Chris speaking in a loud whisper. Alex exhaled and tried desperately to stop her mind going into meltdown at the thought of them together just down the hall.

  She felt sick as her imagination went into overdrive. Grabbing a pillow, she pulled it down over her head and squeezed her eyes shut tight.

  This was going to be a long summer.


  Chapter 11

  The summer sun came roaring in during May. A mini heatwave meant that everyone was outside, and they even managed to bring in a few late bookings. Children ran around screaming, kicking balls across the grass and chasing each other with giant water guns. Parents lounged around the pool as more kids jumped and dived into the water. Some adults were braving the potential splashing and enjoying the water floating on top of a Lilo.

  Now, Alex stood at the poolside and considered whether she should just dive in. She was sweltering even in her sleeveless top and shorts. That morning had seen her dashing out of town to pick up extra ice cream cones too. They were selling like mad, which was all a bonus as far as Alex and her bank account were concerned. Drinks sales were up too, and she couldn’t help but smile as she looked around. Her dad would be proud, she knew that much.

  “Going in?” The voice from behind made her smile. Turning, she found Freya smiling at her. Hand on hip, she wore cut-off jean shorts and a bright red bikini top.

  “Oh, I don’t think that would be very professional.” She smiled back, admiring the sight of a relaxed Freya. “Day off, of course,” she said almost to herself.

  Freya’s head tilted the other way. “Yeah, thought I’d hang out around the pool with Chris for an hour before a meeting later.”

  “Right,” Alex said, nodding, but she looked away.

  “We’re just going to hang out, nothing serious,” Freya insisted.

  Alex shrugged. “None of my business, so long as the work gets done. That’s all I am concerned with.” She could have kicked herself instantly. There was no need for the attitude, and yet, she had gone that route. “Listen, have fun. I have some paperwork to catch up with.”

  Freya watched as she walked away. “Alex?”

  Stopping, Alex turned. “Yeah?”

  “Let’s catch up soon, yes?”

  Looking over Freya’s shoulder, she saw Chris come into view and sidle up beside her. “Yeah sure,” she answered quickly before scurrying off.

  Chris raised a hand to say hello, but Alex was already gone. “You told her yet?” he asked, leaning in to whisper in Freya’s ear.

  “No,” Freya said gruffly, turning to him. “I need the right moment. It’s not something I can just blab.”

  “Yeah, well she needs to know, Babe,” Chris continued as he rubbed at his stubbly chin with one hand, while the other held onto the stripy towel that he had slung over his shoulder. “Where ya wanna lay out then?”

  Huffing, Freya looked around. Noticing two empty loungers, she pointed. “Over there will do.” They started walking, dodging around small children in rubber rings and arm bands. “The thing is, I just don’t know how she is going to react. She’s been really cool with me since…”

  “Since you tried to get off with her?” Chris laughed and earned a slap to his bare arm.

  “I did not try and get off with her.” She glared at him.

  “Alright, just mucking about.”

  “Well don’t, it’s not funny. I felt like a total idiot.” Freya blushed and looked away, back at the retreating form of Alex in the distance. “I really thought she would kiss me, and then she didn’t.”

  “Aw Babe, she’s the idiot.”

  Another whack to the arm. “Don’t call her that, she’s just not as relaxed about things as I am. I should have known that.”

  Chris dropped his towel down on the bed. “Well, she had better get used to it, eh?”

  A fan whirred in the background, and the paperwork that Alex was attempting to work through would lift at the edges gently as the oscillation moved the cool breeze around the room. She huffed and reached for a stapler, placing it down on the corner to keep it still.

  The image of Freya with Chris yet again played in her mind, and the unanswered question lingered too: why didn’t I just kiss her when I had the chance?

  There was no reason not to. She liked her. They got on, really got on, and there was a chemistry there, right?

  She shook her head, she knew why. She was a chicken.

  Chapter 12

  Alex had tried not to notice that Chris stayed over again, but it was impossible to ignore when he came strolling into the kitchen that morning like Julie fucking Andrews, all perky and full of the joys of spring. Why wouldn’t he be after a night with Freya, Alex thought to herself. He flicked the kettle on and grabbed a couple of mugs while Alex continued to eat her cereal.

  “Morning,” he said. Opening the cupboard and taking the shared coffee jar from it, he spooned some into the mug and waited.

  “Alright,” Alex replied, picking up her phone and searching for something to take her attention away from the fact that he was here again.

  He sniffed and rubbed his chin before moving along the counter and picking up the half-eaten pre-sliced loaf. Pulling four slices from the plastic bag, he dropped them all into the toaster and pressed the sliders down. “It’s your day off, right?”

  She glanced up at him. He was leaning back against the counter, arms folded across his chest. “Yeah, I guess that is what it is.”

  “You should go out, do something away from here,” he suggested. The kettle boiled and drew his attention. “Freya’s going into town.”

  “Right.” The word drawled as she considered its implications and why he was telling her this.

  “You should go with her,” he said, pouring water into both cups.

  She put her spoon down, clanking it against the bowl.

  “It’s just an idea. She said you two didn’t get to hang out much anymore,” he stuttered and seemed thankful when the toast popped.

  Alex stood up, chair legs scraping against the tiles. She walked the bowl to the sink. “I’m sure if Freya wanted to hang out, she would. Her time seems taken up with other things though, doesn’t it?” she said with just a hint of annoyance at him.

  He decided against anything further and began to butter the toast while Alex washed the bowl.

  When Freya wandered in, running a hand through her hair, the silence was palpable. “What’s going on?” she asked, looking from one to the other.

  Alex and Chris looked at each other before they both turned back to Freya and simultaneously replied, “Nothing.”

  She raised her eyes at the pair but accepted the answer. Noticing the mugs of coffee, she picked one up and took a sip. “Thanks, Chris.”

  “No problem, babe.” He took a seat at the table. “I was just saying how you were going into town and that Alex should go with you.”

  Freya’s eyes widened.

  “I told him that I am busy,” Alex said quickly, too quickly, and Freya’s look of hope disappeared just as fast.

  “Well, it was just some shopping, nothing exciting. I might not bother actually; I’ve got some things that need doing around the site. There’s a fence that’s in need of repair. I think the kids are climbing over it as a shortcut to the beach.”

  Alex nodded. “Right, well, I’ll leave you both to it.” She sauntered out before either of them could stop her. When Freya turned her gaze away from the retreating form of Alex, she found Chris staring at her.

  “What?”

  He shook his head and snagged a corner of the toast between his teeth.

  The rest of the day didn’t get much better for Alex either.

  Sitting in the restaurant at lunchtime, she poked a fork into the crisp lettuce and was just about to shove it into her mouth when she heard, “They booked the venue then.” A statement, not a question.

  Her head swivelled slowly and found the other members of the band sitting together eating burgers.

  “Yeah, all booked up for the first weekend in October.”

  “It’s going to be awesome.” Alex listened more intently, trying to look inconspicuous. “It’s all pretty quick though.”

  “Yeah, but when it’s right, it’s right, init?” the other one replied, grinning.

  “That’s true. You can’t fight fate.”

  Alex placed
the fork down and felt all the air leave her lungs. Freya was marrying Chris? How was that even possible? She said they weren’t seeing each other. Maybe things had changed since then?

  Pushing the plate away, she stood up quickly. The chair almost fell over, but she caught it just in time and righted it before leaving the room as quickly as she could.

  Air, that was what she needed right now.

  She took a walk up over the cliffs, pounding forward to the top of the hill like her life depended on it, and maybe it did. Her mind was awash with all of the possibilities that were now nothing more than wishful thinking, and regret. She could kick herself. How, or more importantly, why, hadn’t she said anything when she had the chance?

  At the hour point, the sun went in. Black clouds rushed across the sky and the heavens opened. She was drenched through in minutes as she turned and began to jog back down the hill. Socks squelching as she trod back along the path. Annoyed and fed up, she turned off the path and headed for the shortcut, forgetting all about the broken fence Freya had mentioned earlier. By the time she had looked up and noticed her friend fighting with the wooden beam that made the top part of the fence, it was too late to turn back. Freya had seen her.

  The wind was picking up. She winced as it blew the rain like mini darts into her face. The flimsy shirt she wore had no tolerance for this kind of weather. It was horrible.

  “Wait, I’ll help. Hold on,” Alex called out, but her words were lost into the gust that whipped up and almost knocked her off her feet. Running again, she grabbed hold of the fence post just as another gust threatened to lift it out of Freya’s hands.

  Freya was as soaked as she was, water dripping down her face. “Thanks,” she called out, once the surprise of finding Alex in front of her had dissipated.

  “What are you doing? You should have left this till tomorrow,” Alex shouted over the storm, holding the fence beam in place as Freya grabbed a mallet and began to bang it into place.