“You’re mad. This is England; the sea is freezing.” I squeal.
“Don’t worry, we’re only paddling. I thought we could watch the twilight sunset.”
“How romantic.”
“Shame you’re stuck with me,” he jokes.
“You’re not so bad. I mean, look at those abs.”
He laughs as my cheeks heat up. He wraps his arm around my shoulders as we watch the beautiful view. The coldness of the water on my calves is no longer an issue.
“Why did you take your top off?”
“Maybe I wanted you to look at my abs.”
I laugh, patting his flat stomach. He’s probably trying to match my cheeky comments, but this feels like we’re flirting. Adam seems to have a burst of confidence that wasn’t there before, and I like it.
“In truth, I was going to splash you, but decided against it. I didn’t want to leave puddles on your grandmother’s floor.”
His fun nature is a side of him I enjoy, even if he wasn’t flirting with me. “You win. Moments like these are worth more than any movie. The sunset is stunning. Although, I’m not letting you off the hook. You still need to watch Dirty Dancing.”
We stand in awe, taking in the picturesque sun as it disappears from view. Since our meal on Thursday, we’ve been spending our evenings together. I’m basically a trainee cook at this point. My sister would be proud of me.
Adam is becoming important to me. I can’t imagine Clover Bay without him. He’s my guide, conscience, and friend. Being in his world is making me want to stay in this bubble. I could easily become lost with him, forgetting my old life.
His burst of confidence inspires my own. I snuggle into his side, breathing in his intoxicating scent. He smells manly and yummy. He wraps his arm around me, making a warm, fuzzy feeling settle in my chest. Something is changing between us, and I try not to overanalyse it. This is perfect, and I don’t want it to end. Adam’s a great guy, and I’ll take whatever we can have. It’s almost eleven-thirty when the sun is finally out of sight. Although I don’t want to ruin our great evening, it’s starting to get cold and we need to make a move.
“Adam.”
He turns to face me. “Yeah.”
I’m suddenly feeling nervous, and my pulse quickens. “Do you want to sleep over? We could stay up watching movies.”
It’s bold. I’m not sure what I’m offering, but I don’t want tonight to end.
Adam breathes out slowly. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I brush my hair back away from my face, averting my eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“We shouldn’t complicate things.”
“It doesn’t have to mean anything. We’re friends, and friends can have sleepovers.”
I’m digging a bigger hole, but I have a feeling I did complicate things.
“I have work in the morning.”
My face burns with embarrassment at the knowledge I’ve overstepped the friendship boundaries. “Shall we call it a night? It’s getting late.”
“Okay. I’ll walk you back.”
We quickly get dressed, the spell of the beautiful evening broken. As we stroll back to the cottage, neither of us speaks. Adam glances my way every few seconds. I wish I could tell what he’s thinking. Our hands brush a couple of times, however, our connection feels like its misfiring. We’re close, yet so far apart. I want to say something to clear the air, but I can’t find the words.
When we reach the back door, I pass Adam his shoes and he puts them on.
He lightly runs his fingers against my cheek. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
He leans in and I close my eyes as he kisses the side of my mouth. I’m not sure if he was aiming for my lips or cheek, but before I have time to analyse it, he’s gone. I lock the door behind me and head into the living room. The movie is still playing.
I sit on the sofa, unable to process what’s happened. I like Adam; more than a guide and more than a friend. I want to kiss him and more. This is bad. Very bad. I can’t have feelings for someone I don’t have a future with. Clover Bay is a fantasy, a dream that’s not going to come true. I can’t stay here, and what about the connection between my mum and Adam’s dad? It’s like the ice-cold water just caught up with my brain and it’s been dunked over my head. Luckily, Adam didn’t give in to my temptation. He feels the connection between us, or at least I hope he does. If he hadn’t, surely he wouldn’t have kissed me. A confusing moment all of its own. Did he aim for my lips and then change his mind? Or was it supposed to be a cheek kiss he didn’t move over enough for? Either way, this simple seaside stay just got a whole lot more complicated.
Eighteen
Jody
Monday
Each step up the cobble hill is more determined than the last. I’m not letting another bump in the road make me shy away from Adam. If nothing else, I’m going to need his help, and I want his friendship. So far, it’s been him leading the way, but if he can overlook my mistakes, I can too. Yesterday doesn’t matter. I’m going to pull up my big girl socks and face this head-on.
His sleigh is already outside the storage shed. The door is wide open, and Adam is studying his delivery sheet. His face is hidden from view by his red baseball cap.
“Where do you want me?” I say, opening my arms wide.
It’s not my smoothest line, especially after what happened last night. The crisp morning air cools me down to the core, so I wrap my arms tightly around my body.
“What are you doing here?” Adam asks, looking up from the piece of paper and tipping his cap back.
“I’m here to offer my services. You’ve been good to me, so today, I’m going to help you.”
He picks up one of the boxes and stacks it onto the sledge. “Thank you, but it isn’t necessary. I want to help you with the café. I don’t do it so you’ll owe me anything. You should be out enjoying your day off, not wasting it with me.” He scratches his chin. “Wait. This isn’t a distraction plan so you can sneak out a parcel from your best friend, is it?” He smirks.
“I’m sure one or two of the boxes are mine, but it’ll be my order from the wholesalers. And spending the day with you could never be a waste of my time.”
Adam’s expression remains neutral as he passes me a parcel, which I place onto the sledge. We work in unison to load up the deliveries. Using the straps, he secures the load into place.
“So, where to first?”
He folds the delivery sheet into four and places it into his top pocket. “Crazy Betty has a book club order.”
He clips off the brake, letting the sledge slide slowly down the hill. I walk alongside, matching the pace.
“Are we okay?” I ask, ready to face any possible backlash.
“Sure. Why wouldn’t we be?” He looks at me like he doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about.
This is crunch time, where I need to decide whether to face this head-on or pretend it didn’t happen. I’m attracted to him; that part is simple, but it’s easier to ignore my growing feelings and pretend they don’t exist. A lie is safer than the truth, or at least that’s how I used to feel. Adam is different from other guys. He makes me feel worthy of being more than a cheap thrill. My push-up bra and false eyelashes don’t impress him. With that said, I shouldn’t have given in to a moment of weakness. He isn’t the boy who sneaks out of your bedroom window. He’s the guy you introduce to your family.
“I’m sorry I overstepped the mark last night.” I stand tall, ready for his reaction.
He runs his fingers through his hair. “It isn’t that I don’t like you. You’re a beautiful girl, but I’m looking for something lasting.”
I already knew this, but I still feel a tug at my heartstrings. “How many eligible bachelorettes are there in Clover Bay?” I purse my lips as jealously settles over me. I’m probably making this worse, but if he tells me he’s not interested in being more than friends, it would be easier for the b
oth of us.
“Including Kayleigh? I’d say there are about three, and one of those is away at university.”
“So, you’re planning on staying single and living alone.” Why am I still talking? I need to glue my mouth shut.
“I have the internet. I’m thinking of getting myself one of those mail order brides.” He grins like he’s trying to lighten the mood, which is good, because I was fired up to cause another argument.
“At least you’re in the right business. If you need to send her back, I bet you’ve already got a box. Do you get any discount on return labels?” I bite my lip, feeling playful and trying to push down my green-eyed monster.
“I have a few more years in me yet before I need to take drastic measures, but I’ll be sure to invite you to the wedding. That way you can suss her out.”
“If I’m invited to your wedding, does that at least make us friends?”
“Of course we’re friends.” His tone is sharp, as if I insulted him by asking. He puts the brake on the sledge, and we unload Betty’s order.
“Are you a member of the book club?” I ask.
“I don’t read romance novels, and I doubt Betty likes a fantasy adventure series, so what do you think?”
“Don’t your explorers get frisky while venturing through the lost city of Atlantis?”
“I’m not into book porn.”
“Maybe I’m missing out, if there is such a thing.”
He laughs. The tension is broken as our conversation takes a strange turn.
“You’re missing out on the adventure of a good book. Next time I go to the bookstore, you should come and pick something out for yourself.”
“You’ve been back to the book shop?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m impressed.” Adam leaving Clover Bay is a huge deal, even if he’s pretending it’s not.
“So you should be. I’m not the scared little boy you thought I was.” He pushes his hand into his pocket.
“I never thought that. You’re braver than you give yourself credit for. You’re like a guardian angel, or at least to me. You helped me when most people would’ve turned their back on me as they have in the past. Did you go anywhere else while venturing out of Clover Bay?” I hold eye contact, hoping he can see how grateful I am for his help.
“I have a confession. I had the Out and About club with me when I left the village, so I’m not as brave as you think.” He looks down at his feet.
“When I first arrived in Clover Bay, I never thought you’d leave. The little details aren’t so important. I’m proud of you.” I smile, and when he sees it, his own face brightens up.
“Well, until you, I didn’t think I needed to step outside the comfort of the village.” He offers me a genuine smile which reflects the one I’m giving him.
A warm feeling settles in my chest.
We take a crate of apples to the horse field, leaving them outside the stables. Peter’s exercising the horses in the distance.
“What are your plans once you go back to Manchester?”
“I’ve been stumbling through life for so long that I don’t have a plan, but I want a steady job.”
Working in the café has made me realise it doesn’t matter what my career ends up being, as long as I enjoy it. Flitting from job to job isn’t good enough anymore; I need stability. I don’t have to be a manager or a skilled worker. I just need something I enjoy doing. With a bit of effort, I can settle into something I can be proud of. I’d like to set down roots and belong to a team.
“Are you missing the nightlife?”
“To be honest, I’m enjoying the peace of Clover Bay. I don’t want to think about home.” Living in the moment is working out for me for once, and I intend to enjoy it.
“It sounds like you’re catching the village curse.”
“Staying here isn’t an option. I need to face my reality and find my future. I’ve never been away from my family for so long, and although I’m independent here, it’s fake. I don’t have to pay rent or worry about losing my job. Everything is so much easier when your choices are limited, but this is not my life. I’m used to having my sister as a safety net, which means Clover’s Bay is too far away.” I give a sad smile.
“Do you think a simple life is a bad thing?” He looks vulnerable with his slight pout.
“My best friend couldn’t cope without me. Plus, once my grandmother comes back to Clover Bay, there’s no job for me at the café. I’d have to look for something in a neighbouring town, and I don’t want that. Staying here isn’t realistic.”
I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince. My words hold some truth, but I’m beginning to forget why I can’t stay here permanently. The towns nearby are small, so I couldn’t afford to lose as many jobs as back home, but maybe there could be something for me here. If my mother had never left, this would be my home. Maybe I would be like Adam, but that’s not the upbringing I had.
When we arrive at the café, I unload my own delivery, leaving it in the kitchen. After a glass of water, we get back to work. The day passes quickly, and the conversation flows easily. Adam even allows me to navigate the sledge. We stop for lunch on the beach and finish the deliveries a little after two. With Adam’s help, I have jam tarts ready for the morning, and a tin of biscuits. By the time I’m climbing into bed, I’m dreaming of a future with the coast in view.
Nineteen
Adam
Tuesday
Dax chases after his ball along the waterline. My hand brushes against Jody’s as we walk side by side down the beach. The crashing waves and fresh salty air is sweetening the memories I’m making with the girl next to me. It took everything I had to turn her offer down on Sunday night, but each day is becoming a battle; I’m drawn to her like nobody I’ve ever met before.
She jabs me in the side, and I automatically pull her in to my chest. We’ve become more touchy-feely, and it feels right.
“Be honest with me. What did you think of my latest recipe?” she asks with a look of vulnerability.
Jody’s becoming skilled in the kitchen. She woke up early to bake Greek yoghurt muffins, and she was waiting for me this morning with a paper cup and brown takeaway bag at the ready. Her bright smile made me want to kiss her lips; a thought I’ve been trying to forget ever since.
“The teacher has become the master. Your muffins are pretty good,” I say.
“Wait until you try tomorrow’s treat. I have big plans for tonight,” she says with an excited glisten in her eyes.
“Are you sure you don’t want my help?”
Her eyebrows knit together and a cute frown forms on her face. “No. I can manage.”
“Why are you doing pouty lips?”
“I’m not.” She emphasises her expression, making me laugh.
“At least you haven’t had Botox. Your face could be stuck like that.”
“There’s nothing wrong with enhancing what you already have.”
“You’re beautiful enough without it.”
She rolls her eyes at the compliment. “You’re sweet. Although, I don’t wear make-up for other people. I make myself pretty for me.”
I’m sweet. Did I enter the friend zone? I hope not. I never thought about why Jody chooses to look the way she does, but I’m glad it isn’t so guys think she’s pretty. My feelings towards her are shifting, even if I don’t want them to.
“That’s fair. Loving yourself is important.”
“Do you love yourself, Adam?” She playfully nudges me with her elbow.
I rub my palm over my face. Jody is doing something crazy to me. I want to tell her I like her for who she is on the inside, but we’ve already started to blur the lines. I can’t help flirting with her because it comes easily. Don’t get me started on the innuendos I’m pretending I missed, but that’s all just a little fun. Admitting how I feel is completely different.
Dax returns with his ball and I throw it again. He chases it with full force. Jody giggles at something on h
er phone.
“What’s so funny?”
“Sarah wants me to take a picture.”
“I don’t see the problem. It’s a beautiful view.” I gesture to the beach.
“She wants to know if you’re an ogre.”
I never considered that she would be telling her friends about me, and now I’m curious what she’s been saying. “And what did you tell her?”
“She’s trying to figure out if you’re going to steal me away, so I told her you’re a hideous monster.” Amusement is written all over her face. I snatch up her phone, setting it to selfie mode. I press my cheek up against hers. With my best crazy eyes, I snap a picture. We both look like we belong in a zoo. She sends the picture, making us both smirk. When her phone chimes again, she screws up her face. It’s a picture of Sarah pretending to take a closer look at us.
“Did we convince her?”
“Sorry to tell you this, Adam, but you’re kind of hot. No picture is going to convince her otherwise.”
I’m not sure how to respond to her comment, so I avoid the fact that she said she likes the way I look.
“You should’ve sent her a picture of Dax.”
“Sarah loves dogs. It probably wouldn’t change her mind. I told her she should move her business here so I can stay.” She laughs with joy.
Her comment takes me by surprise. “Do you like Clover Bay?” My heart almost stops at the thought of her wanting more from my small spot of paradise.
“I’m dreaming of a future here, but I know it’s not going to happen.”
“Never say never.” I should be disappointed by her words, but I’m not. Even if she’s joking, it means staying here is on her mind.
“I’d never say never. It’s a captivating place I could fall in love with.” She sighs happily. “What are your plans for this evening?”
“I’ll probably read in my room.”
The Heart of Baker’s Bay Page 10
