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Gatsby spotted them and gave a bark of excitement, streaking across the sand. Adam turned to see what had distracted him, and raised his hand in recognition. Nikki felt a flicker of pleasure at the sight of him as she scrambled down the last few steps. It was a slightly unfamiliar feeling – one that had been long buried.
Juno jumped onto the sand as Gatsby came bounding over, then dropped to her knees and put her arms around him. As Adam walked over, Nikki pointed at the two of them.
‘This is my niece Juno I was telling you about.’
Adam smiled down at Juno and Gatsby, who were embroiled in some kind of dog/human love-in where the rest of the world might as well not have existed.
‘Hi, Juno,’ said Adam. ‘It certainly looks as if you two have hit it off.’
‘He’s beautiful.’ Juno looked up at him. ‘Any time you want me to look after him, just say the word.’
Nikki looked surprised. ‘You’re honoured. She’s got quite the waiting list.’
‘Gatsby will melt the stoniest of hearts. Even mine. I was dead against him. Until he nudged his hairy snout under my arm while I was watching the rugby and forced me to love him.’
‘Irresistible.’ Juno gave Gatsby a final rub of his fluffy ears and stood up. ‘We’d better get in if we’re going to. The tide’s on the turn.’
‘Do you mind if I join you?’ Adam pointed his thumb towards the sea. ‘I don’t know the water so I don’t want to go in on my own.’
‘Of course.’
‘I bet it’s brass monkeys,’ he went on, gamely.
‘It always is. The sea here never really warms up until late summer. Brace yourself.’
The three of them got ready, folding up their clothes and leaving their bags on top of the flat rock.
‘No wet suits?’ said Adam, pulling his on, but not before they had a glimpse of a flat stomach, sculpted shoulders and impressive biceps. Juno tried to catch Nikki’s eye but she refused to look at her.
‘We’re hardcore,’ said Nikki. ‘We don’t do wet suits. But we go in all year round so we’re used to it.’
Adam nodded. ‘I’ve told myself that’s what I’m going to do.’ He looked at the water doubtfully.
‘Come on, then,’ said Juno. ‘Last one in’s a pickled egg.’
The three of them raced down to the water’s edge, Gatsby following and barking in excitement. In front of them, the waves pranced and cavorted like showgirls, throwing brilliant white plumes of foam into the air. The sea beneath was backlit by the sun, turning it translucent.
‘Yikes!’ yelped Adam as their feet hit the water.
Adam copied as the women splashed themselves, getting their skin used to the icy cold. The waves pummelled them, teasing, as if to say ‘Come on’. They ploughed on through the shallows, gasping with the shock. It was always a challenge as the temperature hit you, taking your breath away. The temptation to run back out was always there. You had to push yourself, forging through the water as it crept up your body, setting your skin on fire.
‘Bloomin’ Nora!’ Adam’s eyes were out on stalks.
‘Just keep breathing,’ Nikki told him.
The final wave of the set approached, towering over them. It was always a thrill, this moment, as you gathered your nerve.
‘Go!’ shouted Nikki, and the three of them threw themselves at the base of the wave, duck-diving underneath and coming out the other side, gasping and laughing.
‘I’ve got brain freeze,’ shouted Adam, but he looked exhilarated.
It was such a strange combination of torture and ecstasy, but somehow there was nothing more liberating than floating about in the waves, letting them toss you hither and thither, controlling your breath so you could acclimatise. After a few minutes, the agony faded, and the temperature felt almost normal.
Eventually they headed back in. Nikki and Juno grabbed their fleece-lined robes, and Adam eyed them with envy.
‘I’m going to have to get one of those, aren’t I?’
‘If you’re going in on a regular basis, definitely.’ Nikki shrugged hers on.
