Ginny sighed, raised her legs straight out in front of her, then dangled them back over the edge of the pier. ‘I’ve been coming down here since I was a kid. I’ve always liked staring out to sea. Are you a fan of the waves?’
His Royal Navy uniform flashed through his mind as a twitch hit the corner of his mouth. ‘It’s okay.’
‘Some people think it’s creepy of a night, but I think it’s peaceful. Not that I could live on a boat or anything. Can you imagine? All that motion of the ocean keeping you awake.’
Will smiled to himself.
Ginny raised her index finger at the sky. ‘Love it when the stars are out though. They can guide you home.’ She faced him and smiled. ‘Celestial navigation, it’s called. Comes in handy if your GPS packs up.’
Will quietly laughed.
Ginny lowered her head, and Will saw her smile fade. ‘It would be nice if something showed you the right way to go, wouldn’t it?’
Maybe it was his turn to hold her hand.Nope! I’m not going there.But she did need cheering up for some reason.
‘Some woman read my palm earlier. You could try her.’ He smiled, hoping she would join in.
Ginny glanced back at the pub. ‘That would be Luna. Resident psychic. Did she tell you anything?’
‘No. Just looked intrigued.’
‘She does that. Leaves people wondering. Take her with a pinch of salt.’
Will bobbed his head. ‘So . . .’ He left his word hanging, wondering what to add.
‘Do you ever feel alone?’ she asked. ‘Not lonely or anything, just alone?’
It had always hit the hardest when on leave and with no one to go home to. Being alone was part of who he was. The question made him wonder if he was used to his way of life or if it still niggled him. If he was honest, then he would tell her he wished so hard to have had a family. Tohavea family. Someone who wanted him more than anything.
Will’s gaze dropped to her lips for a second, then moved to her cheek. He felt he could sit and talk to her all night, but words failed him.
‘It’s okay,’ she said, barely a whisper. ‘I understand.’
Do you?
He wasn’t sure she would. He was only starting to get to grips with his backstory. How was he supposed to share or explain that to anyone?
‘Being alone isn’t so bad.’ The words seem to slip out by themselves.
‘I don’t like it,’ she said softly.
Neither do I.
‘Haven’t you got family?’ he asked, clenching his hands so he didn’t reach out for hers.
‘No one that loves me.’
Maybe she would know how he felt after all. She sounded as sad as him.
‘Sorry,’ she added quietly. ‘Ignore me. I’m not normally like this. Blame it on the night air.’ She laughed but it was weak. ‘Okay, let’s cheer up. How about a game of I spy?’
Will laughed. ‘Go on then. You start.’
‘I spy with my little eye, something beginning with . . . S.’
Will glanced up, then down. ‘Sea.’
Ginny chuckled. ‘Wait, I can do better than that.’
