Page 25 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

Lucy had to smile too, raising her dark eyebrows, ‘What do you mean, “and” …?’

‘Lucy Brown, I’ve been your friend for over fifteen years,’ Becky declared. They’d met at high school when Becky’s family had moved into her childhood home town of Rothbury, bonding over a love of chocolate brownies and Justin Timberlake. ‘Your voice changes when you mention him.’

‘Don’t be so daft.’

‘It does, I’m telling you.’

‘So?’ Lucy said, exasperatedly.

‘Ooh, this sounds intriguing,’ Katie joined in. ‘So, what’s he like then, this cocktail guy? Looks, personality?’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake! Is this an official interview?’

‘Yep, and we need answers,’ Becky pushed on.

‘Ah, okay, dark-blond hair, blue-grey eyes. Medium height.’

‘So, good-looking then?’ Katie was fishing.

Yes, he was, Lucy supposed. But she knew better than to admit to that. ‘Look, he’s just helped with a bit of advice on the catering scene. We hardly know each other really. And like I say, he can be a bit cocky.’ Lucy tried to keep it matter-of-fact.

‘Oh, but you’ve forgot to mention to Katie that he stepped in and took a punch for you …’ Becky said with a laugh, clearly revelling in dangling that juicy fact.

‘What? How have I missed all this goss?’

Lucy rolled her eyes, ‘It was nothing … just some drunken lad mouthing off at a party, who happened to be at my pizza stand at the time.’

‘And then Campervan Guy charged in to the rescue,’ Becky added with a cheeky grin.

‘“Just friends” then, is it, Luce? Are you sure?’ Katie was smiling.

‘Absolutely. Look you two, I’m allowed to talk to a guy without it meaning I’m thinking about a bloody relationship. I had enough of all that shite with Liam, remember.’

‘So, are you swearing off men for life?’ Becky said, tongue-in-cheek.

‘Oh Luce, you’ll be turning into a shrivelled-up prune, and end up keeping a load of cats …’ Katie chipped in.

‘Or an army of sausage dogs,’ Becky took up, with a daft grin on her face.

‘Arrgh, enough, you two! I’m just not looking for a relationship right now, that’s all.’

‘Yeah, but a fling might work. Get back in the saddle and have some fun, girl!’ Becky added. It was all good-humoured banter.

‘Stop!’ Lucy raised a hand dramatically, and then took a large sip of wine. ‘I’m out to enjoy myself tonight, not to face the Spanish Inquisition. So, get off my case, you two.’

‘Okay, soz, Luce.’

‘Fair enough, hun. We only want you to be happy.’ Becky rested a caring hand on her friend’s shoulder.

Both Becky and Katie were now in settled relationships. Becky was now all cosied up with Darren, and living together in Alnwick, after several ups and downs in her earlier frazzled love-life, and Katie had got married to Lee three years ago and now had a gorgeous, on-the-go toddler back at home. She too was more than ready for a chill-out tonight. ‘Well then, here’s to letting our hair down and dancing on the tables.’ Katie raised her glass.

‘Cheers to that!’ Lucy smiled.

The girls chatted away, and were soon getting another round of drinks in. The band came on and were great, with a fabulous female lead doing some covers of Pink, Lady Gaga, plus some original stuff too. The girls clapped and cheered. They didn’t quite get to dancing on the tables, but they talked with some local lads, and boogied in their corner of the bar next to where the band were playing. They felt happily merry on gin and wine, and they all trundled back to Lucy’s cottage after closing time, still singing along to ‘So What’ by Pink as they linked arms.

Becky had arranged to sleep over on Lucy’s sofa. The tiny cottage didn’t have a spare room. Mind you, when they rolled back in, Daisy was looking very cosy on that sofa already, having been settled there for the evening. The little dog was not being moved easily, giving in only for a brief and begrudging toilet stop in the yard.

It was already past eleven and Katie had a taxi ordered for eleven thirty. With her partner, being a delivery driver, having to work early the next day, she’d be on toddler wake-up duty for her little girl, Ella – probably with a slight hangover, by the whizzy feel of her head right now. But that was tomorrow. The girls had had a thoroughly good night and were now enjoying a fabulous finale in the form of a Baileys nightcap while huddled cosily in the cottage’s front room. All too soon, Katie had to leave, whisked away in one of Ron’s Taxis, after kisses, hugs and a promise that they must do this more often. Life had a way of rolling on, and before they knew it, weeks could pass before they next saw each other.