Page 57 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

‘Fine,’ she said a little grumpily, stifling a yawn. She gripped the counter to steady herself.

As Jack whizzed off, she stepped down out of the horsebox gingerly, and settled on the grass beside it, leaning her back against one of its wheel arches. She’d have a five-minute break, and then it was definitely time to get packed away and get her and Daisy on home as soon as she could.

As she sat there, with Jack approaching with a can of drink, she felt a few spit-spots of rain on her face and her hands, which were now blissfully free from those damned hot and itchy protective oven gloves.

‘Here.’ He passed the Coca-Cola over with a tentative smile.

‘Cheers, Jack.’

He settled beside her with a can of Iron Bru for himself. ‘Think my energy levels are a bit depleted too. Been one hell of an event. At least I’m all set up with my tent.’

‘Oh, so you’re staying then?’

In half an hour, she’d be packed up and gone, ready for her cosy bed and a damned good night’s sleep, followed by a well-deserved lie in. She couldn’t think of anything worse than camping out. Not her idea of fun at all.

‘Yep, not much choice really. Well, not at this time, anyhow.’ His tone was matter-of-fact, as his glance slid towards the causeway.

‘What do you mean …?’ Little alarm bells started sounding off in Lucy’s head.

Chapter 32

How could she have been so bloody stupid? Lucy had been so focussed on preparing for this festival event, planning the volumes and varieties of toppings she’d need, making homemade tomato sauce and dough-ball portions by the tonne, she’d somehow forgotten all about the fact that they were working on an island. An island. And yes, it did happen to be one with a causeway and a road to it, but it also had the sea around it.

And that sea would be rushing in around eleven o’clock tonight, as Jack cockily reminded her. Well, he could have bloody well reminded her a bit earlier, like a week ago or something. Of course, Jack who knew everything, was prepared, wasn’t he, his tent all organised.

Oh yes, he had it all set up earlier, apparently on a patch of grass set back from his Cocktail Campervan, so he could keep an eye on Ruby too. He was prattling on that all he had to do was just unroll his sleeping bag. Well, good for him.

A shattered Lucy was still trying to absorb this news.

‘You can come and join me if you like?’ Jack couldn’t help but give a cheeky quirk of his eyebrow.

After his rebuff last week, surely the lad would have given up by now, but hey, maybe he was just trying to make her smile.

Anyway, there was no way she’d be getting inside a tent with Jack-the-Lad Anderson. Even if it did mean a cold and uncomfortable night sleeping in the back of her truck alongside Daisy. The little dog would certainly be a safer companion.

‘I’ve got a comfy roll mat and everything …’ he persisted.

Maybe he was just being kind, but Lucy wasn’t falling for any of his hanky-panky traps. ‘I’m sure you have, but I’ll be fine here. It’ll be dry in the Jeep. And I’ve got Daisy to keep me company.’

‘Okay, but it’ll get cold in the early hours, you know. And there’s a rainstorm coming. If you change your mind, you know where I am …’

But Lucy was resolute. Yes, it might be slightly uncomfortable and a bit chilly trying to get to sleep in the Jeep, but she’d be safe and fine, and there’d be absolutely no misunderstandings. ‘I’m alright.’

‘Okay, well why don’t you at least move your truck down nearer to Ruby for the night? It’s more sheltered down there, and you’ll have me nearby, just in case.’

Hmm, it did sound like he genuinely just wanted to look out for her, and that did actually sound a good idea. Better the devil you know, and all that. There were lots of festival-goers about, and yes, they’d all seemed pretty easy-going and pleasant tonight, but she was a young woman on her own. She didn’t have a lot of options left to her in the dark, in the early hours of the morning, with the causeway cut off for several more hours yet.

The two of them finished their cans of drink, sat side by side on the rain-spotted grass. Lucy began to feel a little more refreshed, at least. She said she’d finish packing up the horsebox, and would then drive her Jeep down nearer to Jack’s campervan. It would feel a little more reassuring to have company that she knew nearby, considering the pickle she was in. Letting Daisy out for a pee, the raindrops were plopping more steadily now, and there was a whirring wind starting to build. Having checked her horsebox was padlocked and secure for the night, she moved the Jeep.

Parked up near to Ruby and Jack’s two-man tent, Lucy shifted into the back-seat area, grabbing a spare – if slightly whiffy – dog rug, that Daisy had definitely been sitting on over time. The little dog was soon on her lap, determinedly snuggling in. Bloody hell, they should be going home to her nice, warm bed and getting cosy, not making do all hunched up in the back of a truck.

The odd light beamed out from around the stage area. Some security guys were there overnight, keeping an eye on things before it was all to be dismantled the next day. Lucy peeked out of her vehicle, and could make out Jack at his little tent, about ten metres away from where she was parked, pushing a rolled sleeping bag into the unzipped front of his tent.

She gave a little wave, trying to convince herself that all was well.

He shouted something out, but she couldn’t quite hear, so wound down her window, to catch: ‘Night then. Hope you sleep okay … but remember, my offer still stands. Room for two and all that. No strings attached. I’ll be the perfect gent.’

‘I’m fine, Jack. Goodnight.’ She was resolute as she drew up the truck window. Still cursing herself for not checking the tide times, she watched as Jack crawled inside his home for the night and zipped up the tent front.