Page 75 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

‘No, to be fair to Angus, it was fine. There just weren’t any sparks flying.’

‘Ah well, it can’t have been all bad. He’s got a good job and a nice car, so I hear.’

‘Yeah, the car was very nice. Leather seats and everything.’

‘Well, there you go.’

‘We just didn’t seem to have an awful lot in common. And then, he ground me down with talk of megabytes and pixels.’

‘Oh, I see. Not the most riveting chat then!’

‘And when we got onto the spyware, malware and viruses, well honestly, I’m now afraid to turn my computer back on again. In case it’s already got the equivalent of computer venereal disease … I have very basic protection, apparently.’ Lucy giggled.

‘Aw, he’d have just been trying to help you out, Luce.’

‘Maybe, but he just wasn’t my type and I have to confess, it wasn’t very scintillating conversation for a night out.’

‘No, perhaps not … Not exactly a turn-on, I suppose.’

They both chuckled.

‘Oh well, I’ll put it down to experience.’

‘You do that, girlfriend. And, hey, there are plenty more fish in the sea.’

And Lucy had a feeling her friend would be trying her hardest to hook her up with more of those fish very soon. She daren’t mention the other guy who was at the pub last night, who despite it all, was still in fact very much on her mind. The one she’d already told he ought to sling his hook.

Two days later, and Lucy was flicking through her phone trying to get some good images for promotional posts on the All Fired Up Instagram and Facebook pages, when she scrolled across a photo of Jack stood beside Ruby from months ago. It was the first night they’d ever met. She’d taken a few snaps of the venue, and there he was, caught in the frame.

She couldn’t help but smile. He looked so handsome, confident and happy … and yes, a little cocky too. Yet she’d seen that there was a gentler, more vulnerable side to him, despite it all.

What had it all been about between them? Had he won her over just to leave her? Had that been the plan all along? And if so, if he was such a twat, then why couldn’t she shake thoughts of this guy off?

Memories. Magical moments on the beach. Laughter. Holding hands and oh, so much more. It still didn’t make sense. And boy, it still hurt.

A dachshund’s damp nose edged up against her leg.

‘Hey, Daisy. Do you want a cuddle?’

She lifted her pet’s solid little body up to her lap, giving her an affectionate stroke.

‘Me too, baby. Me too.’

At least dogs didn’t have game plans or commitment issues. If a dog wanted affection, it just came right up and asked you for it. They were straight down the line with you. Hmm, Lucy mused, humans could learn a lot from their four-legged friends.

Chapter 41

Jack couldn’t shake off this horrid feeling of negativity. He tried cracking on with work, throwing himself into events with his usual aplomb, polishing Ruby to the nth degree, spending time with his mates, with his Xbox, heading off cycling, taking long hikes … but whatever he did, there was this sinking feeling inside, like a shadow was creeping around after him.

Seeing Lucy with another guy like that. Well, it had hit hard. But it bloody well served him right. He should already have apologised for the way he’d behaved after that night they’d spent together. He hadn’t wanted to say it in a message, but the next time he’d seen her he should at least have spoken up. But then they’d had that silly row at the fête. And it was hardly ideal in the pub, with a new man in tow, was it?

He pictured how it might have panned out. ‘Oh, hi there. And hey, Luce, sorry about giving you the cold shoulder since our night together.’

Well, that was either a punch-up in the making with new guy Lover Boy, or a pint of cold beer tipped over his head from Lucy. Either way, he probably deserved it.

He was due to visit his parents; he liked to call in on them regularly. It was all down to him now, after all. It had been nearly a week since the village fête and he was still cheered by the fact they’d turned up in support like that. That was a glimmer of light in the gloom.

He was soon there, after just a fifteen-minute journey, pulling Ruby up in the driveway. He rang the bell, and walked right on in.