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Sure, her hair is more tamed, and she’s got womanly curves now that only entice my imagination, but there was no mistaking her beauty, even if she made a quick exit.
It doesn’t take me long to walk back from the pub. The surf shop in town had been up for sale for a while and came with an apartment above the shop—the perfect opportunity for me to build a business.
Zennor is right. I could have chosen any number of places in the world, let alone in the UK, but Tregethworth had a piece of my heart and never let it go. Plus, it had a fantastic beach, great surf, and a ready-made surf market, but with no surf school. It was ideal for my plans.
The builders are still finishing the renovations upstairs, but it should be complete in the next week or so. The sixties-style décor and layout weren’t to my liking, so if I was going to make this my home, I had to make some changes and turn this into a place to love. The view over the beach helps. Watching the waves roll in as the sun glints off the sea certainly sets the day off right.
But it does mean the sofa will have to do until the renovations are complete.
The wake-up call from the builders doesn’t piss me off because I’m already up and already thinking about Zee at the crack of dawn. After all, I’ve never been able to forget about her, even after all these years.
Rob’s opening the shop later, so I take the opportunity to head out to clear my head the only way I know how, but not before I stop off at Molly’s.
It’s funny, my memories weren’t as strong when I came in the last few times, but it hadn’t changed much over the years. The funny mix of what it served still worked. There were new people behind the counter, and the paintwork was different, but that’s it. It felt nostalgic. And thankfully, the silly rule about sand and water seems to have been abandoned. People come in off the beach to order their lunch and coffees now, which suits me just fine.
I prop my board on the railing outside and go to order a latte. I don’t need a coffee, but part of me wants to see if Zee might be here. Pulling open the door, I look about but don’t see her familiar face. My memory fills in the blank of all those times I saw her here, though. Her smile, those cut-off shorts she wore, and her messy hair in that bun.
With no sign of her, I take the hot java, drink it on the deck, and watch the waves. They’re calm, baby three-footers.
No danger.
I take a few breaths, finish my coffee, throw the empty cup in the recycle bin and head to the surf.
By the afternoon, I’ve walked around the town twice, just hoping to accidentally run into Zee, which was both pathetic and unlikely. Finally, I resigned myself to the only course open to me and walked up the familiar path to her mother’s house.
There’s no saying she’s even here. I mean…
The door swings open, and it’s like I’ve just jumped back twenty years. Zee answers.
“Hi,” I start. “I hope you don’t mind. After last night, well, I wanted to see you again.”
“It was a surprise, that’s for sure.” She smiles, less stunned than the first reaction last night.
“How about you let me take you out for dinner? The King’s Port is good, and I already know you like the red wine there.” Cutting to the chase seemed like the right approach.
“Wow, straight to it.”
“We didn’t really get a chance to catch up last night, and knowing you’re back, even briefly, well, I didn’t want to waste my shot.”
“Your shot?” Her brows rise in humour as she tilts her head to the side.
“Well, a man’s got to hope.” I lean against the door jam and wait for the answer I want.
“How about tomorrow night? Good things and all that. I’ll meet you there at eight.” She gives me a smirk that reminds me of the girl I fell so hard for before she closes the door in my face.
Good things come to those who wait.
It’s a famous saying for a reason. Maybe that’s why everything good seems to slip through my fingers—because I never had to wait to get them.
Everything in my life fell right into my lap, right away.
First, Zee, then surfing and finding my sponsors in California. I’d been travelling for two months, and then, bam, my world changed. Sure, after I got it, it wasn’t smooth sailing, but maybe my lesson in life needs to be patience?
Now, to hope that the pub has a table for two at short notice.
The King’s Port is busy but squeezes my reservation in, and I arrive a few minutes early so I can meet Zennor. I’m half expecting her to turn up in a soft t-shirt and cut-off shorts, so the dress with the billowing skirt to mid-calf is a bit of a shock. A good one, but it’s a vivid reminder that a lot has happened in the twenty years since we were last in Tregethworth together.
“Good evening.” I head to meet her as she looks around for me. Her smile is reserved, and I find it hard to read if she’s nervous or shy about our date.
