Chapter Eight
Jonathan
I’d told myself I was going to make sure I took regular breaks while painting today, but when I finally remembered to look at the time it was already ten-to-four and my shoulders were aching from sitting scrunched up all day.
I sighed and put my brush down, stretching my arms above my head and feeling something in my elbow pop. I flexed my wrists and did a few of the stretches I could remember. They were designed for artists to prevent wrist strain, but I’d always found them helpful.
My stomach rumbled as I took a sip of my water and tried to remember the last time I’d had something to eat.
I’d made sure I’d had a good breakfast, because I had a tendency to get very focused on my task and forget anything else, so I’d made a small mountain of scrambled eggs on toast to keep me going.
But that had been about nine after I’d come in from my morning walk around the churchyard, where I’d been bullied into playing fetch with Angus, who’d brought me his ratty tennis ball to throw and bunted my ankles until I’d given in and conceded to his demands.
With my job, I doubted I’d ever be able to get a dog of my own, but Fred was always happy for me to play with Angus or take him for a walk.
She’d even asked me to dog sit a few times when she’d had to go away to conferences or for family events, and I’d spent the weekend at the vicarage spoiling Angus rotten.
Perhaps I’d be able to get a cat though.
A cat would suit me very nicely.
And I was sure I could follow the family tradition by naming it something suitably sweet or ridiculous.
I stretched again and winced as my muscles twinged, reminding me that sitting in the same position for six hours or so was not good for me.
“I should get up,” I said to myself, more in the hope that saying it aloud would inspire me to actually move.
I tapped my phone, which was off to the side on my desk, to see if I had any messages.
I wasn’t expecting any, given how busy Alfie was likely to be, but I was pleasantly surprised to see one.
Alfie
Do you think it’s possible to develop tennis elbow from scooping ice cream? I hope the painting is going well
I smiled, a warm feeling spreading through my chest as I read his words again.
It was such a new sensation and it still caught me off guard every time I thought about Alfie.
I liked it though. It was as if there was a flower blossoming inside my chest, the petals bright and hot and so beautiful I couldn’t look at it without grinning wildly.
Theo had told me to see how I felt and see where things went, so that’s what I was going to do, even if I felt shy and awkward doing it. But the awkwardness was nothing new, so I’d manage.
I picked my phone up and snapped a quick picture of the Angel Eater model I’d been working on.
Jonathan
[sent a picture] She’s coming on nicely. Still on base layers but I’m very fond of this colour combination. I haven’t actually stopped all day. Do you think it’s too late for lunch? Also please be careful not to strain yourself.
My stomach rumbled again and I stood up, my leg muscles complaining about suddenly having to support my weight. I wasn’t sure what I fancied to eat, because while making a sandwich would be easy, it also wasn’t what I wanted.
What I really wanted was some ice cream.
I slid my phone into my trouser pocket and glanced out the window, where the June sunshine was still blazing. I’d need to put some sun cream on before I left the house, or I’d turn into a lobster by the time I got down to Lick It! and that would not be sexy.
I’d never really tried to be sexy before and the idea made my insides do a funny twist.
Did I need to do something different? Wear something different? I wasn’t even sure what people considered sexy. I supposed it was different for everyone, which didn’t help.
No, I was going to just stick to being myself—at least for today—and perhaps I’d consider picking Theo’s brain on Monday. As long as he promised not to get too overexcited. I didn’t want to find myself being subjected to some sort of makeover, like I was the main character in a romcom.
Making my way downstairs, I quickly applied some sun cream, then grabbed my wallet and keys, slipping my feet into my loafers before I headed out.
The heat washed over me, but it was pleasant rather than overwhelming and sticky like it would be at the height of summer.
If we got any sun that was. As with all British summers, it was a toss-up between a complete wash-out and horrific levels of heat and humidity that made you want to peel your skin off.
It didn’t take me long to make my way across town, dodging tourists and locals out enjoying the Saturday sunshine.
I imagined all the pubs would have full beer gardens for the whole weekend.
I expected Lick It! would be busy, given that it was a beautiful afternoon, but I’d be happy to wait.
And even if I didn’t get to do anything more than smile at Alfie, it would be enough.
When I got closer, I could see a few people milling around outside and I bit back a chuckle when I glanced down at the cobbles and noticed Milo’s chalk markings.
He’d drawn a border of large, dashed lines between Lick It!
and the next-door sweet shop and written “Our Side”, “Your Side” on either side of the lines.
It was definitely a tad over-the-top, and I could picture Theo doing exactly the same thing if pressed.
Luckily, I would never have to find out because Laurie would put a stop to Theo trying to pull anything remotely similar.
There was a little bit of a line inside the door, but I didn’t mind because as soon as I stepped inside, I could see Alfie.
He was wearing another powder blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his top button open, tucked into a pair of cream chinos.
The soft curls of his hair looked like they’d been styled at some point, but the stress of the day had dislodged them slightly.
He was smiling as he chatted to the family he was serving, a little dimple on the side of his mouth.
He hadn’t noticed me yet, but that was good because it gave me the opportunity to watch him.
It made the warm, fluttering feeling in my chest spread even further, making my limbs tingle and my heart race.
He was so handsome, and every time I saw him, it took my breath away.
I almost wasn’t sure what to do with these emotions—they were so strong and so unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
But I didn’t want them to go away. I just wanted to be able to function while feeling them.
The line moved forward and I watched another man, with bright blond hair and a pink shirt, nudge Alfie with his elbow and say something I didn’t catch. Alfie turned, his smile widening as he saw me waiting, and I realised the other man must have pointed me out.
I felt my face heat as I lifted my hand, wiggling my fingers in an awkward wave that I wished I’d never even attempted. I wasn’t doing anything to dissuade him that I wasn’t a completely dorky mess.
If I was lucky, Alfie might think it was endearing instead of cringeworthy.
My eyes didn’t leave Alfie as I watched him serve more customers, and when I finally reached the front of the queue, all my words seemed to have disappeared.
“Hey,” I said weakly.
“Hey,” Alfie said. “Did you get some lunch?”
“Technically, this will be it.”
He chuckled softly and picked up a large cone. “Two scoops then?”
“Yes please,” I said, finally glancing down into the counter to see what they had left. They still had some of the cinnamon and white chocolate, but they had the strawberries and cream which Theo had been raving about, and the lemon curd which looked delicious too. “Which is your favourite?”
“The cinder toffee,” Alfie said as he pointed to one of the tubs at the back. “It’s a vanilla ice cream base with toffee swirls and chunks of homemade honeycomb. And not small chunks either, because nobody wants that. Getting one tiny bit of cinder toffee in your scoop is not it.”
“Can I try that one then please?”
“Of course!” He beamed as he piled two huge scoops of ice cream into the cone. I was pretty sure he’d given me more than he should have, but I wasn’t going to point that out because I didn’t want to seem ungrateful. “What are you doing now?”
“Not much. I might go for a walk, maybe head towards the beach. Theo and Laurie have a beach hut so I might go and say hello.” They kept telling me to come and see it, and now I was here, it felt like as good a time as any to see if they were around.
“Would you like some company?” asked the man in the pink shirt, sliding in beside Alfie to start scooping ice cream. “Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt, but if you’d like company, then Alfie is free.”
“Am I?” Alfie asked as he passed my ice cream over the counter.
“Yes, you are. Milo and I will be fine. Shoo!” He waved a hand at Alfie. “And take some ice cream with you.”
“Er, okay. Thanks, Darcy,” Alfie said as he dipped his scoop into a tub of water and grabbed another cone.
He scooped himself some cinder toffee while I paid—because I refused to let them give me free ice cream for the second day in a row—and then slipped out from behind the counter to join me. “Ready to go?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice slightly muffled because I’d stuck my tongue out to start licking my ice cream. It was creamy, sweet, and rich, and I wanted to shove the entire thing into my mouth. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologise,” he said as we walked out onto the narrow, cobbled street outside. “I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s very good.”
“Do you like it more than the white chocolate and cinnamon?”
“Maybe.” I shot him a little smile, hoping it came off as teasing rather than rude.
“I’ll take that,” he said. “You can give me your full verdict once you’ve finished it.”