Chapter Eighteen
Adam and I chat as we walk to the beach. It’s such a beautiful, sunny morning. One that is actually worth getting up early for.
‘This hoodie smells amazing,’ I tell him, holding the sleeves up to my nose.
‘I highly recommend getting Si to do your washing, if you can,’ he tells me with a cheeky smile.
‘I can’t believe he’s your brother,’ I blurt.
I didn’t plan on bringing it up so quickly but I’ve done it now.
‘So, you two are old friends?’ he asks.
‘Rory, my brother, was Si’s best friend when they were kids,’ I say.
‘Yeah, before they fell out,’ Adam replies. ‘Honestly, when you opened the front door, and I saw you standing there, I forgot where I was for a moment. After we were locked in the toilet together, and you disappeared, I wondered if I would bump into you again. I think I’d just about made peace with the fact that you were probably a tourist, and I would never see you again. And then there you were.’
‘I did look for you, that night, but you must have left before me,’ I tell him. ‘But, yeah, weird night. Thanks though, for being so amazing, because I don’t think I could have survived being trapped in a loo without you.’
‘Anytime,’ he says, laughing, probably at the idea of it being something that happens often.
Finally, the sea comes into view.
‘Ah, I never get sick of that,’ I tell him as I take in the view. ‘I really missed it, living away.’
‘Yeah, it’s beautiful,’ he says. ‘Is that why you decided to come home?’
My lips part, as though I’m going to speak, but then words fail me. How do you tell someone that the reason you’ve moved back home is because you fucked it all up?
‘Do you fancy a race?’ Adam asks, changing the subject.
I glance at him and he smiles. Oh, God love him for sensing that I didn’t want to talk about it.
‘A race?’ I reply.
‘Yeah, down the hill, to the beach,’ he suggests. ‘My friends and I used to do it all the time, when we were kids. It just popped into my head.’
‘Oh, no, no, no,’ I insist. ‘I will watch you run but, no, I’ll only embarrass myself. I’m so unfit.’
‘I’m trying to get in better shape but I’m no runner,’ he tells me.
‘It’s not that I’m against getting fit it’s just that I’d rather get… ice cream,’ I tell him.
He laughs.
‘Well then, I will get you an ice cream,’ he replies. ‘Ice cream for breakfast is also something I loved as a child.’
‘I bet,’ I say with a laugh. ‘Okay, go on then.’
‘Ice cream and coffee,’ he says. ‘We can pretend we’re in Milan, instead of Marram Bay.’
‘Now that I would like,’ I say with a smile. ‘Thank you.’
I don’t know if Adam realises it, but that thank you is for both the ice cream and the change of subject.
‘Wait here, I’ll get them. We’ll eat them on the beach,’ he says, his eyes widening with fake excitement.
Adam returns in a matter of minutes with two coffees and two ice cream cones, one with chocolate sauce and one with strawberry sauce.
‘I wasn’t sure which you’d prefer, so I got both and I thought I’d let you choose.’
‘Oh, I’ll have either,’ I insist, although if I’m being honest, I’d much rather have the chocolate one.
Adam looks me in the eye thoughtfully and hands me the chocolate option.
‘Thanks,’ I say with a smile.
As we walk along the beach I notice that something is going on. There is scaffolding and machinery and all sorts of things happening.
‘What’s going on here?’ I ask him.
‘This is work,’ he tells me. ‘Come on, I’ll show you.’
Adam and I walk along the beach, the sand soft under our feet as we get closer to whatever it is that is happening.
‘Blossom FM, my radio station, is putting on a festival, the Summer Beach Bash,’ he explains. ‘We’ve got some huge artists lined up to play. And I'm hosting it.’
‘Wow, that sounds amazing!’ I reply, genuinely impressed.
‘We've sold so many tickets, but it's been one of those years where we've encountered problem after problem,’ Adam admits, running a hand through his hair. ‘I think we’re all just waiting for the next thing to go wrong.’
‘Still, it sounds like it's going to be incredible,’ I reassure him.
Adam's face brightens.
‘I'm really looking forward to it,’ he says. ‘It’s my first time, hosting something in Infront of a live audience – one that I can actually see, that is.’
As we continue walking, a woman approaches us, her expression serious but friendly. Adam greets her warmly.
‘Kerry, hey! This is Leah,’ he tells her. ‘Leah, this is Kerry – the boss.’
Kerry gives me a nod and a smile.
‘Hardly,’ she jokes. ‘Adam, sorry to cut to the chase, but we've hit another stumbling block.’
‘What's going on?’ Adam asks.
Kerry sighs.
‘I won’t get into all the boring details, but all of the bands coming from the US aren't coming now.’
‘What?’ he replies. ‘Can the show go on without them? Surely it can, right?’
‘It can, but the event will be too short,’ Kerry says. She glances at Adam. ‘Unless you can sing.’
Adam laughs.
‘No chance.’
An idea sparks in my mind – something I had to pull out of the bag once before, for a festive pop roadshow I worked on.
‘If you need to fill the space quickly and cheaply, you should consider local talent,’ I tell them. ‘You can get local bands and singers easy, and it'll look great for the community, if you’re giving them a platform.’
Kerry's eyes light up.
‘That's brilliant,’ she says simply. ‘Sorry, who are you? I feel awful now, I thought you might just be one of his birds.’
‘Oi,’ Adam says with a chuckle.
Adam turns to me, clearly impressed.
‘Leah worked organising tours and festivals back in London,’ Adam explains. ‘But, lucky for us, she’s just moved back to the area.’
‘Would you be willing to take on this job?’ Kerry asks me, her smile sort of desperate. ‘Just for a week, tops, to find us some talent for the festival?’
I look at Adam for a second. He smiles warmly.
‘You're our only hope, Leah,’ he says in a funny voice. ‘And I'll help you, of course. There’s not much else I can bring to the table, until the big day.’
I mean, let’s be real, I’m the one who is actually desperate here. And this isn’t just a job, it’s a great job.
‘Okay, I'll do it,’ I say, playing it a little cool, but showing my enthusiasm too.
Kerry shakes my hand.
‘Thank you, Leah,’ she replies. ‘We’ve really landed on our feet with you. I’ll make sure you’re well paid – London rates – for this.’
Still, I smile, and keep my cool, but wow. Deep down, I know I should be the one thanking Kerry and Adam. This is my chance to shine, and who knows? This might lead to something more permanent. Working for a radio station – how cool would that be?
I can't get distracted, I need to focus, to do a great job. That said, with Adam by my side, I’m not sure how easy that's going to be.