Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
SCARLETT
‘E rm… will you excuse us for a sec?’ said Scarlett.
‘Sure, of course!’ said Lou, looking surprised.
‘Won’t be a minute.’
Giving Pete a nudge with one of her foam claws, she managed to get him to follow her a few paces away from the rest of the chattering group.
‘I was going to talk to you after the swim,’ said Scarlett, keeping her voice low. ‘But looks like there isn’t going to be time…’
She trailed off and turned to face Pete. He suddenly looked sad, and she hesitated.
Was this a really bad idea? After all, The Big Dip was a really difficult weekend for him. She’d witnessed that first-hand the previous evening. Just because she’d kissed him… just because they’d snuck out of the Dolphin and Anchor and spent hours exploring Crumbleton’s cobbled streets together, stopping to kiss every couple of minutes under the starlight… it didn’t mean he was ready for more, did it? It didn’t mean she’d miraculously managed to make everything right in his world.
Even if that was exactly how he made her feel.
‘You need to talk to me?’ Pete prompted when she just stood there for several long seconds, tying herself up in her thoughts instead of actually saying anything. ‘Sounds ominous.’
‘It’s not, I promise,’ she said, going to run her fingers through her hair and promptly dislodging her headband with her foam claw.
Stupid lobster suit!
‘Look…’ she said, watching his face closely for any reaction, ‘I was going to get a lift to the train station with Brian. But…’
‘But?’ echoed Pete.
There was enough hope behind that one word to give Scarlett the confidence to carry on.
‘But… I was wondering what you’d say about me hanging around here a bit longer?’ she said in a rush.
‘Here?’ said Pete.
Scarlett nodded. ‘In the hut. I’ve already asked your dad, and he said it would be okay. I was hoping you might be up for giving me some surfing lessons.’
‘Wait… I’m confused,’ said Pete, shaking his head and making his antennae wobble. ‘You want me to teach you to surf?’
‘Uh huh.’
‘And you’re going to stay in Crumbleton Sands for longer.’
‘Yep.’
‘In my hut?’
‘Yes.’
‘And dad’s cool with that?’
‘Correct.’
‘But… where am I going to sleep?’
Scarlett smirked. ‘Well… there’s your van, of course, but I’ve had another idea.’
‘Oh yeah?’ said Pete, his voice suddenly sounding husky.
‘I thought we could do some research for your dad,’ she said with a grin.
‘My… dad?’ Pete was looking confused again.
‘Yeah,’ said Scarlett. ‘He’s been pretty keen for my feedback about the shepherd’s hut, so I was thinking, we could test out how it works as a romantic getaway… for… you know… a couple.’
She might have been practising the line since the previous night, but Scarlett still didn’t manage to pull it off without turning puce.
At least now her face matched her costume!
‘What do you think?’ she said, her eyes on Pete.
Pete nodded, his antenna waggling. ‘Sounds like the kind of research I am fully in support of!’
Scarlett let out a squeal of joy that was promptly echoed by the sound of a klaxon, signalling that the swim was about to begin. All around them, people began moving towards the water’s edge, adjusting costumes, doing last-minute stretches, and generally psyching themselves up for the plunge.
‘Here we go again,’ said Pete, reaching out and squeezing Scarlett’s claw as they surged down the beach with the rest of the crowd.
The fancy dress swim was even more chaotic than the previous day’s dip. Costumes that had looked impressive on dry land quickly proved impractical in the water – the jellyfish headpiece was abandoned within seconds, and at least one mermaid tail floated away like an aquatic tumbleweed.
Scarlett quickly found that keeping her lobster costume in place while swimming was a challenge that required constant adjustment and no small amount of luck.
‘This is ridiculous!’ she spluttered as a wave caught her full in the face, dislodging her antennae. ‘How is anyone supposed to swim in these things?’
‘That’s half the fun,’ Pete laughed, reaching out to pop them back on her head and then steading her as she wobbled in the shifting sand. ‘Look at Brian – his captain’s hat’s on its way to France.’
Scarlett turned to look, and sure enough, Brian’s nautical headgear was making a bid for freedom on the current, despite his valiant attempts to swim after it.
‘I think I prefer regular swimming,’ she admitted, shivering slightly as another wave broke around them.
‘Probably wise,’ said Pete. ‘Though you’ve got to admit, this’ll make for some good photos.’ He nodded towards the shore, and Scarlett groaned when she spotted several people with cameras capturing the spectacle.
‘Brilliant. Crumbleton Sands will forever remember me as a half-drowned lobster.’
‘Could be worse,’ said Pete. ‘You could be the bloke whose beach ball costume has just deflated. He looks like a sad balloon animal.’
Scarlett followed his gaze, then burst out laughing. She was suddenly filled with bright, unguarded joy as everything she’d just said to Pete on the beach started to sink in.
She was staying in Crumbleton Sands.
With him. In his hut.
And he was going to teach her to surf!
Pete reached for her with his padded claws and drew her towards him for an awkward but enthusiastic hug. The water was cold around them, but Scarlett barely felt it as she grinned at him.
‘What was that for?’ she said.
‘Just grateful,’ said Pete, not letting her go. ‘This weekend turned out far better than I expected.’
‘Even with the van and the cold swim?’ Scarlett teased, remembering his initial grumpiness.
‘Even with those things,’ Pete confirmed. ‘You know, I always thought the hut was perfect for one, but I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be even better for two.’
Scarlett’s eyes softened, and she leaned in closer, the lobster antennae bobbing ridiculously between them. She desperately wanted to kiss him, but she didn’t want to take his eye out. ‘So… is this the part where you tell me lobster jokes for the rest of the week?’
‘Only if you promise to laugh at them,’ said Pete solemnly.
‘I make no such promise,’ chuckled Scarlett.
Around them, the fancy dress swimmers were starting to retreat to shore, driven by the cold and the increasing difficulty of keeping their costumes intact. Scarlett knew they should probably follow suit, but she was reluctant to break the moment. She wanted to hold onto this feeling – this unexpected joy that had swept into her life as suddenly as the tide.
Tonight, they would have the hut all to themselves, and blissful days stretched in front of them. Plenty of time to get to know each other properly, away from the chaos of The Big Dip and the watchful eyes of Crumbleton Sand’s residents and the ever-present Chilly Dippers.
And after that? Well, after that life was open and full of possibilities that she was suddenly fiercely eager to explore.
‘We should probably get out before we actually turn into lobsters,’ said Scarlett, her teeth beginning to chatter. ‘Frozen ones, I mean.’
Pete nodded, reluctantly releasing her from his embrace. ‘Race you to shore?’
‘You’re on,’ Scarlett grinned, already turning towards the beach. ‘Last one there buys dinner!’
She set off, the lobster costume hampering her movements but not her determination. She could hear Pete splashing after her, and a smile spread across her face as she pushed through the waves.
Whatever happened next… she had a feeling it was going to be one hell of an adventure.