Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A part from a few noisy seagulls arguing over a paper bag, the beach is deserted. I’ve come to sit down here before work. My head is filled with worries about the café’s reputation online and thoughts about Noah. Even though we have a new arrangement it’s still hard working alongside him.
I have become distracted by a man swimming in the sea. He’s quite far out. When I was younger, I used to be a lifeguard and I saved quite a few holidaymakers on this very beach who got into trouble after going too far out. So I know the water can be unforgiving, even in the summer months, punishing holidaymakers and surfers with chilly currents and boisterous waves.
I look out at the swimmer again. I have a bad feeling about this. Something is wrong. The waves are getting bigger and I can almost feel the sea’s excitement.
Once he starts swimming the sea’s spiteful waves queue up to crash up against his face. Their persistence pays off as his arms slow. My heart bangs inside my ribcage as a current carries him further away from the shore. Seagulls screech with laughter at the man. Turning his head, he looks back at the beach. Something is wrong.
I get to my feet. My heart beats faster. Flinging myself off my rock I charge across the beach. How long will it take for his bobbing head to disappear under the murky waters? The is sea dragging him out further and he’s not putting up much of a fight. I can’t watch this. In a flash I strip off my clothes and kick off my plimsoles.
I wade into the water. The icy cold water robs me of breath and my lungs burn in protest. But then my old love of outdoor swimming returns. After my lifeguard days ended, I used to go swimming in the sea all the time. It was a great way to cool off after an argument with Pete. Before I met Scott on a dating app Dad would look after baby Lucas, and I would head down to the beach for a swim. Cold water is invigorating and I would have a buzz about me all day afterwards.
I dive into a wave and power towards the stranger’s bobbing head. Instinctively I reach out and grab his arm.
The stranger struggles. ‘I don’t need your help,’ he yells.
A wave crashes over the both of us, making me gasp and swallow a mouthful of salty sea water. Shit. The sea is fighting back. I can feel the water swelling around us. A huge wave is forming. The sea is getting ready to settle things. All it needs to do is unleash one giant wave over us, robbing the human world of not just one but two lives.
‘You need to come with me,’ I say, through chattering teeth.
‘Please,’ he splutters, ‘I am… okay.’ Something flickers across his tanned face as he struggles to keep himself above water. He isn’t fine.
Using all my strength I grab him by the shoulders. The man tries to struggle free, but my hold is too strong.
‘I don’t need your help,’ he shouts, before erupting into a coughing fit.
‘Come with me, silly bugger,’ I yell, lifting him onto his back and heading for the beach. He thrashes his arms and legs.
Anger rises in me. Here I am risking my own life to save him from a cold and miserable death and all he can do is complain. If he carries on trying to shake me off, we will both end up in trouble. My foot lashes out, kicking him in the shin. He yelps and his body sags against me. The sea makes one last attempt for victory, pulling us away from the shore with a strong current. With gritted teeth, I tighten my grasp on the man and swim harder. ‘You will not win sea,’ I croak.
I shove the man out of the water and we stagger onto the beach. With heaving chests and wet bodies, we bend over to get our breath.
‘What did you do that for?’ he croaks.
Wiping sand and hair way away from my lips, I snap, ‘You were going to become fish food.’ His eyes wander over my black bra and pants. Oh God, I have rescued a pervert!
He straightens, stands up, placing his hands on his hips. ‘That was my business.’
Irritation at this silly man is making my cheeks prickle. ‘The phrase you are looking for is… Thank you for saving my life. ’
‘You kicked me and then dragged me ashore.’
‘We were both going to drown out there.’
The man sighs before removing a clump of dark hair from his tanned forehead. ‘Look – I am not happy about this. I was doing my own thing out there.’
With eyes widening in horror, I stare at him. ‘Well – I wanted to save you and I will do it again if you pull another silly stunt like that.’ I am now praying he won’t make me enter the icy waters for a second time.
‘You should really ask people first if they want to be rescued,’ he moans, grabbing his jeans from the pile on the beach. Rolling my eyes, I run to my pile of clothes. He’s shoving his wet slippery feet into his trainers by the time I return fully dressed.
‘Who are you anyway?’ His dark eyes fix upon my pink café T-shirt.
‘Look, I don’t have time for small talk,’ I say, quickly. ‘You need to get warm, or you’ll freeze out here.’ His lips have gone a blueish colour, and his golden tan is fading fast. ‘I run the café over there and I’m happy to shout you a free coffee.’
‘I have things to do,’ he snaps.
My neck and shoulders stiffen, making me spin round. ‘Fine – freeze to death on the beach then.’
‘Fine.’ He shouts back as I march away.
As there is no time to go back to Dad’s I stomp to the café. I’m relieved Noah has not yet arrived. My long hair takes forever to towel dry, so I end up piling it into a loose ponytail. My clothes are damp, so I grab a new Love Café T-shirt and apron from the pile Frankie left us. After I plug in the heater and stand by it until I get warm. I should be looking at the booking log for today, but I am freezing.
Noah arrives and spots my damp hair. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine,’ I say. ‘How are you?’
He nods. ‘Good, thanks.’
He surveys the damp patches on my jeans. ‘Alice, have you been in the sea?’
‘It’s a long story,’ I say. ‘We have a café to run.’
At lunch I go home, shower, wash my hair and put on fresh clothes. When I return, The Little Love Café is busier than normal. There is a queue of people waiting to pay and more people waiting for tables to become free. ‘What’s going on?’ I ask Noah, who is frantically trying to make drinks for multiple tables.
‘Didn’t you read the booking log for today?’
I shake my head. ‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Well, we have a celebrity coming. He knows Frankie from his PR agency days. I think a few of his fans have come to gawp at him.’
‘A celebrity?’
Noah nods. ‘A film actor. He’s popular on social media so we need to impress him and his celebrity girlfriend. Rocco Reid. He’s going to propose, I think.’
‘I’ve never heard of him,’ I say as the crowd at the door parts, and everyone hushes. I stare in shock as the man from the sea strides into the café.
Clamping my forehead with my hand, my neck starts to feel itchy and hot. Why did Frankie’s important customer have to be the man I plucked from the sea earlier?
His brown eyes lock onto mine and with a tanned hand he sweeps his almost black wavy hair away from his handsome face. I can’t help but think back to seeing him half naked on the beach. My mind kindly replays soundbites from our strained conversation and I am back to feeling irritated by the sight of him.
Noah comes up beside me and outstretches his hand. ‘Welcome to The Little Love Café, Rocco. I’m Noah and this is–’
Rocco interrupts Noah and says, ‘The woman who wrestled me out of the sea this morning and kicked me when I didn’t listen to her commands.’
Noah casts me a worried look and mouths, ‘You kicked Rocco Reid?’
I give him a nervous look. I need to sort out this situation quick. ‘Right then,’ I say, with a false smile, ‘shall I show you to the Snug?’
Rocco turns to look for someone behind him. ‘Where did she go?’ He asks one of the men stood by him.
‘Outside. Instagram shots,’ replies the man, with thick rimmed glasses, tapping something into a tablet.
Something flickers across Rocco’s face, and he turns to me. ‘Do you want to show me to the Snug?’
Once in the Snug, Rocco catches my eye. ‘I suppose I better say thanks for this morning.’
‘Huh?’ I wasn’t expecting this.
‘You did the right thing.’ He sits down and fiddles with the jewelled cufflink on his crisp white shirt. ‘I’m sorry if I was a little short with you. Please have a seat.’
I sit as far away from him as possible, crossing my arms tightly across my chest. ‘You looked like you were in trouble.’
Rubbing his neck, he bows his head. ‘I was in trouble but too proud to say.’
‘Where’s your girlfriend?’
Rising from the sofa he paces the perimeter of the Snug. ‘She’s more concerned about her Instagram feed than me.’ I detect a disappointed tone.
‘Is she famous too?’
Rocco smiles and stares at the flower wall. ‘Yes. She’s a pop princess. Impressive flower wall.’ He returns to his seat. ‘Look, I don’t even know your name.’
‘Alice.’
‘It is good to meet you, Alice. Aren’t you going to ask me about my next film?’
I cast him a puzzled look. ‘I’m sorry but I have never heard of you, but I can ask you if you want?’
His shapely pink mouth falls opens in surprise. ‘You hadn’t heard of me?’
‘Nope.’
He runs a tanned hand through his glossy wavy hair and looks a little lost. ‘Blimey, this is new territory for me.’
‘How famous are you?’
‘Very.’ He turns to take one more look at the flower wall behind us.
‘What’s it like, being famous?’
He goes silent which makes me steal a glance at him. His head is once again bowed and he’s staring blankly at something on the floor. ‘My girlfriend and I are not really a couple. It’s fake. My team have told me my career needs this high-profile engagement as fans will love it. Soon everyone will rush in here and film my big proposal.’
‘I am sensing you’re not fully embracing this fake relationship?’
He lets out a heavy sigh. ‘I just want to be me. Not Rocco Reid. Even that’s made up. My real name is Rob Smith. Years ago, I was in love with this girl from my hometown. She was everything to me. I was going to ask her to marry me and then I got a decent part in a film and my life went in another direction. I’ve never met anyone like her.’
‘What’s she doing now?’
He shrugs. ‘Divorced with a little girl. I often check on her. You see I broke her heart before I left for my big acting career. I ended our relationship, and she was upset.’
This is sounding familiar, and I can feel Noah related irritation bubbling up inside of me. ‘Rocco… sorry… Rob, do me a favour and don’t go back to your hometown, get a job in a romance-themed café, and start working alongside her. Trust me it doesn’t work.’
He’s grinning at me. ‘Ah, I see. Did that guy out there break your heart? Do you want me to set my minder on him?’
The urge to say yes please is strong but I refrain.
Rocco looks at me. ‘I am jealous of you two.’
I laugh. ‘Jealous?’
‘You’ve been given a second chance. I’d bite someone’s hand off for a second chance with Freya. You’re very lucky to be in this position.’ He looks at me. ‘You remind me a lot of Freya: plucky, strong willed and you don’t pay much attention to my celebrity status. Those qualities are refreshing. He’s a lucky guy out there.’
I shake my head. ‘He’s annoying.’
Rocco grins and takes out his phone. ‘Alice, you have saved me in more ways than one today.’
Before I have a chance to reply we’re surrounded by his team and an attractive blonde-haired woman who wants everyone to call her Lil Tia and who won’t stop talking about her next album which will be a celebration of her love for Rocco Reid.