Page 20 of Toy Boy

“I’m not stalling…” I’m slightly distracted by a figure walking along the beach, and I squint to get a better look.

“What’s the matter?” Laney asks, following my gaze. “Oh. Okay… Who’s that?”

“Just someone who came into the café the other day, a new face in town. He’s looking after the surf shop for the summer, while Ray’s in Canada.”

Xander… Did he tell me his last name? I don’t know. I think he did, but for the life of me I can’t remember it. He’s got his head slightly down as he walks, because he’s texting, his other hand’s in his pocket, the warm breeze slightly blowing his dirty-blond hair… Jesus! Come on! What am I doing here? And the fact Laney is now staring at me with a stupid grin on her face… How old are we, for Christ’s sake?

I throw her another of my withering looks. “Where are we? High school?”

She shrugs and shoots me a ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about’ look.

“He’s also, I’m guessing, well over a decade younger than me.”

Why did I even bring that up?Why?

Laney waves that protestation away with the flick of her fork. “A decade’s nothing these days.”

“I’m not talking about this.”

“You brought it up.”

“No I didn’t.”

I think I did, actually. Although, not intentionally.

Laney looks back out onto the beach, but Xander’s heading off towards The Shack now. At least, that’s where I’m assuming he’s going. And I don’t know why I’m assuming that, in fact, I don’t know why I’m even distracted by him, after what I’ve just said to Laney, all that stuff about men and relationships and steering well away from them.

“Handsome strangers arriving in town, huh?”

“Stranger,Laney. Just the one.”

She’s still smiling, but I wish she’d stop. It’s quite unnerving. “You’re blushing!”

“I am not! It’s just the heat of the sun, and this chilli.”

She laughs quietly and takes a bite of her burger, her eyes still on me, and I’m actually quite irritated now. I’m almost forty-four years old, not some dewy-eyed teenager.

“I couldn’t get a proper look at him from back here, but exactly how good lookingishe? On a scale of one to ten?”

“I’m not even talking to you now… Oh, shit!”

“What?” She follows my gaze again, and this time the smile’s wiped right off her face. “What’shedoing here?”

“It’s his local, Laney. He has as much right to be here as I do.”

Scott doesn’t seem to have seen me as he sits down at a just-vacated corner table, facing the beach.

“Is he alone?” Laney asks, craning her neck to get a better look.

“Does it matter?”

“I’m going to go talk to him…”

She attempts to stand up but I slam a hand down over hers, stopping her from going anywhere.

“Sit down. And leave him alone.”

“Megan…”

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