Page 60 of Hook, Line and Single

‘In my bag,’ I tell her.

‘It is evening now and the sun ismoinsfort, so you will be OK if you don’t stay out for too long. Do you want to go and find your friend in the sea? The sensation of swimming without clothes isincroyable.’

I look around, expecting to see the eyes of everyone on me, but nobody is taking any notice at all. Nevertheless, the idea of walking past so many people to get to the sea is overwhelming. Claudine evidently senses my anxiety.

‘Shall we go together?’ she asks gently.

‘Please.’

She takes my hand again and gently leads me down to the water’s edge. I can’t believe I’m doing this, and I’m tempted to drown Cameron as soon as I get within reach of him, but the murderous thoughts are extinguished as soon as the cool water envelops me. I’ve heard people waxing lyrical about how wonderful skinny dipping is, but this is my first experience of it. The sensation of the water brushing against my bare skin is both soothing and exhilarating at the same time.

‘You like it?’ Claudine asks.

‘It’s incredible,’ I tell her as I start to giggle uncontrollably.

‘What is so funny?’

‘I was just thinking what my friend Sam would say if she could see me now.’

‘She would think what a brave, confident young woman you are, I think.’

‘I’m not so sure, Claudine. I think she’d probably have a fit.’

21

‘You decided to join me then?’ Cameron asks as I swim out towards him. Having guided me into the sea, Claudine has tactfully retreated and is sitting under her umbrella, chatting to Philippe. They look like an old, albeit naked, married couple, but I got the impression from the way they greeted each other that they were just friends. I wonder what the real story is there?

He’s floating on his back, which I rather wish he wouldn’t, as it’s hard to ignore little Cameron bobbing in the water. I resolve to stay firmly boobs down. No point in giving him more of a view than he needs.

‘Isn’t the water amazing?’ Cameron continues. ‘Have you ever skinny dipped before?’

‘No,’ I admit. ‘But then I’ve never been to a nudist beach before, either. What about you?’

‘I will confess to skinny dipping once with Ellie, but it was night-time and there wasn’t anyone else around. This is my first experience of a nudist beach though. Who was your friend?’

‘Claudine. She came to my rescue after her pal Philippe told me off for wearing clothes.’

‘Sorry. I thought you’d be OK where you were.’

‘It’s fine. I think I’d prefer it if you warned me in advance before pulling any more stunts like this, though.’

He smiles. ‘You’d have said no if I’d told you.’

‘Of course I would!’

‘OK. Serious question. Now that you’re here, do you honestly regret it?’

I consider his question for a moment before answering. Would I have willingly come to a nudist beach? Definitely not. Do I regret it though? I do feel weirdly elated, like I’ve confronted a taboo and overcome it. Sam will never believe I’ve done something like this either. Neither will Em or Jono, come to that. The more I think about it, the prouder I feel of myself.

‘Do you know what? I don’t,’ I tell him. ‘Although I am a little worried that something might swim up inside me. Does that happen, do you think?’

‘I reckon Frou-Frou is safe,’ he says with a smile, although it takes me a moment to work out what he’s talking about.

‘What about those fish that swim up your urine stream and latch on?’ I persist.

‘I think you only find them in the Amazon, not off the coast of Cannes. But, if you’re worried about it, probably best not to pee.’

I quite fancy rolling onto my back and floating, like Cameron is, but I’m very conscious that that will give him a full-frontal view of me, and I’m not comfortable with that.

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