Page 71 of Hook, Line and Single

‘Last night of the cruise,’ I observe. ‘Can you believe it? It feels like it’s flown by.’

Cameron smiles. ‘The fact that we missed two nights of it probably didn’t help. Barry’s Bonanza in Malta feels like ages ago though, doesn’t it?’

I consider his point and he’s right. Although time seems to have sped up since we rejoined the ship, our adventures in Barcelona and Cannes make the early part of the cruise feel like they happened a lifetime ago.

‘How do you feel about going home?’ he asks after a while.

‘I’m ready, I think. You’re right that it does feel like we’ve been away for ages, so I’m looking forward to getting back to the bookshop, even if I’m slightly worried about what I’ll find at the flat.’

‘Your sister Em?’

‘Not her so much as her boyfriend, Charlie. She swore he’d improved, but he’s one of those people whose perception of their cooking ability often outstrips reality. If my kitchen has escaped unscathed, I’ll be happy.’

‘And then there’s Samson. I expect he’ll be pleased to see you.’

‘Once he’s finished punishing me for going away, yes. Em will have spoilt him rotten, which won’t have helped. What about you? Looking forward to getting back to your guns?’

He stares at me for so long without speaking that I start to feel uncomfortable.

‘Hello?’ I try eventually. ‘Earth to Cameron?’

‘Sorry, I was thinking about something.’

‘Are you going to share?’

‘How do you feel about coming clay pigeon shooting with me? There’s a really good ground near Paddock Wood. It’s a bit of a flog from you, but I could collect you first thing and we could have a pub lunch afterwards. Make a day of it.’

‘Are you inviting me on a date?’

‘No. Absolutely not. Sam told me you’d run a mile if I so much as mentioned the D word. No, this is two friends enjoying a day out together, nothing more.’

‘Sounds awfully like a date to me.’

‘Let me put it this way then. We’re friends, right?’

Now it’s my turn to fall silent. What are we, exactly? Friends seems a bit anodyne given that we’ve shared two beds, been skinny dipping together and massaged each other’s naked bodies, even if only from behind. Our relationship feels like we’ve reached a deeper level of intimacy than just friends. But we’re not dating, and we’re not heading that way either. What is the correct term for more than friends but less than lovers?

‘I wasn’t expecting that to be such a difficult question,’ Cameron remarks, and I can hear the slight tone of hurt in his voice.

‘Sorry. Of course we’re friends,’ I assure him.

‘Right. And, unless the world has changed dramatically and nobody has told me, friends do stuff together from time to time.’

‘Doing stuff’ conjures up an image of us massaging each other, and I’m momentarily distracted again by the thoughts of where that could have gone.

‘Are you all right, Ruby?’ Cameron asks.

‘Yes, yes. Sorry.’

‘You seem a little distracted. Is there something on your mind?’

‘No, nothing. What were you saying?’

‘I was trying to invite you to come clay pigeon shooting with me without it being a date, but I suspect that you hate the idea and you’re trying to buy time to think of a way of letting me down gently. Forget I said anything. I just thought it would be nice to have something in the diary, but I don’t want you to feel pressurised.’

Shit. I’ve properly upset him now. Why am I making such a meal of this? I mean, I’m not sure about the whole shooting thing, but I know it’s important to him and I want to understand it. He’s not inviting me to move in with him. Come on, Ruby. Make a decision.

‘Do you know what?’ I tell him. ‘Friends do do stuff together from time to time, and I’d love to come shooting with you. As your friend.’

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