Page 43 of Just the Beginning

Anya would’ve preferred a bit of time to process the evening on her own, but Chloe had done her a favour and there was no polite way to get out of it. A few minutes later they were settled side by side on the sofa, each holding a steaming mug of tea. Chloe faced her, one arm resting on the back of the seat cushions, her cheek propped on her fist. ‘So what happened?’

Anya blew the steam on her mug, trying to find the words to describe the confusion inside her. ‘Rick didn’t want to sleep with me.’

‘Oh my God!’ Chloe blurted.

‘Shh! Don’t wake Freya.’

‘Oh my God,’ Chloe repeated in a stage whisper. ‘You guys certainly didn’t waste any time. I know you said when we were chatting the other night that you wanted to make sure the two of you were compatible, but I didn’t think you’d try and jump his bones on your first date!’

‘We didn’t even get as far as that.’ With a sigh, Anya slumped back and closed her eyes. ‘It’s my fault. We were having such a nice evening and it was just so good to feel something again, to have someone look at me with desire in their eyes.’ To have Rick look at her that way.

‘And Rick rejected your advances?’ Chloe’s brows drew down. ‘I find that hard to believe.’

Anya rolled her head to the side to meet Chloe’s eyes. ‘Even though I wanted us to take things further I, uh, I was really nervous and I think perhaps he sensed that.’

‘Ah, that makes more sense.’ Chloe sipped her tea. ‘So where did you guys leave things?’

‘He wants to take me for lunch next week.’

‘That sounds nice?’

‘Oh it is! Don’t get me wrong, Rick was incredibly kind and understanding and he said he’s happy to wait until I’m ready.’

Chloe nudged Anya with her knee. ‘But…’

‘I don’t know. Is there a but, or am I just making more of this than there needs to be? It’s been so long since I felt anything like this, I don’t know if I can trust myself to know when the time’s right.’

With a laugh, Chloe pushed to her feet and then drained her mug. ‘I think you just need to go with the flow, Anya, enjoy the moment and not fret too much about the future. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.’

Anya frowned up at her. ‘Is that it? That’s the best pearl of wisdom you can manage?’

Laughing, Chloe set her empty mug on the coffee table. ‘What do you want from me? Did you miss the bit where I’ve been single since before they built the pyramids?’ Bending down, she gave Anya a hug. ‘All jokes aside. If you can’t trust yourself right now, trust Rick.’

Anya hugged her back. ‘Maybe you’re better at this advice thing than you realise.’

She’d been a bit nervous about meeting Rick for lunch the following Monday, but he never made any reference to their conversation, and any doubts she’d had about him being put off by her blowing hot and cold were dispelled when he’dproduced a gorgeous hamper of food from the boot of his car. She had no idea when he’d found the time to put it together, but knowing he’d gone to the effort gave her the confidence to follow Chloe’s advice and just enjoy the moment.

That was the last time they’d managed to see each other before the regatta the following weekend, but they’d messaged or spoken most evenings, even if it was just a quick call to wish each other goodnight.

As she and the rest of the family made their way towards the beach on Saturday morning, Anya found herself taking a firm grip on Freya’s hand. There were cars everywhere and the path along the sea wall was crowded. Anya was grateful to Matt for scooping Freya up and onto his shoulders, out of harm’s way, when she was almost knocked over by someone trying to push past. ‘Is it always like this?’

Chloe tutted and rolled her eyes as she was shoulder barged by someone else. ‘It’s one of the most popular events of the year. Hopefully things will be better when we get down on the beach.’

They reached the top of the steps and Anya wasn’t the only one who stopped to survey the crowded sand with dismay. ‘Or maybe not.’

‘Come on,’ Ryan said as he started down. ‘Jago messaged me earlier and said they’d staked a claim near where Rick normally has his gear set out.’

Anya wasn’t sure they’d ever find them in the chaos below but she fell into line between Matt and Chloe and did her best to walk in her uncle’s footsteps as much as possible. Somehow they made it through the noisy crowds to find Jago, Rachel, Harry and Ed guarding the corners of the space they’d claimed near the lifeguard’s hut and lookout point.

‘You made it!’ Rachel jumped to her feet and reached up to lift Freya down from Matt’s shoulders. ‘Hello, poppet! Don’t you look nice?’

Anya bit her lip and thanked God Rick’s mum was a kind soul, because Freya had chosen a pair of thick bottle-green dungarees with a Peppa Pig patch on one knee where Anya had covered up a hole caused when Freya had fallen over in the park. Underneath them she was wearing a red and white polka dot swimsuit and she had a pair of black trainers with rhinestones covering the toes. A pink bucket hat completed the ensemble. She got their towels laid out and then, as casually as she could manage, she asked Ed, ‘Is Rick not with you guys?’

The moment she’d asked him she regretted it because a huge grin spread across his face as he turned and pointed.

‘Lover boy’s over there with the rest of the do-gooders.’ His smile vanished as Chloe gave him a sharp jab in the side and leaned over to hiss something in his ear. Eyes wide, Ed turned to look at Anya and mouthed, ‘Sorry!’

Anya narrowed her eyes at him but didn’t say anything; after all, it was her own fault for asking. Thankfully Freya was busy chatting to Rachel and Jago about something and hadn’t heard what he’d said. Deciding it would be a good idea to change the subject completely, she said, ‘I haven’t been to a regatta weekend before, how does it work?’

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