Page 36 of Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
‘I’m a mum now.’
‘Yeah?’ He cocks his head to the side like a curious puppy.
‘To Billy. He’s seven.’
‘Right. Right! Wow. A kid.’ He runs his hand through his sun-bleached hair, which is nicely cut, she notices, and she wonders where he has it done.
‘Do you have any?’
He grins and shakes his head. ‘Nah. Haven’t had the time.’
‘Busy surfing?’
He keeps grinning. ‘Something like that.’
Evie glances over to the bar and sees Fran picking up their drinks.
‘I’m here with Fran,’ she says to Simon. ‘Do you remember her? Star hockey player.’
‘Sure – Fran,’ he says, but he’s not grinning any more. Instead he’s frowning in Fran’s direction. ‘Look, before she gets here,’ he says, ‘would you like to –’
‘Simon Hardy, as I live and breathe!’ Fran calls as she nears. ‘How are you?’
‘Great, Fran, thanks, yeah. Look, Evie, I …’ He stops and looks to be considering something.
‘Are you trying to ask her out, Si?’ Fran says.
Evie wants to melt into a puddle. How can Fran be so bold? Mind you, she’s always been like it, so Evie should be well past being mortified.
Simon laughs. ‘Maybe.’
He looks into Evie’s eyes and she realises she’s probably meant to say something, but all she can think is how much she wishes it were Sam doing the asking. Then her answer would be an immediateyes. For Si Hardy, though … He never acted interested in her at school. So maybe he’s desperate now? Whyelse would he want to ask her out so quickly when they haven’t seen each other for years? Desperation isn’t appealing to her, and she should know because she’s been feeling a little desperate herself.
‘Oh,’ she says at last.
‘I’ll call you,’ Simon says, and lifts his tinnie. ‘Cheers. Enjoy the show.’
Then he’s gone, probably to rejoin his mates, although Evie doesn’t look because she’s too busy glaring at Fran.
‘Why did you say that?’ she demands. ‘Thanks for the drink, by the way.’
‘The bloke was drooling.’ Fran sips her Coke. She always drinks Coke. ‘He’s still cute,’ she adds. ‘So why don’t you?’
‘Because …’ Evie sighs.
‘Because why – you have so many other dates lined up?’ Fran doesn’t say it unkindly – she has often lamented that she can’t understand why Evie hasn’t been snapped up – but it stings regardless.
‘Because there’s someone else,’ Evie blurts.
‘What?Why haven’t you told me this before?’
‘There isn’t anything much to tell. Yet.’
‘So you’ve been on some dates?’
‘No.’
Fran frowns. ‘So …’
