Page 57 of Secrets of Starshine
We end up driving to Lyme Regis, which is half an hour away, but almost like being in another world. It is a bustling place, even in winter, with a pretty promenade lined with shops and cafés, and far-stretching views of the Channel that seem to go on forever.
We have eaten dinner in a small seafood restaurant that overlooks the bay, though truth be told I haven’t actually eaten very much at all. Archie has dressed up in a way I’ve never seen him before, and he looks so good I did a double take when I first saw him. It’s nothing formal by normal standards – smart black jeans and a short-sleeved white shirt – but the way he fills it, the sight of his muscular arms, the glimpse of his chest through the open couple of buttons…well, it’s enough to make me feel distracted, hot and bothered, and a little bit nervous.
I glance around, and see many other couples scattered around the room, just like us. I have no way of knowing what their lives are like just from looking, of course, but I wonder how many of them do this kind of thing all the time. If it’s just another weekend night out, not the Big Deal it feels like for us.
It feels shockingly like being on an actual date – something I haven’t done for many years, and I know the same is true for him. As I sip my wine, I notice him smiling at me across the table.
“What?” I ask. “Have I got lettuce stuck between my teeth?”
“No…you just looked a million miles away for a minute there. I was wondering where your head had gone, that’s all.”
“Oh, nowhere interesting…I was just thinking that this is adatedate, Archie. And we’ve never been on one of those before. It’s, umm, a bit weird isn’t it?”
“Good weird or bad weird?”
“Definitely good weird. It’s really nice. It’s just not what either of us is used to, is it? You have the girls, and until recently I had my mum, and even if we didn’t have them, I suspect neither of us would exactly be rocking it on Tinder or whatever.”
He thinks about what I’ve said, and replies: “No, I don’t think we would – but never say never, eh? I mean, it worked for your mum! For the record, I’m very much enjoying myself. You look beautiful tonight, Cally…well, you always look beautiful, but tonight extra specially so.”
I feel a little bounce in my tummy at the compliment, and say: “You’ve not scrubbed up so badly yourself, pal. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t noticed. I think the waitress has as well – she’s been gazing at you adoringly all night.”
She has as well – from the minute we walked through the door. Can’t say that I blame her.
“Well, that’s nice, but I’m very much yours for the night,” he replies. “I suppose the question is, what do we do next?”
He meets my eyes very directly as he says this, and I feel suddenly very flustered. It’s like someone’s turned the heating on full.
“What have you got in mind?” I ask quietly. If he doesn’t suggest wild, crazy, passionate sex, I know I am going to be very disappointed.
Archie and I have not slept together. We haven’t had the time to ourselves, and I don’t think either of us has been ready to take that step. There have been many heated kisses, and some stolen moments, and situations that Connie could probably describe better with her lexicon of love, but we haven’t gone beyond that.
I’ve thought about it, of course. I have in fact spent many hours thinking about it, usually while I lie in bed. I’ve imagined how it would feel to have this man’s hands on me, to touch his skin, to unbutton that shirt. To lose myself in the moment. It has been both an exciting and a scary prospect, and part of me has perhaps been grateful for the human shield that his girls have provided.
Now, as I sit across from him in this busy restaurant, I am starting to wonder how I could ever have resisted for so long. I mean, the man is gorgeous – and I’m only flesh and blood.
“Well,” he says slowly, his gaze not leaving mine, “we do have the whole night. And we are in a tourist resort. There might be hotels…”
I raise my hand and wave it urgently at the waitress. She scurries over, casting a little look at Archie, and I say firmly: “Can we have the bill please?”
He starts laughing, as do I, because really, this is all very funny. We’re both going a little bit mad on the newfound freedom I think. It’s more intoxicating than the wine. The bill is quickly paid – Archie grabbing it before I can – and we start to discuss our options.
Archie is telling me we might be able to just go for a stroll and see where has vacancies when I hear a strange sound. I realise after a few moments that it is a ringtone – one set up to sound like an old-fashioned landline blaring out. You don’t hear a lot of ringtones in Starshine, due to the nature of the place, and both of us look momentarily taken aback. I know it’s not mine, because it isn’t the spooky bit from the beginning ofThe X Filestheme tune. Cool, I know.
Archie shakes his head, realises it’s him, and roots his phone out of his jacket pocket. He stares at the screen, frowns, and hits answer.
“Connie, hi – is everything okay?”
I hear a garbled reply but can’t make out individual words, watching as Archie’s face changes from carefree to concerned.
“Is she all right?” he asks, his voice worried. “Yeah. Good. All right. We’re in Lyme…so, I don’t know, about half an hour? Tell her I’m on my way.”
He closes down the call, and stares at the table for a moment. I’m not sure what’s happened, but it seems quite obvious that our plan to sneak away for a night of illicit passion is dead in the water. More importantly, it sounds like something is wrong with one of the girls. I feel a curl of anxiety rise in my stomach, and murmur: “What’s happened?”
He looks up at me, as though surprised that I am there. His eyes are wide, devoid of all their earlier sparkle and humour.
“It’s okay, I think – Lilly had an accident. One of Shannon’s big brothers dared her to climb a tree in the garden, and she fell out of it. Shannon’s mum checked her over and thought she was all right, but she was so upset by that stage she just wanted to come home. Tried the phone and it went straight to voicemail – Shannon’s mum knows what the signal’s like, so they just got in the car and drove her home – except, I wasn’t in, was I? Which made matters worse. She ended up taking her to Connie’s, and she’s in a bit of a state. I’m really sorry, Cally, but I need to get back.”
“Don’t be daft,” I say, standing up. “Of course you have to get back. No need to apologise – Lilly comes first.”
