Then he leaned over and kissed her, really gently, on the mouth before she could answer any of her own questions. ‘Here she is,’ he said again, all soft and murmury.

The beach seemed to vanish as his lips met hers a second time. She closed her eyes, feeling the most delicious shivery thrill run through her. He tasted of Coke, he smelled of soap, he kissed like . . . Well, she didn’t have a lot of experience, in all honesty, but even she could judge that he kissed like a god. Her eyes felt swimmy as they eventually pulled apart, as if the world had drifted into soft-focus. As if she’d travelled through a portal into a whole new place.

They smiled at each other again. ‘Your phone’s been ringing,’ he said. ‘Did you not hear?’

‘I didn’t even notice,’ she replied honestly, then blushed because it sounded like she was spinning him a cheesy line.

‘Ah, I bet you say that to all the boys,’ he teased and she elbowed him, feeling all goosebumpy as their skin touched again.

‘Let me get a photo of us,’ she said, changing the subject and rummaging in her bag for her phone. Missed calls and a text from Ruby – RING ME! RED ALERT! it said, but she doubted it was anywhere near as important as kissing handsome Fraser and getting a selfie to prove it. Knowing Ruby, it would be some sixth-former liking one of her Instagram posts and her needing to analyse everything this might mean. ‘Smile!’

She took three photos and they studied them. ‘We look good together,’ he said. ‘Especially me.’

‘You are such a—’ She laughed, unsure what to say. In private, she agreed with him anyway – he looked so-o-o good – but it wouldn’t be very cool to admit as much.

Fraser had to leave shortly afterwards, and it seemed as if the crowds on the beach had the same idea, as a cool breeze began whipping across the sand. ‘Reckon it’s going to rain,’ he said, casting an eye up at the sky. ‘Will you be all right getting back?’

‘I think I’ll survive,’ she told him, as the first few drops of rain pattered around them. In the next minute her phone started ringing – Mum, she read onscreen – and she sent the call to voicemail. Bye, Mum. Not now. Busy falling in love here. She stuffed the phone in her bag and picked up her bike, which she’d left leaning against the rocks. ‘See you later on then. Text me when you’re coming over, yeah?’

‘Yeah.’ They walked back up to the road together and he kissed her again, a slow lingering kiss that made her legs feel like jelly. ‘Bye, Izzie.’

‘Bye, Fraser,’ she said, her voice practically a croak.