The summer at Hartland’s was passing far quicker than I wanted it to. The school holidays meant that it was constantly busy, and I missed the quietness that came with having fewer guests and responsibilities and that had meant more opportunities to hang out.

It had become almost impossible for all four of us to get any time off together, and with Soph and I doing similar jobs, I was more likely to find myself having time off without her. Luckily for me Joel was often off when I was and we found ourselves spending more and more time just the two of us.

‘I kid you not,’ said Joel. He was sitting on the edge of the reception desk, his body shaking he was laughing so hard.

‘I can’t believe it!’

‘I swear it’s the truth.’

I wiped the tears of laughter from my cheeks, before I batted his arm to get him to stop telling me anymore. My ribs were aching from laughing too hard at his recollection of Douglas being chased around the campsite by a jealous husband.

There was a cough and I immediately remembered I was manning reception. I turned towards the guest, using my best professional smile, only to see Scott standing there.

I stopped laughing, thinking that I was imagining him.

I hadn’t seen him for two whole months, which, before I went to Westerly, sounded like such a long time, yet it had gone past in the blink of an eye. I was always so busy I barely had time to think about myself, let alone anyone else. I’d known he was coming but it was still a shock to see him in the flesh again.

He looked different. More tanned from his interrailing around Europe. The tips of his spiky short hair blonder than before and he was skinnier and taller than I remembered; he barely filled the T-shirt he was wearing.

‘Hello, stranger.’ He held his arms out and winked at me. When he’d winked at me like that in class I used to melt but now it seemed cheesy. ‘Aren’t you going to give me a kiss?’

I turned to look at Joel. He slid off the reception desk.

‘This must be the famous Scott.’ He held his hand out and Scott shook it.

‘That’s right, Edie’s boyfriend.’

I walked round to the front of the desk.

‘This is Joel. He’s one of the water sports instructors.’

‘Ah, cool,’ said Scott. He took hold of my hand and pulled me towards him.

‘I’ll, um, leave you guys to it,’ coughed Joel.

‘Thanks, mate.’ Scott pulled me in closer towards him.

‘We’ll see you later on.’ I watched him walk away. ‘We’re going for a drink with him and the others later on. I’m so excited for you to meet everyone.’