‘No worries,’ I smiled back, accepting his apology. ‘Do you play?’ I asked, nodding at the case and feeling relieved that the moody moment had passed.

‘Nah,’ he said, securing his seatbelt, ‘I thought I’d just bring it with me so we would have something else to sit on.’

I leant across and lightly punched him on the arm.

‘Has no one ever told you that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,’ I tutted.

‘Funnily enough,’ he said, locking his gaze on to mine as he turned the key and started the engine, ‘they have.’

I felt my heart rate quicken and the inside of the car seemed to shrink around me. Finding myself in such close and confined proximity to him was making my temperature rise. It didn’t seem to matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t shrug off my feelings for him.

‘Do you mind if open the window?’ I murmured, looking away and trying to locate the right switch. ‘It’s a bit warm in here.’

‘It’s this one,’ he said, his hand reaching for it, just a millisecond after my fingers found it.

We pressed it down together and then his hand closed around mine. What was he doing?

‘Tess,’ he said, making me feel even hotter.

I couldn’t look at him.

‘There’s something you should know . . .’ he began.

‘Are you two now going to the beach?’ asked George, his head shoved so far through my window he was practically in the car.

‘Yes,’ I told him, pulling my hand free and thinking that he really did have the most amazing timing, ‘yes, we are.’

‘I would offer you a lift, George,’ said Sam, ‘but I’m out of space.’

‘It’s all right,’ I said, quickly hopping out. ‘You get in George. I don’t mind walking back.’

‘Well as long as you’re sure,’ he said as Skipper hopped nimbly into the footwell. ‘I know it’s not far, but I’ve got this cool-bag of snacks from my sister and it’s heavier than I thought.’

With the bag balanced on his lap, he buckled himself in and Sam pulled away.

‘See you in a minute!’ George shouted out of the window.

‘Yes,’ I called after him, as I looked down at my hand and realized that those inconvenient feelings I still harboured for my new best friend’s boyfriend just might be reciprocated, ‘I’ll see you there.’

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

In my defence, I did what I could that evening to keep extra busy and out of Sam’s way. To begin with, it wasn’t too difficult because seemingly everyone who lived within and around the village had turned out to celebrate and I was easily lost among the throng.