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“Home. I’m so full after Molly’s. Can we just have a film night?”
“Sure.”
As well as my stomach, my heart feels content as we leave, winding up the tiny road out of Tregethworth. Sharing this with Jeremy was important to me, and it was a pretty perfect date if you exclude his taste for banana milkshake.
We pull up, and Jeremy takes my hand as we walk into the house, but instead of a quiet house to ourselves, there are the sounds of shouting and something smashing coming from the kitchen.
As we get closer, I can hear Mr and Mrs Archer in the midst of a blazing row.
“You’re out of control, Penelope. Get a grip of yourself.”
“Me! Oh, screw you, Jerome!” The smash of china breaking on the floor punctuates her words.
“Mum, Dad?” Jeremy walks in, and they both stop to look at him, shame clear on their faces as they look at him and then me. Mr Archer looks me over as if I’ve done something to cause further irritation, so I pull my hand from Jeremy’s and back away. He doesn’t stop me and just keeps his eyes firmly on his parents.
Stepping softly, I creep out of the side door and into the garden to escape. I don’t need to witness more of their fight — it’s embarrassing enough as it is.
The distance only muffles the voices as they start up again. There’s still shouting back and forth, but now, I can make out Jeremy’s voice in between it all, too. I linger on the deck but decide to take another look down at the jetty. We hadn’t been back since the other day. I leave the garden gate open as a clue to where I’ve gone if Jeremy comes looking.
It’s quiet and peaceful as the evening closes in around me. The sun paints a pink glow in the sky, and the water looks calm and inviting. With the boats and the private homes around, it’s a mile away from the small cottage I pointed out earlier along the beach at Tregethworth. But here, sitting on the edge of the jetty and swinging my legs, I feel the same ease as back there. Maybe it’s the water or just being in Cornwall.
The sun drops, and the dusk turns dark, but I don’t want to go back to the house, so I wait it out a little longer. I could text Jeremy to check but decide against it.
I lie back on the wooden slats and watch as the stars emerge in the sky, waiting to catch a shooting star if I’m lucky.
A few minutes later, Jeremy’s shadow creeps into view. He takes a seat and lies down next to me.
“Sorry you had to see that.” His voice is sombre.
“No, it’s fine.” I can sense there is more he wants to say, so I wait, but the words don’t come. The quiet stretches and the pressure inside my heart to say something to ease him grows.
“The first time I came to Cornwall, I was only small — six, I think. My dad had just left.” I don’t know why I’m telling him this now, but it’s personal, and I want to share something of me with him. “We were meant to be here as a family, but instead of driving here, he drove off. He abandoned me. And Mum. And I never knew why.”
Speaking in the dark feels more intimate, somehow. It is as if the darkness has veiled us in secrecy and removed the normal trepidation.
He reaches out his hand and strokes my cheek with the back of his hand before rolling towards me and pulling me against him.
Then he kisses me slowly but with intent, which makes my heart skip and my body erupt in goosebumps. He continues the kiss, his fingers sliding through my hair, and the patience that we’ve been holding onto burns to the ground. He’s pressing against me, rolling me on my back as he straddles my waist while keeping our lips fused together.
My arms wrap around his neck and hold him to me — to make sure he knows exactly where I want this to go — as I feel my body pang with a need to keep going. I run my hand down to his shorts and pull at the button fly.
“Hey, not here.”
“Why?” I complain. “This is our spot. We’re alone.” The urgency and sizzle fade in an instant, and the slow burn towards my first time is starting to get old.
“Because I’m your first, and you deserve more than being taken on the jetty. Come on.” He stands and pulls me to my feet, making sure to keep my hand in his, the pressure fierce and sure. We’re silent on the walk back, but the air between us prickles with anticipation. My breaths are quick and mimic my impatience. We use the back door and walk through the kitchen upstairs, stopping at his door.
“Is this okay?” My heart rushes in my chest that we might finally be doing this. I look both ways, suddenly self-conscious.
“Don’t worry. They left.” He opens the door, and we step into the dark.
I expect him to turn the light on, but he leaves us cloaked in darkness. I can hear his breathing, the warmth of his body so close to mine.
Being in here sends my nerves skyrocketing, but I force them down to the pit of my stomach. I want this.
Jeremy’s hand slides up my arm, and he cradles my face as I reach out to hold his waist. It’s a little awkward. I think we’re both waiting for the other to push things along, but my bravado seems to be shy now that I’m in his bedroom.
“You’re nervous?”
