Page 19 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

‘Now don’t tempt me, young lady, my waistline won’t thank you for it, even if my tastebuds will.’ He gave a broad grin that crinkled around his eyes, and then set off back to his stall.

Lucy glanced over at Maggie’s coffee van and ventured a friendly smile. The dark-haired woman there gave her a very cool look back – or was she just being paranoid?

And then, she spotted someone turning around from the coffee stand. A familiar face, the way he stood. Oh crikey, yes, it was the Cocktail Campervan guy. He was dressed casually in jeans and a black T-shirt, his dark-blond hair a little tousled. He looked up and seemed to clock her straight away, pausing for a second, before coming over.

‘Hey, hello you. It’s Pizza Girl.’

‘Lucy,’ she answered, setting him straight on her name. Has he forgotten?

‘Hello, Cocktail Guy.’ She could play him at his own game. ‘Are you working here or something?’

‘Nope.’ He shook his head. ‘I actually think 9 a.m.’s a bit of an early start for cocktails, don’t you?’ He sounded a little sarcastic as he gave a wry smile.

‘Okay, well yes, I suppose …’ she said with a blush.

‘So no, I don’t do the markets generally, only the occasional food festival or if there’s a special evening market event on.’

‘Ah, okay, yeah, that makes sense.’ She suddenly remembered the last event they were both working at and looked a little closer at his brow. It seemed to have pretty much healed, with just the hint of a scratch left. ‘Umm, how’s the eye been?’

Jack suddenly looked a little awkward, the bravado knocked out of him. ‘Ah, yeah, bit sore for a few days, but right as rain now. All fixed … Not my usual approach, you know, getting involved like that. Anyway, enough about that. How’s it all been going for you then? The new business?’ He seemed keen to move the conversation on.

‘Yeah, pretty good. I’m starting to find my feet … building some trade. I was really pleased to get this slot.’

‘Right … well that’s good.’

There was a pause. Jack sounded like he was struggling for things to say, which wasn’t at all like the lad she’d watched at the bar, the one with the gift of the gab.

‘Well then, I suppose I’d better crack on,’ Lucy gave them both the chance to get out of this awkward moment.

‘Yeah, of course. Umm, well, if you ever need any advice, or info … business-wise, I mean, feel free to ask.’

It was kind of him to offer, but right now Lucy felt she needed to find her own way.

Pizzas were very different to cocktails, after all. She wanted to put her own stamp on her business. Do things the way Papa might have done, if he were still here today. And maybe she didn’t want to admit that she was finding this new venture difficult to a virtual stranger. ‘Okay, thanks. Well, I’d better get more of this dough rolled out.’

‘Ah, no worries,’ he responded. ‘And well, I know it can be hard setting up your own business. There are pitfalls, but there are lots of plusses too. Anyway, you can always find my Facebook page, and message me or something.’

‘Yeah, sure. Thanks.’

Jack looked up, trying to fathom her. He had to admit she didn’t seem that interested in taking him up on the offer of help. But hey, she was working and probably just wanted to crack on with her pizza making. A chap was now loitering at Jack’s shoulder, trying to read the toppings list. He shifted slightly to one side, yet something kept him anchored by Lucy’s stand.

He’d only come here to pick up some lemons, limes, strawberries and oranges for his garnishes. The market’s fruit and veg stall was really good value. He hadn’t expected to run into the Pizza Girl. And he certainly hadn’t expected to feel … what was it exactly? … kind of awkward in her company. This was new territory. He didn’t usually have problems chatting with women. The lines just rolled off his tongue. He felt an odd tug inside, and he wasn’t even sure why.

‘Right well, I suppose I’d better let you get on.’ He turned to go and then paused, adding, ‘Good to see you.’

‘You too,’ was her brief answer.

Aha, still Miss Cool. But she did then give him a glimmer of a smile, and what a lovely thing that was. Hah, she needed to practise using it more often.

‘Bye then.’ Jack headed off with one last glance over his shoulder, his step strangely feeling a little lighter.

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