Page 55 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

‘Rebecca Smith,’ she clarified.

Jack merely looked vacant, which wound Lucy up even more.

‘Well, she’s one of your exes. One of the many, by the sounds of it,’ she couldn’t help but add the dig. ‘Well, she told me all about your “treat ’em mean, keep ’em keen” antics. How you were seeing someone else at the exact same time as dating her …’

‘Ri-ight … And when was this?’ Jack looked bemused, but perhaps not totally surprised.

‘Umm … about nine years ago.’

‘Wow, we really are keeping score.’ His tone was sarcastic.

‘Look, she warned me off you. Told me all about how you messed with her … how you were seeing someone else at the same bloody time. She’s a close friend, Jack.’

Jack looked chastened, as though something in this was ringing true. ‘Okay, look, why not come across a minute, and have a glass of something with me? We can chat a bit more privately, and I’ll tell you more about my “misspent youth” … if you really want to hear about that.’

‘I’m not sure that I do want to …’ Lucy was still indignant.

‘Come on, Luce. If you’re casting accusations, then at least give me a chance to explain. I’ll make you up the most delicious mocktail. I know you have to drive.’ His tone was conciliatory.

Should she give him the chance to tell his side of the story? Then, at least, they could move on, keep their distance, but remain polite. ‘Umm, alright then.’

So, sat at the little table and chairs set beside Ruby, on a night filled with stars, Jack’s truth unfolded:

‘Right then, so I had a bit of a hard time around my late teens … I wasn’t a good lad, Luce, and I didn’t treat women with the respect they deserve. Hands up to that. I was selfish … and I was hurting.’

So, it was true. Becky’s warning was so damned right.

‘And I know it’s no excuse,’ Jack continued, ‘but, well,’ he took a slow breath, ‘it was after my brother died … that time was a bit of a blur. Everything with Daniel … it was so out of the blue. It just tore my world apart.’

‘Oh Jack, I’m so sorry,’ Lucy said with wide eyes, feeling slightly winded. ‘… about your brother.’ God, that must have been tough.

He looked up towards the night sky for a few moments, before starting again. ‘But yes, back then, these girls … well, I didn’t always keep track very well and I suppose you’d call me a player, but … I never promised them anything. I was young, Luce … immature. Was only thinking of myself back then. I’m not proud of it, but I’ll not lie to you, it happened.’

‘Oh …’ She could perhaps forgive Jack for his misdemeanours in the past; he must have been experiencing a whole world of hurt. She couldn’t even imagine the pain he must have been going through back then. But then, what about the drunk girl the other night? Oh yes, she’d seen that with her own eyes … seen him bundling her off into his campervan. That hadn’t looked innocent at all.

Jack was staring at her earnestly, waiting for her to respond.

Should she go ahead and ask about the girl at the wedding? But did she really want to know? Was it worth raking up yet more of Jack’s messy behaviour? It wasn’t as though it’d make a difference now. It was time to back away, keep things simple between them. Time to protect herself. She didn’t need any more complications in her life.

‘Well, like I said, thanks for the drink.’ Lucy stood to go.

She was hiding something, Jack knew it. He recognised that guarded look. Yes, his behaviour back then had been disappointing, but it was so long ago. He couldn’t leave it like this. Her words didn’t match the look in her eyes … nor the way she’d hugged him, held him, kissed him that other night.

He took a deep breath.

‘Lucy, stop. I like you!’ There – it was said.

Lucy stopped in her tracks, her head snapping round to face Jack, her skin prickling at his words.

Jack looked at her, waiting. His heart was on the bloody line and she’d still not answered.

The silence stretched between them.

‘Good night, Jack,’ she whispered softly. And she started to walk away.

Jack could only watch her retreating footsteps, his heart sinking like a stone. How could he change the way she felt? His smile was sad, like he knew he couldn’t put right the past, the things he’d done.

‘Night, Luce,’ he whispered back into the night.