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‘Wow!’ I turn to Jez, big grin spreading. ‘Awesome doesn’t even describe…?’
She stands on the cliff beside me, arms hugged round her chest. She nods her reaction, doesn’t speak.
‘I tell you what, I’m not ready to leave this day. How about we light a fire on the beach? We could cook some sausages, get a bottle of whisky?’
There’s a flicker of unease before Jez forces a smile. ‘Whisky could be good, right?’
We reach the shop along the road with five minutes before closing. I dash round collecting sausages, French bread, chocolate, firelighters. Jez stands staring at the newspaper headlines.
‘Epic, they’ve got Caol Ila.’ I call from the whisky section. ‘Twelve-year-old. Sweet!’
Jez moves to join me. ‘Frigging should be at that price.’ She points to the £35 tag.
Can I really spend that on a bottle of booze? ‘Fuck it.’ I sling it in the basket. ‘Not every day you rescue a whale?’
Aiden’s at the till buying some cans and tobacco. ‘Hey pal, you’re looking well supplied,’ he says.
‘We’re having a fire on the beach. Fancy joining us?’ I pat him on the back, feel the sharp line of his shoulder bone. He’s all wrapped up in an oversized hoody.
He darts a look at Jez who’s back at the newspaper stand.
‘Come on, the more the merrier!’ I sound like someone’s uncle, or older brother maybe?
Aiden and I collect bits of driftwood and pile it up like white bones on the gold sand while Jez sits smoking on a rock. The air feels soft and balmy – our every movement like mega significant in the unreal light.
I start to lay the fire near Jez. Aiden settles on another flat rock and pulls out the makings for a spliff.
‘Ah, good man!’ I give him the thumbs up.
‘Aye, I’ll see if I can trust you to the fire.’
My Woodcraft Folk training finally comes through as I find enough small stuff to break up over the firelighter. The sound of the wood snapping is as exaggerated as the light. The orange flames lick the white scoured wood, smoke mingling with the salty air. I spread out the sleeping bag to sit between Jez and Aiden.
‘Hey.’ I gesture at the fire. ‘Not bad effort, is it?’
‘Aye.’ Aiden passes his big fat doobie. ‘You’ll be after the fire-maker badge as well as the lifesaving, now?’
I feel myself colour, though his sarcasm is spot-on. I take a long drag, try to think of a response.
‘Fuck me,’ is all I can manage as the smoke massively hits the spot. ‘Your jays need a public health warning, man.’
Aiden exaggerates inane nodding at me, making me snort giggles as I exhale my next drag, collapsing coughing on the sleeping bag. I get up on all fours, carrying the spliff in my mouth to give to Jez.
‘Hey, be warned,’ I say.
Jez nods, deadpan. I pull back, feeling the idiot now, put a couple of larger pieces on the fire as Jez gives a little shiver.
‘Come and sit closer,’ I offer, patting the sleeping bag beside me.
She shrugs. ‘I will in a bit.’
‘As in, closer to the fire, not, you know…?’
She gets up to deliver the spliff to Aiden, gives me a sweet sad smile as she returns to her rock.
There’s something I’m not getting here. I turn to Aiden, strangely seeming the easier of the two right now.
‘A fire-side seat for you, sir?’ I grin up at him.
