‘Gary tried to encourage me to write them again, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t risk recreating that world and having her destroy it again.’
Stevie kissed the top of my head. ‘I’m so sorry about your mum. That’s such—’
‘What the hell are you doing to my girlfriend?’ I fell back into the sand as Stevie was yanked away from me.
‘Daniel? What are you doing?’ I scrambled to my feet.
‘What am I doing?’ he yelled. ‘What are you two doing? I thought this was our special place or do you bring all your conquests here?’
‘Don’t speak to her like that,’ Stevie shouted. ‘We’re just friends.’
‘I wasn’t talking to you.’ Daniel shoved Stevie.
‘Daniel! Leave him alone!’ I pulled on his arm. ‘This is my friend, Stevie. I was upset and he was comforting me.’
‘I bet he was.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘It means he’s a man and men don’t do friendships with women. They always want something and, if I hadn’t shown up, I bet he’d have made his next move. And you’d have let him, wouldn’t you? Not quite the innocent you pretend to be, are you?’ He took a step towards me and I backed away, shaking. Who was this person? He certainly wasn’t the fun, caring Daniel who’d helped me through one of the darkest times of my life.
‘Stop it!’ Stevie stepped between Daniel and me. ‘She’s done nothing wrong.’
‘Move out of my way or I’ll—’
‘You’ll what? Hit me?’
And that’s exactly what he did. I cringed at the crack of Stevie’s nose before he fell to his knees, blood spurting onto the sand and down his white T-shirt.
‘Shit! Stevie!’ I knelt down, grabbed some tissues out of my bag and held them to his bloody nose. I turned to Daniel. ‘What the hell were you thinking? He’s a friend and, even if he was more, you don’t go around punching people.’
Daniel’s face was pale. His mouth kept opening and closing, but no words came out. Then he turned and ran up the beach.
I put my arm round Stevie. ‘C’mon. Let’s get you to your feet. Is your car nearby?’
‘Yes. Why?’
‘Because I need to drive you to A&E.’
He fished in his pocket and handed me his keys. ‘Good plan,’ he said. ‘But promise me one thing.’
‘Name it.’
‘You’ll dump that bastard before the next person he hits is you.’
23
Stevie’s nose was definitely broken. I’d suspected that as soon as I heard the crack, but a three-hour wait in A&E confirmed it.
‘I’m so, so sorry,’ I said as I drove his car back to Bramble Cottage.
‘Eighty-seven,’ he said.
‘What is?’
‘The amount of times you’ve said sorry since the beach.’
I smiled weakly. ‘If I’ve said it that many times, then you’ll know I mean it.’
‘It really isn’t your fault,’ he said. ‘Although it’s just as well I don’t have any hot dates lined up this weekend because the nurse said I’ll be bruised and swollen by the morning, possibly sporting two black eyes.’
I opened my mouth to speak, but Stevie beat me to it. ‘Don’t you dare say you’re sorry again.’
‘Okay, sorry, I won’t. No! I just said it. Sorry!’
We both giggled then Stevie groaned. ‘It hurts to laugh.’
It was just after nine when we pulled up outside Bramble Cottage.
‘Cup of that disgusting green tea?’ he suggested.
I laughed. ‘You need to work on your sales technique. I’ll politely decline although I could really do with using your loo if you don’t mind.’
‘Be my guest.’
Bonnie came bounding towards us as soon as Stevie opened the door and she obediently lifted her paw for me again.
‘The bathroom’s up the stairs and on your right,’ Stevie said. ‘Feel free to have a look round while you’re up there but excuse the mess.’
The bathroom was lovely: neutral tiles, large shower cubicle, and a roll top bath. Opposite the bathroom was a small bedroom which acted as Stevie’s office. At the end of the corridor, taking up the full width of the house was a spare bedroom and, judging by the peeling floral wallpaper and swirly carpet, this was obviously the room that he hadn’t yet tackled. It would make a gorgeous child’s bedroom.
At the other end of the cottage was the master bedroom. The external wall had been stripped back to stone and the remaining walls were painted a warm cream. A sturdy oak sleigh bed took pride of place in front of the exposed stone wall, flanked by a matching oak chest of drawers and a wardrobe. Glass doors at the back of the room opened onto a small balcony with views over Stevie’s garden and the fields beyond. Wow! Just wow!
Feeling suddenly self-conscious about staring at another man’s bed, even though I’d been given permission, I made my way back downstairs and found Stevie in the kitchen tidying away some pots.
‘When can I move in?’ I asked.
‘You like it?’
‘It’s gorgeous. I’m not a hundred per cent taken with the carpet in the spare bedroom, but the rest is stunning.’
Stevie laughed. ‘Oh, but that’s the template for the rest of the house. How could you not like it?’ He pointed to the kettle. ‘You’re sure you don’t want a drink?’
‘I’m sure. I’d best be going. Will you promise me you’re going to get some rest?’
Stevie pointed towards Bonnie nuzzling against my leg, ‘I know a certain border collie who’s not going to let that happen.’
I stroked her head. ‘Do you want me to do it for you?’
‘Will you stop worrying about me? I’ll be absolutely fine. I’ll walk her round to my Uncle George’s. I need to check he’s had something to eat.’
‘His birthday meal. Oh my goodness, I’d forgotten. I’m so—’
‘Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. Uncle George won’t mind. If I know him, he’ll have seen it as the perfect excuse to go to the chippy instead which, if I’m honest, would be his preferred option over a Michelin-starred restaurant any day. We’ll celebrate another time. Maybe you could join us?’
I smiled at Stevie. ‘That would be lovely, thanks. Although I’m not sure your Uncle George will want an evening in my company after he sees the state of you.’
‘Elise…!’
I put my hands up in surrender. ‘Okay, I’ll stop taking the blame. I’d best let you get round to your uncle’s. I’ll call you in the morning to work out how I get your car back to you.’
Stevie drew me into a hug and I gently squeezed him back, taking care not to knock against his nose. ‘Thanks for staying with me at the hospital. I really appreciate it.’
‘I was never going to abandon you there. It was the least I could do in the circumstances.’ I released my hold. ‘Is there anything else I can do for you?’