Mermaid Hair and I Don’t Care: A romantic comedy about shoes, surf and second chances

by CJ Morrow

  ‘Delicious. It’s quite magical down here.’

  ‘Yes.’ He paused. ‘Lily, your point about us being strangers – I do understand what you’re saying. We know nothing about each other.’

  ‘I thought that was the deal. A quick, no commitment, holiday romance. Isn’t that what you want? What we both want? You’re leaving before me. Remember?’

  ‘Yes. I suppose.’ He stopped, looked out to sea; he had that wistful look in his eyes again. He switched off his head torch then leaned over and switched off Lily’s. Without the tree shadows, the moonlight reflecting off the sea was illumination enough.

  Side by side they looked out across the ocean, listening to the waves as they swept up the sand and ebbed away. She didn’t know what to say.

  ‘You know how you asked me if I ran a surf school when you saw my wetsuits?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘It was, still is, a dream of mine. I would like to do that.’

  ‘What’s stopping you?’

  He exhaled through his nostrils then grabbed Lily’s hand and started to walk again.

  ‘Family business,’ he said. ‘Commitments. You know how it is.’

  ‘Not really. My family leaves me to my own devices where work is concerned. Don’t get me wrong, they do care, they just don’t interfere.’

  ‘That’s good,’ Jackson said.

  ‘What is the family business? I thought you just followed the surf around the world.’

  ‘I have done, this past year or more. But now…’ his voice trailed away, or maybe it was the sea breeze that carried his words away. ‘It’s complicated.’ His words had an air of finality about them; Lily decided not to press him further but squeezed his hand instead.

  ‘What about you?’ he said, in response to her hand squeeze. ‘What’s your dream?’

  Should she tell him how Will had let her down? Should she tell him how she’d spent the last ten years loving Will more than he loved her? ‘There’s a job I’m after at work. If I get it, it’ll be a big promotion.’

  ‘Good luck to you. I hope you’re successful.’

  ‘We’ll see. I think I’m in with a good chance.’ The conversation was getting a bit too real, too serious, too close to home. ‘Do you think the water’s too cold for a paddle?’

  He laughed. And, after they’d taken off their shoes, ventured in and Lily had run out screaming, he’d given her a piggy-back before plonking her down on a rock, so she wouldn’t have to stand on the sand with wet feet.

  He knelt in front of her and rubbed her feet until they were dry.

  ‘I feel like Cinderella.’ Lily allowed Jackson to push her shoes onto her feet.

  ‘That must make me Prince Charming then.’ He put out his hand to help her off the rock, then wrapped his arm around her shoulder at the same time as he switched on her head torch, then his own.

  ‘What’s the time?’

  Jackson pulled his phone out of his pocket. ‘Just after eleven.’

  ‘I need to message Tess. Tell her what I’m doing. We’d better hurry back.’

  ‘Why don’t you do it now?’

  ‘I didn’t bring my phone, didn’t want to have to carry my bag.’

  ‘Ah. You can use mine.’

  Lily laughed. ‘Like I’ve memorised her number. Come on; get me back up there quickly.’

  They dashed up the beach and up the path and tumbled into his cottage. Lily found her phone, read Tess’s message asking if she was okay, if she was coming back.

  Lily couldn’t reply. She didn’t know what she was doing. All she knew was that either way Jackson had control because Lily had no idea where she was or how to get back without Jackson.

  ‘Tess wants to know when I’ll be back,’ she said, keeping her back to Jackson and pretending to flick through her endless messages – of which there was only the one from Tess.

  ‘Whenever you like,’ he tossed back casually. He’d gone into the kitchen and put the kettle on.

  ‘Right.’ Now what? Was that an invitation to stay or to go? They’d spent the afternoon in bed but did that mean he wanted her to stay overnight? Or not? And what did she want to do?

  She could hear him clattering in the kitchen; the kettle boiled, he opened a drawer. As she stood waiting, wondering, another message popped up; probably Tess pressing for a reply. Lily had visions of Gemma’s chilli trout pout lips wanting an early night and the door locked.

  But it wasn’t from Tess. It was from Will; he’d sent a picture of himself on a motorbike – nothing new there then. Only this time he was bare-chested, the biking leathers pulled down to his waist. The picture was reminiscent of Lily in the wetsuit earlier, but there was no roll of fat hanging over the top, just Will’s gym-toned, and now tanned, torso. He’d captioned it, ‘Hey Babe, how cool is this?’

  ‘I’ve put milk in your coffee, that is right isn’t it?’ Jackson’s appearance made her jump.

  ‘Yes. Thank you.’

  ‘What did you tell your friend?’

  ‘Umm? What?’ Had he seen Will’s photo?

  ‘What I mean is… I’d love you to stay the night.’ He stopped and offered her a smile; it was almost shy. ‘But no pressure.’

  Lily thought of their passionate afternoon, their beach hut adventure. She thought of Will.

  ‘I’d love to,’ she said, immediately flicking back on her phone to inform Tess.

  She didn’t reply to Will’s message, even though he was still online and could see that she was too.

  Nine

  ‘Dirty stop out – day two,’ Gemma snipped as she opened the door to Lily. ‘We were wondering if you would make it in time for our surf lesson.’ Gemma was already wearing her Hermes helmet in readiness.

  ‘Don’t worry about me, Gemma,’ Lily said. ‘I’m a big girl now.’

  ‘Mmm.’ Gemma looked Lily up and down.

  ‘How are your lips? Has your chilli trout pout subsided?’

  Gemma turned on her heels and stomped away.

  ‘Oh hi,’ Tess said, when Lily entered the bedroom. ‘Did you have a good time?’

  ‘Yes. Thank you. I hope Gemma hasn’t been giving you a hard time on my account. Not that she has a right to.’

  ‘Don’t worry. Water off a duck’s back.’ Tess zipped her top up and picked up her bag. ‘We’re leaving in about ten minutes, is that enough time for you?’

  ‘Yeah, won’t take me long to change and tie my hair down.’

  On the beach it was hot and sunny again. And crowded. Davey nodded to the trio then looked pointedly at the wetsuits hanging on the rack.

  ‘Don’t worry, we’ll pay today.’ Gemma strode towards the rack. ‘Extortionist,’ she muttered, barely under her breath. ‘Here, Lily, this one should fit you.’ She held up a bright orange wetsuit – with wide legs.

  ‘Don’t worry. I’ve got my own.’ Lily pulled Jackson’s sister’s wetsuit from her bag.

  ‘Oh. When did you buy that? Was it expensive? It looks expensive? Bit of waste for a few days.’ Gemma tutted to herself while Lily exchanged looks with Tess.

  ‘Don’t worry yourself about it, Gemma. I’ve borrowed it.’

  ‘I suppose that’s all right then.’

  Lily opened her mouth to speak but Tess caught her eye with a pleading look in her own. Lily shut her mouth.

  Once Gemma and Tess had selected their wetsuits – and paid for them – all three pulled them on.

  ‘Well, that’s better than a bodycon dress,’ Gemma said to Lily. ‘I hardly recognise you from the back.’

  ‘Thanks. I think.’ Lily began to pull the hood on over her carefully plaited hair.

  ‘That’s a bit excessive.’ Gemma scoffed but Lily chose to ignore her. How Mrs Hermes helmet could make such a comment defied belief.

  ‘You do look amazing,’ Tess said as they picked up the boards and began the walk to the sea.

  As they reached the water’s edge and Davey began shouting instructions to them, Jackson appeared. He smiled a hello to eve
ryone but beamed at Lily. Davey nodded at him and shouted only at Tess and Gemma while Jackson led Lily further along the beach.

  It took seconds for Gemma to realise Lily wasn’t staying with them. ‘So that’s how it is,’ she called loud enough for Lily to hear even above the noise of the waves.

  Lily raised her hand and waved to Gemma. Tess waved back. Gemma looked the other way.

  ‘She’s quite angry your friend, isn’t she? How do you cope with it?’

  ‘I try to just smile sweetly,’ Lily said, which was not entirely true.

  The surf lesson with Jackson was much more successful than it had been with Davey, though it probably helped that Jackson had taken her to a less busy part of the sea. But – as he pointed out – still in the designated surfing area. Lily didn’t manage to stand up on the board, Jackson explained that few people were able to do that on their second lesson. But it appeared that Gemma could, for when Lily looked towards her friends, she was definitely riding a wave again, albeit a shallow one.

  ‘Your angry friend has amazing balance,’ Jackson said, eyeing Gemma admirably.

  ‘Does she?’

  ‘Yes, she must have terrific core strength. Does she go to the gym a lot?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Lily said, pulling her own stomach muscles in. ‘She’s a stay at home mum and both her kids are at school so she probably has time to.’

  Jackson gave Lily a quick look but didn’t comment. Lily read it as reproachful; maybe that last comment was a bit bitchy.

  When the lesson was over they met up at the surf shack again, peeled off their wetsuits – with no arse exposure this time – and wandered up to the beach café. Gemma was still wearing her Hermes helmet and despite double-takes from some customers, none of the group commented; they were becoming used to it now, Gemma’s headgear was almost normal.

  Lily, Tess and Jackson had a Devon cream tea while Gemma picked at a salad.

  ‘You were impressive on that board today,’ Jackson said to Gemma.

  ‘Thank you.’ Gemma simpered.

  ‘Yeah, Jackson wondered if you go to the gym a lot.’ Lily chipped in, determined not to be left out of the conversation, or let Gemma dominate it, even if it was about her.

  ‘No. I’m not that sort.’ Another simper. ‘I usually just do a bit of yoga everyday and my Pilates class once a week, of course.’

  Tess’s eyes rolled up to the ceiling and she smirked briefly at Lily without Gemma seeing.

  ‘It works,’ Jackson said and he sounded genuinely impressed. ‘You have amazing core strength and balance. Not many people stand up on the board so quickly. Or have you surfed before?’

  ‘Oh no. This is my first time, though I have always wanted to learn. Not too bad for a mum of two.’ Gemma patted her perfectly smooth and flat stomach and glowed with self-satisfaction.

  Both Lily and Tess glanced down at their own stomachs, and Lily attempted to tighten her muscles. Again.

  ‘What are you doing this evening, Jackson?’ Gemma asked, continuing before he could answer, ‘Only us girls are popping along to the pub for dinner. Maybe you’d like to join us.’

  Lily felt her shoulders and her hackles rise. How dare Gemma try to muscle in?

  ‘That’s kind of you. But I have plans.’

  Oh. Did he? Lily obviously wasn’t included; so it would be dinner at the pub with the girls then. Lily’s shoulders drooped.

  ‘Oh really? Shame you can’t join us. You could have given me some surfing tips. Lily seems to be doing much better with you than with Davey.’ Gemma smiled her best, wide-mouthed grin.

  What a shame her chilli trout pout has deflated, Lily thought, not feeling at all mean.

  ‘Yes. Lily and I are driving down the coast for dinner with some friends of mine.’ Jackson took Lily’s hand and squeezed it. Now it was Lily’s turn to smile broadly.

  ‘That sounds very nice.’ Gemma’s tone was clipped. She stood up. ‘Well, I need to be getting back. I need to take this scarf off my head and get the salt water out of my hair. I’ll expect you’ll need to do your mop, Lily.’

  ‘No. I think the hood has done its job.’ Lily touched her hair, it was soft and dry; the hood had actually performed its task well.

  ‘Was that true?’ Lily asked Jackson as they strolled behind Gemma and Tess up the path to the holiday cottage. Gemma had flounced on like a woman on a mission, urging Tess – in a sharp schoolteacher tone – to keep up.

  Jackson stopped and looked Lily in the eye. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Am I a complete arse for lying?’

  ‘God no.’ Lily grabbed his hair with both hands and pulled his face down to hers; she gave him a long, lingering kiss. ‘Best lie I ever heard.’

  ‘I’m glad you think so. No offence to your friend but she is bit full on.’

  ‘No offence taken on my part.’ Lily took a breath, almost afraid of the answer to her next question. ‘So what are you doing this evening?’

  ‘Well, to paraphrase my fellow surfers in Oz, I thought I’d fire up the barbie and throw on a couple of steaks. Are you up for that?’

  ‘Oh, yes please.’

  Jackson sat on the terrace in the late afternoon sunshine while Lily showered and changed. Gemma had very graciously allowed Lily in the bathroom first – provided that she was being truthful about not washing her hair and promised not to use up the hot water.

  ‘You could have showered at my place if it’s such a big deal,’ Jackson said as they sauntered back down the path to the beach car park.

  ‘It’s fine,’ Lily said, swinging her bag – packed with overnight essentials and a change of clothes for the morning – over her shoulder.

  ‘Let me take that, it looks heavy.’ Jackson reached for the bag.

  ‘No. It’s fine.’ Lily didn’t want him thinking she was making assumptions.

  ‘Give it here,’ he said, lifting it off her shoulder. ‘Whoa, that’s heavy. What have you got in there?’

  ‘Just stuff.’ Lily made a grab for the bag, but he dodged out of her way and laughed.

  ‘I hope the reason it’s heavy is because the just stuff is overnight stuff.’

  Lily looked down. Was he mocking her?

  He stopped walking, grabbed her arm and lifted her chin. ‘I’ve been thinking,’ he said, his voice soft. ‘If this is a full on, no strings attached, holiday romance we’re having…’ He waited.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Why don’t you move in with me until I have to leave? My bed is a lot more comfortable than that camp bed you’re sleeping on.’

  ‘How do you know about the camp bed?’

  He laughed. ‘Gemma gave me a tour while you were in the bathroom. She said you’d volunteered to sleep on it because you were the shortest.’

  Lily blinked back her excitement. Part of her felt disloyal to Will, but who knew what he was up to? And anyway, she reminded herself, they had broken up. Oh, the irony of Jackson asking her to move in, albeit temporarily, when that’s all she’d ever wanted from Will. Part of her felt it was wrong, but a bigger part of her wanted to punch the air and shout yes. ‘Okay. That would be nice. Thank you.’ She worked hard to keep her tone level and restrained.

  ‘Great. We can pick up more of your stuff tomorrow.’ They’d reached his car and he opened the boot and dropped Lily’s bag in. ‘And, you can wash your hair as often, or not, as you like. There is no restriction on hot water.’

  Lily felt excited as they drove off down the country lanes, the top down, the sea always part of the vista. Excited and scared. What was she doing? They hardly knew each other. She glanced over at him, his surfer hair, too long, brittle and bleached, waving in the wind. His tanned-skin, much softer than it looked. His sharp blue eyes, now covered by sunglasses, but the long, dark lashes clearly visible from the side. His hands on the wheel, his muscular forearms – the mermaid’s tail flicking around his wrist, his muscular thighs.

  ‘What the hell,’ she said, not meaning to say it out loud.

  ‘What’s th
at?’ Jackson turned briefly and smiled at her showing his teeth. She’d forgotten his teeth, straight and white against his tan.

  ‘Oh, nothing.’

  When they got to Jackson’s he lit the barbecue before taking a shower while Lily sat in the garden soaking up the last rays of the day and sipping chilled white wine. When Jackson reappeared he smelt delicious. Lily inhaled his lovely odour.

  ‘Mmm. What’s that?’

  Jackson frowned.

  ‘That lovely smell. I mean, it’s you. But what is it?’

  ‘Shower gel and shampoo.’ He shrugged.

  ‘Is that all? It smells lovely. You smell lovely.’

  ‘God, what did I smell like before?’

  ‘Stinky,’ Lily said, laughing. But he hadn’t.

  After he’d checked the barbecue he produced the steaks and laid them on the grill before disappearing into the kitchen. Lily followed him, with her wine glass still in her hand and offered to help.

  ‘No, you sit down. You’re on holiday. I’ll be out in a minute anyway; I don’t want our steaks to burn.’

  Lily didn’t argue with him. Why would she?

  The meal was simple and delightful. Because it was so warm they sat out in the garden eating, drinking and laughing, until the sky was black and the stars came out. Jackson had given Lily his fleece again when she’d shivered but was reluctant to go inside. From the garden they could hear the sea below gently brushing against the sand with each lapping wave.

  ‘This is idyllic.’

  ‘I always think so when I’m here.’

  ‘I don’t know how you can bear to leave it.’ She stopped. ‘Do you own this place? Or is it rented?’ Was she being too nosey?

  ‘It’s mine. It was a bit derelict when I bought it early last year, but I had some work done on it and…’ His voice trailed away and he looked to the dark horizon, a wistful look in his eyes.

  ‘Then you went off surfing in faraway lands,’ Lily said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

  ‘Yeah. Something like that. Another wine? I could open a new bottle.’

  Lily shook her head; she’d had enough, not too much, just enough. ‘Tea would be nice.’