I stare at the tiled wall behind the counter, I don’t want to look into his beautiful eyes or I might start to believe the lies he’s about to tell me. “I’m sure you said the same thing to the others.” I pick up a tray and move forward in the line. I don’t know why I’m getting so bent out of shape over this, why I care.
“No, I didn’t,” he says.
A woman with two young children lines up behind us. Her children are asking for cola and cake. I lower my voice; I don’t want everyone in the line to hear our conversation. “So you admit that you used them.”
“No. It wasn’t serious for them either; they were just here on vacation having fun.”
The woman is trying to persuade her children to eat something healthy. It’s almost my turn to order, there’s only one customer in front of me. I finally turn to face Trey. “So am I, so how come you’ve singled me out for special treatment?”
He lowers his eyelids; his thick lashes fan his cheekbones as he looks down at the floor before meeting my gaze once more. “You’re different, Pia.”
“Can I help you madam?” the woman behind the counter asks.
I drag my gaze away from Trey. “Erm, yes. I’d like a coffee, and a cola. Also sausage and fries and…”
“They’ve got cream teas if you want to try one,” Trey says.
I mull it over for a moment. “Forget the coffee, I’ll have a cream tea please,” I tell the woman.
“Make that two,” Trey says. He pulls his wallet from his jeans pocket. “I’ll pay for these.” He hands the woman some cash and we wait while she prepares our order. Trey’s long fingers trail along my cheek; he cups my chin in his hand and turns my face towards his. I lose myself in a sea of green and my legs begin to wobble. “You’re beautiful, Pia. I enjoy being with you. Truth is, I can’t stay away from you.” I hear the woman placing something on my tray, I turn to look but Trey pulls my face back towards him. “You’re intelligent, fun to be with, and I like talking to you. When I’m with you, I feel like I’m on vacation too, from my life. I don’t want this to end.”
I swallow, my throat has gone dry. He leans closer and whispers in my ear, “And my dick twitches whenever I’m near you.”
I roll my eyes; he almost had me believing him. I pick up our tray and take it over to the table. I have two scones, a glass bowl full of clotted cream, far more than I need, and another glass bowl full of strawberry jam. I’m going to have one scone Cornish style and the other Devon style. I take a bite; the cream is rich and delicious. I’ve always thought scones were kind of dull but not anymore. If I can get this cream back home I’ll try these again. I notice Trey eats both his scones the Cornish way, I guess he must be patriotic.
I finish eating and lick the sticky jam from my fingers. “So what’s the verdict?” Trey says. “Do you prefer Cornish style, or Devon?”
He’s gazing at my fingers that are poised by my lips. The heat in his eyes letting me know that he wants to lick them clean for me. My stomach fizzes, I quickly drop my hands to my lap. “I didn’t notice any difference, they tasted the same.”
The corner of his mouth tips up. “I told you so,” he says.
Jake has finished his meal. “We should go,” I tell him. “Mum and Dad may have plans for us to go out tonight.”
Trey unlocks his car, and Jake jumps in the back. As I open the passenger door, Trey grabs my arm. “Are you still mad at me, Pia?”
I sigh and look over his shoulder at the jail. “It’s not your fault, you’re just being you.”
He frowns. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He still has hold of my arm, and my skin burns from his touch.
I gaze down at my feet and shrug my shoulders. “It means you’re just being yourself.”
He steps back and shoves his hands into his pockets. “You’re mad at me for being myself?”
“I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at me.” I sit in the passenger seat and pull the car door closed. Trey stands there, just looking at me through the window. Then he yanks open the door, gets into the driver’s seat and starts the car. We drive back in awkward silence.
As soon as we pull up outside the cottage, Jake leaps out of the car and rings the doorbell. I guess he couldn’t handle the bad atmosphere. I bite my lip; I never meant this to happen. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I watch through the car window as Mum opens the cottage door. She smiles and waves at us, then goes back inside. I should get out, but I don’t want to part like this. Trey is staring at his steering wheel and twisting the friendship bracelets on his wrist. I twirl my hair around my finger, and lick my dry lips. “I’m sorry, Trey. I shouldn’t have said those things.”
He doesn’t take his eyes off the steering wheel. “That’s okay, I get it. Enjoy the rest of your vacation Pee Aitch.”
I stare at him, and swallow. Why doesn’t he look at me? I sit there for a few moments more, I don’t know what else to say. I slowly open the car door and step out; he makes no attempt to stop me. I close the door and he drives off, without even a glance in my direction. I feel cold all of a sudden as I stand here, looking at the empty street. He was just using me; I did the right thing, didn’t I?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Pia
I cover my mouth as I yawn; I didn’t sleep well last night. Luckily it only took twenty minutes to drive to the Monkey Sanctuary, any longer and I would have been in danger of falling asleep in the car. We’re surrounded by tall trees that block out the sunshine; I’m glad I bought my hooded sweatshirt. There are several different monkey enclosures; Dad has his camera ready, I’m sure he’ll take pictures worthy of National Geographic. We stop by the first enclosure to listen to a keeper give a talk. There is a crowd of people standing in front of me, blocking my view. I stand on tiptoes but I still can’t see. Jake squeezes through the crowd and heads for the front. The keeper explains that when a female has given birth, they keep her and the baby separate from the male monkeys because the male monkeys will attack and try to kill the baby. “Men,” I mutter under my breath. I slip my hand in my pocket to retrieve my pack of lifesavers, and all hell breaks loose. Loud screeching comes from another enclosure and I can hear the monkeys rattling the wire mesh that surrounds the enclosures. It sounds bad and I’m eager to know what’s going on, but I can’t see anything. The keeper is on his walky-talky asking another member of staff to check it out. Everyone heads in the direction of the noise. Humans are a morbid bunch; we love to witness a catastrophe. By the time we all get there, the noise has stopped and everything is calm. We’re out of luck this time. I pop a lifesaver into my mouth.
We spend the next hour looking at all the different monkeys; Dad has snapped hundreds of photos. Apparently there is some kind of meet and greet where we may get to hold a monkey. There are rows of chairs laid out. It’s already busy, we end up sitting two rows from the back and it isn’t due to start for fifteen minutes. I wonder how early we have to get here in order to get a seat at the front. I figure I won’t get to hold the monkey, they’re sure to offer it to the people in the front seats first. Mum and Dad are looking at the photos he took on his camera, while Jake bounces around in his seat. I suck on another lifesaver.
The keeper arrives holding a cute, baby monkey who she introduces as Suzie. She goes on to tell us that Suzie is six months old. There are lots of oohs and aahhs from the crowd. The baby monkey climbs up to sit on her shoulder while she explains that they never bring the adult male monkeys to the meet and greets because the males can become aggressive. I guess it’s because they feel scared or threatened. It hits me that I was aggressive to Trey because I was scared I’d get hurt. The keeper unclips the leash and Suzie bounds into the crowd, some people raise their hands hoping to catch her. I freeze as I realise she’s heading straight for me. I hope she doesn’t have sharp claws. She lands on my shoulder and I tentatively turn my head to look at her. Dad quickly snaps a photo and then she’s gone, heading back towards her keeper. “You’re so lucky, I wish she’d come to me,” Jake s
ays. She was cute, and although I could feel her claws it didn’t hurt at all. We’ve explored the whole of the sanctuary; Mum suggests we go into the town for lunch and some souvenir shopping.
Looe is larger than Kingsand. It’s a pretty town with a harbour running through the centre, and whitewashed houses piled onto the hillsides. Mum slips her arm through Dad’s. “We need to get a gift for the neighbours,” she says. They’ve been watering Mum’s houseplants while we’ve been away. I need to look for a gift for Fay. I’m kind of sad that our vacation is coming to an end; this place has grown on me. I must put things right with Trey before we head back to London.
Mum spots a shop called Pendragon gifts. A wind chime above the door jingles as we walk in. A shelf full of fairy figurines catches Mum’s attention. She beckons me over. “Look at these, Pia. Aren’t they beautiful?” They are pretty, but they’re just dust catchers in my opinion, they don’t really serve a purpose. However, the shelf underneath has backpacks, and I like the one with a dark fairy and a dragon design, it will make a good gift for Fay. I check the price tag, it’s £18. I have £40 to spend so I decide to buy it.
Dad calls out to Mum, “What about one of these for the neighbours?” I glance over and see he’s looking at ships in bottles. Mum drags herself away from the fairies to go have a look. I can’t see Jake anywhere. I still have some money left, maybe I should get Trey a present, to say sorry. I look through the jewellery, they have dragon pendants but Trey already has a pendant, and bracelets. I can’t get a ring because I don’t know his size. I search through a rack of t-shirts, they all have colourful designs. I pick up one with a fire breathing dragon on the front, but I’ve only ever seen Trey wear plain t-shirts, he might not like it. I put it back on the rack.
“Did you find anything, Pia?” Mum asks. I show her the backpack. “I found us some coasters,” she says, holding them out to me. They have a map of Cornwall on them. Dad is holding a ship in a bottle.
When we get outside I see Jake sitting on a bench, he must have got bored. “Can we get something to eat now?” he asks.
“Just a snack,” Dad says, as he stops to light up a cigarette, “we’ll be eating out tonight.”
As we walk along the main shopping street I spot a sign, ‘Silver Craft Shop.’ “I just want to have a quick look in here,” I say.
I’m the only customer in the shop. “Can I help you?” the man behind the counter asks.
“I’m just looking thank you.” I hate it when shop assistants pounce on me as soon as I walk in.
“Everything in the shop is hand made,” he tells me. I smile at him. There are rings, chains, bracelets and pendants. My mouth falls open as I see a pendant shaped like a miniature Cornish Pasty. It’s hanging from a black leather thong. I pick it up, it feels solid and heavy. I study it and chew my lip. Trey has a pendant, but we did make Cornish Pasties together, so this will be something personal. I check the price tag, it’s £22, exactly the amount I have left. I’m meant to buy this. I walk out of the shop with the pendant wrapped up in my pocket and a smile on my face.
I secure my hair in a low ponytail. I hear Mum calling up the stairs. “Are you ready, Pia? We’re leaving in a moment.” I do up the buckles on my sandals and head downstairs. Mum waits at the door with her handbag over her shoulder. “We’re going to eat at the pub, that way your dad can have a drink.”
As soon as we get outside, Dad lights a cigarette. I look around for Trey; I was hoping I’d bump into him but no such luck. It’s breezy tonight and no one is sitting outside the pub, but I can see through the window that it’s busy inside. I finger the pendant in my pocket. “I need to go do something, I’ll meet you at the pub in a few minutes,” I tell them.
I head to Trey’s cottage. I can see a light on through the window, but the curtains are closed. I take a deep breath and mentally go over what I want to say. Bisley is sitting on the hood of Trey’s car, he meows at me. I stroke behind his ears and he purrs loudly. Maybe I should forget this idea, I might make things worse. Bisley rubs his head against my hand. We live too far from each other, it couldn’t work, I should go.
“Pia.”
I turn to see Ash smiling at me. Liam is with him, leaning against the low wall that surrounds Trey’s cottage. Ash sweeps his hair out of his eye. “Are you looking for Trey? He’s in but he might be listening to music with his headphones on, that’s why he didn’t hear the doorbell.”
Ash puts his finger on the bell; I reach out and grab his hand. I don’t want to air our dirty laundry in front of them. “I’ve already seen him, I just came out. I stopped to stroke the cat.”
Ash glances at Bisley. “I’m not a fan of cats, I prefer dogs.”
I walk away from the door, towards Liam, who is chewing on a stick of gum. The question comes out of my mouth before I have chance to stop it. “Have you met all of Trey’s girlfriends?”
Liam stops chewing and stares at me. He shrugs. “They weren’t girlfriends, just girls he hooked up with.”
Ash wraps his arm around my shoulder. “We only met a couple of them, it’s not like he introduced us.”
I chew on my lip. Trey didn’t introduce me to them, they kind of introduced themselves. I fiddle with the pendant in my pocket. It was a stupid idea to buy it for him; I’m just another girl he hooked up with. “I’ve got to go; I’m meeting my parents at the pub.”
I take big strides, forcing myself not to run. I hear Ash call out, “Have fun.” I wave my hand in response, and continue walking.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Pia
I fold my dress and place it in my holdall. I woke up an hour ago and it’s been raining ever since. The sound of it pattering against the window soothes me somehow, it suits my mood. The last few days of our vacation flew by. This place has grown on me, and I don’t want to leave. It doesn’t help that I haven’t seen Trey since we went to Bodmin. I rub my fingers over the pendant I bought him, before packing it. Maybe I’ll give it to Fay. I zip my holdall and my gaze lands on the chocolate mint plant. I rub the leaves. I’m taking it with me, I can’t leave it behind. I head downstairs, carrying my holdall and plant, and place them on the floor by the door. Dad is outside wearing his raincoat. Jake is sitting in the back seat; Mum is checking the cottage to make sure we haven’t left anything behind. I throw on my sweatshirt, pull up the hood, grab my luggage, and head outside. Dad takes my holdall and places it in the trunk, then he gets in the driver’s seat and starts the car. As I’m about to open the door I spot a figure in the rain. Trey. He’s carrying some grocery bags and is looking down at the ground. He doesn’t see me, but I can’t tear my eyes off him. He’s not wearing a jacket; his white t-shirt is soaked and clinging to his body. I swallow as my gaze trails from his flat, toned stomach, up to his pecs. I can’t move. I stand here like an idiot in the rain, staring at him. He’s almost in front of me when he decides to look up, our eyes lock. I feel my cheeks starting to burn, so I look away and focus on the door of the cottage. He doesn’t move, he just stands there, and I can feel his gaze on me. I bite my lip and force myself to look at him. There are droplets of rain on his eyelashes.
“Are you ready to go, Pia?” Mum is standing outside the cottage, holding an umbrella. I can’t speak; I nod my head at her. She smiles at Trey. “It was nice meeting you. Maybe we’ll see you again if we ever come back this way.”
Trey gives her a small smile. “Have a safe trip.”
I watch as she opens the car door, and folds down her umbrella. I take one last, lingering look at Trey.
“I’ll text you,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
As our car pulls away, I turn to glance out of the rear window. Trey hasn’t moved, he’s standing there, watching us drive away.
I dump my holdall on my bedroom floor, and place my chocolate mint plant on my desk, next to my laptop. I’m pleased to be back in my own room. I glance out of my window at the view of our garden, it’s finally stopped raining. I hear Mum opening and closing closet doors
in their bedroom, she must be unpacking. I call out to her, “I’m going to see Fay, I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
Fay’s family live in the next street, so it doesn’t take me long to walk there. Her mum answers the door. She’s nothing like my mum. Fays mum is short and plump. She’s creative, always busy with some craft or another. She gestures for me to come in. “Sorry I can’t stop and chat, but I’ve got jam bubbling in a saucepan. Fay’s up in her room.”
I knock on Fay’s bedroom door. She doesn’t answer, but I can hear singing so I open the door and peek in. Fay has her back to the door, she’s wearing headphones, and she’s dancing. Unlike me, she can dance. I stand and watch her for a moment. She’s wearing black leggings with a short, red tartan skirt that suits her slim figure and long legs. I tap her on the shoulder. Her mouth falls open when she sees me. She jerks the headphones from her head, and tosses them onto her bed. The silver bangles around her wrists jingle as she throws her arms around me. She steps back and grins at me, her blue eyes sparking under all the black eyeliner she wears. “Don’t keep me in suspense any longer; tell me about the love interest.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t you want to know about my vacation? What I saw and the places we visited.”
She plonks herself on the edge of her bed, and pats the space next to her. “Tell me all about it, bestie.”
I hand her the rucksack and she squeals. I knew she’d love it, there are posters of dark angels all over her walls. She leans in towards me. “Do you have a photo of him?”
“Fay, you have a one track mind.”
“I know. Well, do you?”
My shoulders slump and I gaze down at my feet. “No. It didn’t work out, and I hardly saw him last week. I don’t want to talk about him.”
Fay slides her arm around my shoulder. “There are plenty more fish in the sea.”
I look around at the clothes and books scattered across her bedroom floor. “What have you been up to while I’ve been gone? Fill me in.”
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