Part 9 (1/2)

'Is he seeing someone else?'

Loveday absentmindedly picked up the shortbread biscuit and popped it in her mouth. 'I know he wants to go out with me but, as I keep saying no, Jesse and he are playing the field. Every spare minute they're in Newquay or St Ives, doing the clubs, picking up girls. We don't hang out like we used to.'

Greer clutched her coffee cup and hoped that Loveday didn't notice her hand shaking at the mention of Jesse.

'Is he seeing anyone special?'

'No, they're just being idiots.' Loveday hoped that Greer didn't see how much it hurt to know that Jesse had become a bit of a w.a.n.ker, 'making hay while the sun shone', as he called it. That was one way of making it sound nicer than it was, she thought darkly.

Both girls stared out of the window of the little cafe in one of Trevay's side streets. Across the road, in the window of the dress shop, Doreen's, a woman was dressing a dummy, pulling up the elasticated waist of a pair of white trousers, and adding a short-sleeved nautical T-s.h.i.+rt.

'Talk of the bleddy devil.' Loveday banged on the gla.s.s cafe window. 'Jesse!' she shouted in a voice that carried around the restaurant, out of the open door and onto the pavement.

Greer saw him as he looked around, trying to work out who was calling him and from where.

'In here!' Loveday was banging and shouting until he saw her. He gave a small wave but kept walking. 'Greer's home, look!' she shouted again, embarra.s.sing Greer and eliciting tuts from customers who merely wanted to eat their lunch in peace. Loveday pushed her chair back with a screech and ran out onto the pavement, physically stopping Jesse. Greer couldn't bear to watch in case Jesse shrugged and walked on. She'd seen him only twice, briefly, since the night of the hog roast, and whenever she thought about how she'd virtually proposed to him a cold river of shame poured over her.

In spite of herself, she took a quick glance through the window and out to the scene on the pavement. Oh my G.o.d, he was walking towards the cafe with Loveday grinning and chatting by his side.

He came in and walked up to her table. He looked taller; his muscles had filled out and he was a ton more handsome, if that were possible. Suntanned, with a chiselled jaw and his unruly blond hair just a little longer, he stood over her, smiling, making her insides do funny things.

'h.e.l.lo, Greer. It's been a long time. I wouldn't have recognised you with your short hair.'

Again her hand flew to her head. 'Do you like it?' Oh G.o.d, what kind of question was that?

He appraised her steadily before saying, 'It's all right. Do you girls want a cup of tea?'

'I'd like a milkshake,' Loveday announced, noisily pulling her chair back up to the table.

'Flavour?'

'Banana.'

'Right. You, Greer?'

'No, thank you.'

'You'm skin and bone, maid.'

Greer looked at her narrow thighs in their tight black jeans. 'Oh, OK. I'll have another coffee. Thanks.'

Jesse laughed and showed his good teeth. 'Black no sugar?'

Greer hated him laughing at her. 'White coffee with sugar,' she said defiantly, even though he'd been right in the first place.

The waitress brought the order to the table.

'So, how have you been?' Greer asked stiffly.

'Brilliant,' said Jesse. 'I'm on the boats full time now. Hard work, but the pay is good. I've bought a car.'

'Gosh. How grown-up.' Greer was seething with jealousy. A car meant he could pick up as many girls as he wanted. 'What sort?'

'Ford Capri. I'm doin' it up right now. Want to come and see it?'

'Maybe.'

'Well, don't if you don't want to.' He looked rather crestfallen. 'I expect you saw plenty of nice cars up country.'

'No, I would,' she said quickly, afraid of losing this chance to be with him. 'I'd love to. Where is it?'

'Up the sheds.' He spooned three sugars into his tan-coloured mug of tea. 'What's new with you then, Greer? Been a long time since we clapped eyes on you. How was it at college?'

'It was good. Quite fun.'

'Only got Student of the Decade and all her secretarial stuff too,' interjected Loveday, proudly.

Jesse raised a blond eyebrow appraisingly and nodded slowly. 'Right, well, when I get my house I might let you do it up for me, then.' He looked at her with a smile playing around his lips.

Greer felt he was trying to bait her. And was irritated by his att.i.tude. 'I'm very expensive.'

He smirked. 'Oh, really? How much?'

'It would depend on what you wanted.'

Loveday jumped in. 'Tell him about the curtains.'

'Well, I could do a set of curtains at about three hundred a window.'

He roared with laughter. 'No. How much really?'

'Three hundred.'

'Straight up?' He looked amazed.

'Or flounced and tied back,' joked Loveday.

Her joke flew over his head and he looked at Greer with fresh interest. 'Three hundred? Fools and their money are easily parted!' He drained his tea, pushed his chair back and stood up. 'Anyway, I gotta go back to work. Dad wants me.' He walked to the door. Greer refused to turn and watch him. At the last moment he said, 'Mick and me will be up at the sheds about half six if you want to see my car.' And he left.

Mickey looked the same but even taller, if that were possible. He gave her a huge bear hug.

'Greer, you've gone all posh an' that, 'aven't you?'

Greer smiled. 'Have I?'

'Yeah, look at you. London clothes and haircut and that.'