Chapter Six

S itting down, Erin looked towards the open window, the cool breeze bringing in the salty aroma of the sea. ‘This really is a lovely spot.'

Tim nodded as he poured them both a glass of water from the jug sitting in the middle of the table. ‘I still can't get over the fact you're here. That you made it.'

‘Of course. Why wouldn't I have?' She looked across at him and smiled. The reflection from the light of the candle sitting in a circle of roses on the white tablecloth danced in his eyes.

‘Oh, I don't know, the fact you've got to pack up your house, tie all ends up at work as well as sorting all the boring stuff like cancelling subscriptions and everything.' Tim reached across and touched her forearm. ‘It really means a lot to me that you've chosen to come here to spend your last few weeks in England with me.'

‘I've sorted all of that now. Everything is tied up with a huge purple bow attached.' She placed her hand over his. ‘Plus, where else would I want to spend my time but down in this stunning place with my best friend?'

Nodding, Tim glanced down before picking up his glass. ‘Well, thank you.'

Twisting in her chair, Erin looked around at all the happy couples sharing dinner and she just couldn't shake the question she'd wanted to ask him when they'd arrived. ‘I've got to ask, but who is she?'

‘Who's who?' Tim frowned and took a sip of water.

‘Your new girlfriend?'

Coughing, he spluttered water down his shirt. ‘What?'

Passing him her napkin, Erin asked again, ‘Your new girlfriend? When do I get to meet her?'

‘I don't have a girlfriend. Why would you think that?' He wiped the napkin across the wet patches on his pale blue shirt.

‘Because you said you've been here before and...' She waved her arm, taking in the restaurant, the candlelit tables, and the other diners. ‘This is clearly a restaurant people go to on dates.'

‘No, no. I've been here during the day. For lunch. Never in the evening.'

‘Right.' Now, who felt daft? Erin used the pad of her thumb to wipe condensation from her glass. ‘I just assumed.'

‘You'd have been the first person I'd have told if I'd met someone.'

‘I guess.' She shrugged as Daisy joined them at the table again.

‘Hey, have you decided what you'd like to order?'

ERIN SCRAPED THE LAST of the mac and cheese from the large pasta bowl and licked her lips. ‘You were right. That is the best mac and cheese I've ever tasted.'

‘Haha, knew you'd love it.' Tim held up his wine glass. ‘Here's to four glorious weeks of hanging out together.'

‘And a few more helpings of mac and cheese along the way.' Erin laughed as she clinked glasses with Tim. She'd been looking forward to these few weeks so much and truth be told, there was nowhere in the world she'd rather be spending her holiday time with than here in the bay with Tim.

Tim looked down at his mobile as the screen lit up. ‘Sorry.'

‘Don't worry. Answer it if you need to.' She nodded towards his mobile.

‘Are you sure?'

Erin nodded and pulled her own phone from her pocket as Tim walked away. She looked at the time. It was half-past nine already. The evening was just flying by.

‘Sorry about that.' Slipping back into his chair, Tim turned his mobile screen down on the table before shaking his head and slipping it in his pocket. ‘No more disruptions.'

‘Good idea.' She dropped her own mobile into her bag.

‘I bet I can guess what you were doing whilst I was on the phone, though.' Grinning, he nodded towards her mobile in the bag. ‘Checking out Kyle's social media account.'

Erin picked up her glass as she felt her ears warm. ‘I wasn't, actually.'

‘Really? Wow, that's great...'

She laughed. She couldn't lie to him. ‘It's true I wasn't looking then, but I did have a quick check earlier before I came to meet you.'

‘You did?' Tim raised his eyebrows.

‘Yep. I know, I know.' She held her free hand up, palm forward. ‘I just need to get over him. And I am. I am completely over him.'

Tim raised his brows even further.

‘Don't. You always make me laugh when you do that.' Erin held her hand over her mouth and stifled a laugh. ‘It's true, though. I only look to see if he's been on there. I just find it super strange that he's not been on since, you know.'

‘Since he broadcasted that your marriage was over.'

‘Exactly. It's odd.' She shook herself. She didn't want to think about Kyle. Not tonight, although... ‘Was Susie the reason you moved down here?'

Tim shifted in his seat. ‘Not really, no.'

‘But are you finding that the fresh start has allowed you to move on? Get over your breakup?' She was looking forward to her impending move to America and the completely clean slate it would bring. ‘Has it brought you closure?

Slowly, Tim shook his head. ‘No. I had closure from my relationship with Susie before I move. However difficult it was, it was me that ended it with her, remember?'

Erin looked at him and scrunched her nose. ‘Still, you were with her for what, eight years?'

‘Yes, but ending it was the right thing to do. I didn't move here for closure from mine and Susie's relationship. It was never about that.' He glanced out of the window.

‘Okay.' She thought back to the day he'd told her he was leaving London. She'd literally thought her entire world would collapse. He'd been her one constant since Kyle had ended their marriage. When she'd lost her bank card and didn't have a way of getting home after a night out in the centre, it had been Tim who had travelled ten Tube stops to save the day. Whenever she'd been feeling down, it had been Tim who had turned up at her front door, a tub of ice cream and a bottle of wine in his hand. He'd been everything to her so when he broke the news that he was leaving, she'd naturally assumed it was because he needed to get away from Susie. But if it wasn't, then why had he left? She shook her head. ‘Why did you leave then? I mean, yes, this place is utterly gorgeous, but you've got to admit it was all a bit sudden.'

Tim looked back at her, meeting her eyes. ‘It was, yes. And there was a reason, but I...'

‘You can't tell me?' She glanced down at the table. They told each other everything, every single little thing in minute detail.

‘It's not that.' Reaching across the table, he took her hand in his. ‘I want to. And I will do. Just not tonight. Let's enjoy this evening.'

Frowning, she nodded. What else could she do or say? She had to respect that he might have things going on that he hadn't told her. ‘Fair enough.'

‘You'll understand when I do tell you.' His forehead wrinkled.

‘Of course I will. We always understand each other.' And that was just why she couldn't quite grasp why he couldn't tell her what this big secret was tonight, why he hadn't told her before. She shook her head and smiled. ‘How about we go for a paddle on the way back?'