Page 42 of Washed Up

‘How would I know?’ said Frankie miserably. She worked her jaw, trying to ease the tension.

Jake frowned at the sea. The sun was going down behind the island, sending sparkles across the waves. The last remaining families were bickering as they packed up their things and made their way towards the boat. One little girl squealed as she left her flip-flop in the sand and ran back to retrieve it, giggling.

Then all was quiet. They were alone.

‘Anyway, I think I just didn’t want to big him up too much, you know?’ said Jake eventually.

Frankie frowned. ‘No, I don’t know. What do you mean? Why wouldn’t you want to big him up?’

‘Well, he’d get a big head for one thing.’

She snorted. ‘I think that ship has sailed.’

He seemed to give this some serious consideration. ‘You’re probably right. I don’t know, Franks. I don’t think I wanted you to…’

‘To what?’ She blinked at him as she realised too late what he was getting at.

‘Well, did you?’ he prompted.

‘Did I what?’

‘You know.’

She bunched her fists in the sand. ‘No, I don’t. What?’

‘Get it on.’

A little bark-laugh escaped from her lips, along with, for some unknown reason, a snot bubble. She grabbed the napkin from her ice cream and hastily wiped at her nose, ignoring the fizzing in her belly at the question.

‘Get it on? Don’t be ridiculous. He was here for like five minutes.’

Jake shook his head slowly. ‘He was here for a night.’

She scrambled to her feet, wiping the last of the crumbs from her fingers. ‘What exactly are you implying?’

‘I’m not implying anything. I’m saying it outright. You could have slept with him. A famous, rich, handsome guy like that? Most women would have jumped at the chance. Are you saying you didn’t? Because you’re blushing.’

Her hands flew to her traitorous face. ‘But you saw me at the Manor last night, Jake.’

‘You could have gone back down the hill. Hell, you might have been coming from his room. Maybe I was too late to stop you.’

‘I don’t get this, Jake. Why would you care if I had?’

‘So you did?’ said Jake, eyebrows raised.

She shook her head. ‘I didn’t say that.’

‘You haven’t said you didn’t either.’

‘This is the most annoying conversation I’ve ever had,’ said Frankie, backing away. ‘And that’s saying something given the last twenty-four hours of my life. What business is it of yours, anyway?’

Jake stood up too, all six feet two inches of him towering over her. He crossed his arms across his substantial chest.

‘You’re absolutely right. It’s none of my business,’ he said, glowering at her.

‘So why the grilling?’

‘I’m just looking out for you, that’s all. You could end up in the papers. He could… hurt you. If he hasn’t already.’