‘Hi, Sean,’ she called back and waved, yet still carried on walking.
‘Hey! Wait!’
Not now, Sean,she pleaded silently.
‘Hold on. I want to speak to you. I’m coming down.’
She had no choice but to stop and wait while he climbed deftly down the ladder from the platform and jogged across the sand towards her. His blond mane was hidden under the yellow hard hat and he was bare-chested under the hi-vis.
‘Hi there. I was hoping to bump into you,’ he said, cheerfully enough. ‘Heard you were on the bill here. About time your talents were recognised.’
‘Thanks,’ Tammy said with a smile of her own. She was sure Sean genuinely meant his compliment. She was sure he’d only ever had what he thought were the best intentions towards her. That was part of the problem. She’d felt stifled in their relationship, cosseted like a fragile heirloom he wanted to keep on display rather than allowing her out into the big wide world.
‘I didn’t know you were working here,’ she said brightly, hoping to keep the conversation neutral.
‘Neither did I. A contractor let the stand builders down, so they were desperate. I was able to pull a few guys off one of my other jobs to lend a hand.’
‘Lucky for them,’ Tammy said, seeing the waves rolling in towards her area of beach.
‘So, it seems to be fate that we’re both here at the same time,’ Sean said. ‘Especially as I wanted to talk to you.’
‘Oh?’ Her skin prickled. ‘Now’s not the best time. I need to scope out the site before the tide comes in.’
Sean followed her pointing finger and smirked. ‘You’ve a good hour yet, as you know full well. There’s plenty of time.’
She fiddled with the lanyard, itching to leave. ‘I can’t have this conversation now. I have to go back and help Davey out in the gallery after I’ve seen the site.’
‘You’re a busy woman. I know that. You were always telling me but, Tammy, I need to say something. I’m worried about you.’
Tammy scoffed. ‘I know you mean well but I’ve no idea why you’re worried. I can look after myself.’
‘Mean well?’ He recoiled with a frown. ‘That’s a funny thing to say about a man who you were going to marry.’
‘I was never going to marry you, Sean,’ she replied. ‘You asked me and I said no.’
He sneered. ‘Wow. That’s harsh.’
‘I didn’t mean it to be harsh. I hated letting you down.’ Her stomach churned as she longed to be on her own again. ‘But it’s kinder to be honest. To both of us.’
He curled his lip. ‘Sure it is. Anyway, I’m not here to dredge up the past. I’ve accepted it’s over between us. It’snowthat bothers me, and the future. I want to talk about this new guy.’
Tammy went ice cold and took a second to find her tongue again. ‘What new guy?’ she said, trying to sound as bored as possible while furious inside.
‘The one I’ve seen you with at the Brew House a couple of times. You looked pretty cosy – in fact once you actually jumped on him – so I’m guessing you’re not just mates.’
‘I did not jump on him,’ she shot back, unable to contain her indignation any longer. ‘I’d just found out I’d got the OceanFest gig and I was happy. Not that it’s any of your business, Sean, and I do not appreciate that you’ve been spying on me.’
He folded his arms, a self-satisfied smile on his face. ‘I wasn’t spying on you. It was chance that I happened to see you together.’
Tammy glared at him. ‘Really?’ she said sarcastically.
‘Yes, really, and I’d just hate to see this Ryan hurt you – that is his name, isn’t it?’
‘Ruan. He’s called Ruan,’ Tammy said icily. All pretence that she didn’t care about Sean’s interference had gone out of the window. ‘How do you know his name anyway? Even if you did get it wrong.’
‘Words gets round. Nothing stays secret in Porthmellow for long.’
‘There is no secret,’ Tammy said, ‘so you can wipe the smug smile off your face.’ She was itching to jog off acrossthe beach but she wasn’t sure Sean would go away without having his say.
