There were so many decisions to make… what music, where to tour, how many appearances…
First, he needed a break.
But the problem with breaks was that’s when the music stopped… and music was how Will both hid from his feelingsandworked through them.
Perhaps he should just skip breakfast? He could head back up to the clifftop house and try that lovely upright Leah had arranged for him. After all, it would be practically rude not to…
‘Dude?!’ chuckled Matt. ‘You’ve zoned out again!’
Will shook his head and headed for the counter. Yes, he’d tell them he’d changed his mind and walk back up to the house. He’d…
‘There she is!’ said Rosie, beaming over Will’s shoulder towards the doorway.
He turned, and the sight before him did absolutely nothing to ease his befuddled brain.
Leah. She was wearing a pair of worn denim jeans, a simple, light blue sweater, and a pair of beaten-up trainers. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and Will suddenly longed to run his fingers through it.
How had he never noticed that she had freckles? Did she usually cover them with makeup or something… or did the saltwater somehow bring them out? Either way, there they were, dotting the bridge of her nose and making her eyes look wider and clearer than he’d ever seen them before.
Leah was smiling at him tentatively, and Will realised that he was staring.
‘Hey. You’re here, then?’ he muttered.
Excellent… point out the obvious!
‘Erm, yeah. Is that… okay?’ she said, her smile slipping and a slight frown appearing on her lovely face.
‘Sure,’ he said, his mouth dry. ‘Of course. I guess. Cake… we’re just choosing cake.’
Leah nodded, taking a couple of faltering steps to join him at the counter.
‘I’m sticking with the carrot cake,’ she said. ‘That’s what I ordered earlier before I was kidnapped and forced into the sea!’
Will nodded. It was exactly what he wanted, too… but would he look like a total idiot if he chose the same thing as her?
‘Millionaire shortbread for me, I think.’
‘Really?’ said Leah, raising her eyebrows in surprise.
‘I… maybe?’ he hedged.
‘I just didn’t think you liked it.’
She was right, of course. He hated the way the chocolate layer always slid sideways when you tried to bite into it.
‘I’ll give it another try,’ he muttered.
What. An. Idiot.
‘Oh. Okay…’ said Leah, looking confused. Will could see why. After all, she clearly knew him better than he knew himself. ‘And… I’ll have a cappuccino.’
Will nodded. ‘Yeah, me too.’ If he was going to hate every bite of the cake he’d chosen, he was buggered if he was going to order a drink he hated too.
‘Mike says this round’s on him for rescuing Stanley!’ said Matt, mooching back to join them, having delivered the errant dog to the back of the café.
‘That’s nice,’ said Rosie. ‘Though I dread to think how much business he loses that way.’
‘It’s a daily occurrence!’ said the lad behind the counter as he placed the millionaire shortbread on a plate with a pair of tongs.
