chapter 15

"Fuck! Ugh, that's fucking disgusting!" Julie yelled, grabbing onto my arm to steady herself as she lifted up her foot to check the sole of her shoe. "There's dog shit everywhere!"

I fought to hold back my laughter as a young mother covered her child's ears nearby, giving us a dirty look as Julie let out a stream of expletives.

When Julie had suggested a walk this morning, I immediately took up her offer, hoping the fresh air would help to remedy the hangover from last night's heavy drinking. However, I was starting to question her motives; it was clear that this was not a regular occurance for her. For starters, she had to ask the kitchen staff for 'clarification' on the directions to the nearby park. Then there was her attire; a pair of (no longer) pristine white trainers, large sunglasses and a floaty summer dress.

Something fishy was going on here.

"Look, wipe your shoe on the clean grass over here," I suggested, directing her to a fresh patch of grass beside the path.

"Thanks, Lo, you're an angel- oh hi, Richard, what a surprise!" Julie stood up, locking eyes with a man who was walking along the main path.

"Julie! You look well!" The man replied. He looked to be in his fifties, but his age didn't subtract from his rugged looks. His greying hair was thick, and the wrinkles under his eyes were diminished by his sparkling irises.

Julie let out a small giggle, "same to you, Richard. Oh how rude of me. Lois, this is Richard, Richard, this is my niece Lois."

I gave him a small smile and a wave, which he returned.

"So, Julie, I didn't realise you came here often," Richard said, raising an eyebrow.

Julie laughed and lightly shoved his chest. "Oh, you know me, I'm always in the park! Aren't I, Lo," she said, sending me a threatening glance.

"Yeah, Julie loves the park! Especially the dogs..."

"It's strange we haven't crossed paths before," Richard said, looking confused. "I come here every morning to walk Buster."

"Well, you see, I normally run," Julie's face turned bright pink as she stammered the words. "So, you probably never saw me because I was going so quickly. I'm a very fast runner, you know."

I looked at her in shock; I had never seen Julie act like this before.

Richard laughed, causing Julie to nervously join in. "What are you like, Julie. Right, I best be off. See you soon!" He said, waving goodbye and walking off.

"Goodbye Richard," Julie managed to gain enough composure to shout, before collapsing onto a nearby bench. I waited until Richard was a safe twenty meters away before asking her my burning question.

"So, how do you know the George Clooney look alike?"

"Oh, he comes into the pub quite often," she said, seeming distracted. "He does look a bit like George Clooney, doesn't he."

I raised my eyebrows, but didn't say anything. As long as I had known Julie, she had been single. It was strangely nice to see her so flustered over a man.

"So you like him." 

Julie sighed and motioned for me to join her on the bench. "I do like him. And I'm ready for something new. God knows I've been waiting long enough."

"Why have you been waiting?" I asked. I normally would have been hesitant to ask such a personal question, but Julie had a way of making everyone feel at ease around her.

She sighed, and gave me a look. "Do you want the full story? It's quite a long one"

"Yes!" I replied keenly.

"I was about nineteen or so, just a little older than you are now. I was helping out mum and dad in the pub one night and this man walked in. He was completely gorgeous, and all I could think when I saw him was how unfair it was that people that looked like that were allowed to exist in this world."

Julie trailed off and her eyes became glazed, clearly recalling the moment in her mind.

"Anyways, I hated him from the second I saw him. He was chatting to his group of friends, being all charming, and it really rubbed me the wrong way. Plus, he had these annoying dimples. Anyways, even though he could have had the pick of anyone in the room, he chose to come over to talk to me. Cue me getting angry at him for interrupting me while I was working, and I thought I had deterred him for good. But the boy was persistent, and he came back every night, wanting to talk to me. Eventually he broke down my shell, I fell madly in love with him, and a month later we were engaged."

"Engaged?" I said, shocked. My parents had never told me that Julie had been engaged.

She shrugged her shoulders. "It didn't last long. He was older, and came from a wealthy family. He had already started building up his own multinational company, and was constantly jetting off abroad on business. All I wanted was to take over the pub from my parents. A week after we got engaged, he asked me to move to Japan with him, as that was where his business was based at the time. I told him I wanted to stay with the pub, and neither of us wanted to do long distance."

"That sucks," I said, a bit lost for words.

"It's not all bad, he let me keep the ring." Julie said, wiggling her pointer finger to show off the ring on it. I had never noticed it before, probably because it wasn't on the traditional ring finger. It was far from a normal diamond engagement ring, it consisted of a unique brown stone set on a silver band.

"That's an interesting stone," I said.

"It's called Tiger's Eye," Julie said, gazing deeply at the ring. "He said the colour reminded him of my eyes, and the name of my feisty attitude."

"Do you think you made the right decision?" I said, noticing the deepness in Julie's eyes. "Choosing the pub over him."

"I don't know." She confessed. "But I do know that there's no point torturing myself with what could have been."

"What was his name?"

Julie laughed. "You don't need to know." She stood up from the bench and gave me a wink. "We should head home, you're meant to be working in an hour."

***

When we got home from our walk, I checked my phone and noticed a notification from Kate.

Kate Roberts (11:12): Beach bonfire tonight! You're coming whether you like it or not x

Lois Wilson (12:13): I'm working till close tonight but can make it from midnight... x

The last bonfire I had attended was still going at full swing when we left at half one in the morning, so I knew that I'd have more than an hour of the party left even if I went late. The thought that Noah, who was scheduled to work my shift with me today, would also be going to the party popped into my head. I sent him a quick text:

Lois Wilson (12:15): Wanna go to the bonfire tonight together?

Lois Wilson (12:15): Realised that it sounds like I'm asking you as a date. Just wanted to clarify that I'm not.

It was barely two seconds later that my phone buzzed with Noah's response:

Noah Thomas (12:16): It's alright Lois, I know you have a crush on me, you don't need to hide it any longer.

Noah Thomas (12:16): And, yes, let's go to the bonfire after work. If you ask nicely I might even make you a cocktail as we're closing up ;)

I physically rolled my eyes as I received Noah's messages, but paused before crafting a response. Weren't you meant to wait a bit before responding to texts from a boy? Would I seem overly keen if I answered straight away?

I instantly shook the thoughts out of my head. Surely that was just for boys you wanted to impress; this was Noah. Plus, he himself had replied immediately, so he clearly wasn't trying to impress me.

Lois Wilson (12:17): If I pretend to have this made up crush on you, will you make me two?

Noah Thomas (12:17): I knew you only liked me for my cock

My eyes widened- Noah was always flirtatious, but never normally that explicit.

Noah Thomas (12:18): Cocktails, sorry you know what autocorrect is like ;) see you tonight x

Staring at the screen with a smile, I couldn't stop my eyes from honing in on the small x at the end of the sentence. Attributing the butterflies in my stomach to my excitement about the bonfire tonight, I threw my phone down onto my bed and got ready for my shift.

***

"I'm going to put some music on. Let's make this a proper pre-party for you two!" Julie said enthusiastically.

Catching Noah's eye from across the pub, we exchanged looks of horror as she waltzed up to the sound system of the sub and connected her phone.

Noah, Julie and I were alone in the pub, closing up. It had been a quiet weekday night, and so the pub had shut at eleven, slightly earlier than normal.

As 'Summer of '69' blared out of the speakers, I walked up to the bar where Noah was standing.

"So, what about that cocktail?" I asked, eyeing up the spirit bottles behind Noah hopefully. I had seen Noah making many a cocktail for customers, and they always looked delicious.

Noah glanced over at Julie, who was singing loudly along to the music. "Hmm, I think I'll need a bit more persuasion..."

"Oh Noah, my most valued friend," I said, absolutely deadpan. "I could never repay you if you would be so kind as to gift me with one of your world famous cocktails."

Noah raised his eyebrows at me. "Tell me I'm the best looking man you've ever laid your eyes on,"

"You are the best looking man I have ever laid my eyes on," I repeated dully.

Noah looked excited. "Tell me-"

"Just make me the cocktail before your head gets too big that you won't fit out of the door," I interrupted, rolling my eyes at him.

He stuck his tongue out at me. "For that remark, dimples, I'm going to choose your cocktail for you."

"I don't care." I said. I took another look at Julie, who by now was so into the music that she was singing soulfully into the mop she was currently using on the floor. "Just make it strong."

Julie ushered us out of the door at half past eleven to begin the five minute walk to the beach. Three of Noah's nice (but very strong) cocktails later, and I could feel the effects. A wave of lightheadedness hit, and I felt myself sway slightly as I stepped.

"Whoa, steady on!" Noah tauned, grabbing my waist from behind to stabilize me.

I slapped his hands off and turned around to send him a glare. "I'm fine."

He held his hands up in surrender. "Not my fault you have the alcohol tolerance of a three year old."

"Not my fault your cocktails are so yummy," I retorted, instantly cringing at what might have been the lamest comeback in history.

Noah laughed, "they better be good, it's my job to make them."

"Is bartending what you want to do in the future, then?" I asked curiously.

"It's no Medicine at Oxford, but it's what I enjoy doing." Noah said. I couldn't help but notice a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"Well, you're clearly talented."

The conversation turned silent as we turned the corner to the beach and the bonfire came into view. Spotting Beverly waving frantically at me, I turned to Noah, who was wearing a strange expression on his face.

"Come and find me when you want to leave, I'll walk you home," he said.

"Noah, I don't need you to-"

"Julie asked me to." He said, cutting me off.

"Fine," I gave in, rolling my eyes. "I'll see you later."

I smiled at Beverly as I walked over.

"I'm so glad you made it," she said, pulling me into a hug.

"Me too!" I replied. "It feels like I haven't seen you in ages!"

"I know!" Beverly said, leading me to one of the wooden logs surrounding the fire and sitting down. She nodded her head to the other side of the fire, where I could see Kate and Liam sitting on a log, deep in conversation. "Kate is over there, but I wouldn't interrupt right now."

I laughed, thinking back to Liam's admission the night before. I hoped he was confessing his feelings; the two would make a really sweet couple.

"So, you came with Noah?" Beverly raised an eyebrow.

"We finished work at the same time." I said, trying my hardest to sound nonchalant.

Beverly didn't look convinced. "Apparently the two of you have been spending a lot of time together- Liam told me he saw you with Noah in the pub last night."

I rolled my eyes. "We're just friends. Not even good friends, I barely know the guy."

"I think you like him."

"What!" I hissed, looking around to see if anyone was around to overhear. "Why would you think that."

She shrugged. "It's as clear as Kate and Liam."

My jaw dropped. "We are nothing like Kate and Liam! Plus, he's not even my type."

"What bit of him puts you off? The gorgeous body? The handsome face?" Beverly teased.

"Maybe you like him."

"Even if I did, it would be a lost cause. He only has eyes for you."

"Don't be ridiculous," I scoffed. Despite myself, I found myself turning to find Noah's in the crowd. I quickly found him standing about twenty meters away, talking to Tyler.

Sure enough, his eyes were trained on me.