John frowned at her in a curious way, as though she were a mathematical equation to be solved.
“I like it,” he said. “What a great idea.”
“Not mine, I’m afraid. But I found one not so long ago when I really needed a friend, and it was just what I needed at that moment.”
“You had a pebble for a friend?”
“Beggars can’t be choosers.”
She looked up at John, and he suddenly swooped down and kissed her lightly. It was the briefest brush against her lips, but it still made her breath catch. He took a step back, embarrassed.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “It was just . . . you looked so wistful. I suppose, I just wanted to let you know that you have a friend, if you ever need one. And I think you’re lovely. Despite often behaving to the contrary. And I think that maybe someone made you feel like you weren’t lovely and he shouldn’t have. But anyway. There we are. And I know it’s way too complicated for anything to happen between us, but still, you’re lovely.”
Annie could hardly breathe. “I . . .”
“Annie! Customers!” Gemma was out on the patio, with her hands making a trumpet over her mouth.
“I’ve got to get back,” said Annie.
“Here,” John said, taking the basket off her arm. “You go. I’ll hunt out positivity pebbles.”
“Thanks,” Annie called back as she ran, slipping on the stones toward the café. And then quite without realizing what she was doing, she found herself running back toward John. Running on shifting pebbles isn’t easy; it’s like running through porridge and there is no way to be graceful about it. She reached him, breathless and in danger of turning an ankle, and went up on tiptoe to kiss him on the lips.
“I think you’re lovely too,” she gasped. She hoped she didn’t faint from the exercise. “Even though you might sell my home and business from underneath me. But there we are. I think you’re lovely all the same.”
And with that, she turned and ran, much resembling someone trying to run in a spacesuit on the moon, all the way back to the café.
Half an hour later, John strode in with a basket full of pebbles.
“John!” Gemma trilled. “Lovely to see you. Annie told me you’re staying with Raye and Aiden for a while; it’ll be nice to have you around the place a bit more, won’t it, Annie?” She nudged Annie conspiratorially as she passed her.
“Oh, great haul,” she said, looking at the basket. “Pop them over in the corner there, would you?”
John did as he was told. Annie looked at John, and he smiled at her and winked. Her heart stuttered. She felt as though they had found a secret key to something that only they knew about.
“Would you like a coffee?” Annie called.
“Americano, please,” said John. “Double shot, hot milk on the side.”
“How’s Celeste?” Gemma asked.
“She’s great,” said John. “Up to her eyes in mud and newts most of the time, but that’s how she likes it.”
“She’s helping to preserve the planet,” said Gemma with her sweet smile. “Thank goodness for people like Celeste. So, how come you’re staying up at the pub?”
“Because I didn’t think Annie would appreciate me sleeping in her living room on the air bed.”
Gemma laughed.
“Oh, of course, I forgot, you always stay here, don’t you? Poor John, you’ve been evicted.”
“Poor John nothing!” Annie called over; she slipped the piece of paper containing her offer for Saltwater Nook under the cup and slid the cup and saucer along the counter for Gemma to pass to him. “He’d evict me given half the chance.”
“There’s still time,” said John.
“On what grounds?” Annie asked, mock affronted.
“Property destruction,” said John.
“Fair point,” said Annie. “When are you going to paint my ceiling anyway?”
John smiled.
“I can come down early next week if you’d like; I’m pretty booked up with work for the next few days.”
“Well, it’ll just have to do, won’t it,” said Annie. “Don’t you just hate dodgy landlords?” she said to Gemma, who rolled her eyes.
Annie’s heart was in her mouth as she saw John clock the piece of paper, watched his expression change. He didn’t open it but tucked it into the pocket of his jeans and settled down to read the paper. The tension was infuriating, exciting, and terrifying. Annie hadn’t felt this nervous since picking up her A-level results. You’ll just have to wait, she told her wildly beating heart as she busied herself and tried to act like her hopes for the future weren’t nestling in a sexy architect’s jeans.