To the Moon and Back

Chapter 54




‘Goodnight, Ellie, sleep well. It’s so lovely having you here.’ Tizz gave her a fond hug and a kiss on the cheek. Claire and Paula had left with their respective families earlier. Steph and Gareth, who were staying until the wedding, had put the twins to bed hours ago. Now it was gone midnight and everyone was heading upstairs.

‘Thanks for everything. Night.’ Through the open window, they could hear Zack and Gareth outside, giving the dogs a last run around the garden before turning in for the night. If this had been a film, Zack’s mum would at this point have said merrily, ‘Now, no spare rooms left so I’ve put you in together! That won’t be a problem, will it?’ As a result of which, all manner of embarrassing and comical situations would inevitably have ensued.

But this was a big house, a six-bedroomed one, and Tizz had already said earlier, ‘Now then, I did ask Zack if you’d be sharing but he said separate rooms. So yours is along here.’ Bending her head closer to Ellie’s, her tone conspiratorial, she’d added, ‘Good move, by the way. Well done, you!’

Meaning she thought Ellie was playing hard to get, treating her new boyfriend mean in order to keep him keen. Which was a guilt trip, but what could you do?

At least this way she’d get a decent night’s sleep.

Zack was coming up the staircase five minutes later as she emerged from the bathroom.

‘Enjoying yourself?’

‘I am.’ Just standing there in front of him in her cotton pajamas felt intimate; this was something that hadn’t happened since she’d been a flu-infested invalid.

‘You’re doing a great job.’ He was keeping his voice low. ‘Apart from the bit with the naked photo.’

He smelled of faded-down aftershave, cognac, and the seaside. Ellie committed the delicious smell to memory. ‘The kids thought it was hysterical.’

Having finished settling the dogs into their baskets in the kitchen, Gareth was now on his way upstairs. Ellie’s heart began to gallop as Zack moved closer, for all the world as if they were a proper couple on the verge of exchanging a goodnight kiss. Not a peck, something meaningful. For a moment she thought it was actually going to happen. Then, as if noticing Gareth’s presence, he pulled back and called out, ‘Night.’

‘Night, you two.’ Gareth ambled past, raised a hand, and dis-appeared into the room at the far end of the landing. Leaving them alone once more.

OK, this was crazy, she was standing here waiting, like someone expecting to be kissed. Dragging herself out of her dopey trance, Ellie took a deliberate step back and said, ‘Right, see you tomorrow.’

Zack gazed at her for a long moment before moving away. ‘Yes, tomorrow. Sleep well.’

Ellie closed the bedroom door behind her, sank back against it, and prayed nothing like that would happen again. Talk about torture. If Zack knew how desperately she’d wanted him to kiss her, she’d never be able to show her face again. Oh God, but what would it have been like if it had actually happened?

OK, fantasizing again. Stop this now, get a grip. Go to bed.

***

When he was in London, hard at work and wishing he could be in Cornwall, Zack often scrolled down the favorites list on his laptop and clicked on the Perran Sands webcam to remind him of home. Today he didn’t have to; he was here, seeing it for himself.

It was Friday afternoon, sunny and breezy, school was out for the weekend, and the good weather had brought people flocking to the beach. The Atlantic Ocean was glittering and whipped up, breakers were rolling in, and the surfers were out in force.

Zack smiled at the sight of two surfers in particular. Joss in her little wet suit was struggling with a crisis of confidence. Ellie had been helping her for the last thirty minutes, showing her how to stay balanced on her board, yelling encouragement alongside her each time she attempted a new wave, then catching and consoling her when she came tumbling off.

Last-minute wedding preparations were occupying his parents back at the house. They had encouraged Zack and Ellie to escape down to the beach with Steph, Gareth, and the twins for a couple of hours. Tizz had taken Zack aside this morning and murmured not so subtly, ‘This one’s worth hanging on to, you know. She’s fab.’

And he had felt torn on so many levels, because on the one hand he hated deceiving his mother, but on the other hand she was the world’s most incurable blabbermouth.

Plus, she was right. He knew only too well that Ellie was worth hanging on to. But he was also terrified of making his feelings known and ruining their amicable working relationship. Worse than that, in fact—running the risk of wrecking everything. Being scared wasn’t an emotion Zack was familiar with, but it had him in its grip now. Last night he had wanted so badly to kiss her; he’d been on the brink of giving in to temptation. Only imagining the awkwardness at the wedding if she rejected him out of hand had stopped him from giving in and just doing it.

And here they came now, racing up the beach together with their boards under their arms and the others following behind.

‘I’m f-f-freezing.’ Joss, her teeth chattering violently, collapsed to her knees and unzipped her suit.

‘Wasn’t she brilliant?’ Ellie grabbed a turquoise towel and began energetically toweling her dry.

‘She was.’ Zack loved Ellie’s enthusiasm, the light in her gray eyes, the way her skin glowed and the tip of her nose had turned shiny and pink with cold. ‘Here, you get yourself warm; I’ll help Joss.’

Which was noble of him, because of the two of them he knew who he’d rather warm up.

‘Ellie, look at me! I’m not cold!’ Lily, who loved nothing more than a bit of sibling one-upmanship, came dancing up to them. ‘Can we play volleyball next? Volleyball’s my favorite!’

‘In a minute, sweetie.’ Ellie was now vigorously toweling her own hair; when she’d got herself looking like a scarecrow she pulled a comical cross-eyed face at the two girls.

‘Zack, I’m good at volleyball, aren’t I?’ Joss turned to him, bristling with indignation. ‘I’m better than Lily is.’

‘Oh!’ Lily pointed over Zack’s shoulder.

‘What?’ Zack started to turn, to see what was happening behind him. And that was when everything went black.

***

So this was Mya. Ellie had seen her making her way across the sand towards them, holding a playful finger to her lips. Dark haired, curvily attractive, and wearing a surprising amount of makeup for a trip to the beach, she was sporting a white lace shirt, tight black jeans, lots of silver jewelry, and… gosh, by the smell of it, a good half-bottle of Chanel No. 5.

Well, it was either Mya or one of the Kardashians. But from the way she was now kneeling behind Zack, her hands covering his eyes and her smile beaming from ear to ear, Ellie thought she could probably guess which.

‘Surprise!’ Mya let him go at last. ‘Hi, you! I just dropped in on your mum and she said you were all here, so I thought I’d come on down.’ She gave Zack an enthusiastic just-good-friends kiss and a hug before greeting the rest of them with a cheery smile. ‘Hey, kids, excited about tomorrow?’

‘Ellie, this is Mya.’ Zack performed the introductions. ‘Mya, my girlfriend Ellie.’

‘Yes, hi, Steph told me you were coming to the wedding. Nice to meet you.’

Mya was friendly and cheerful, but Ellie knew she was being given a thorough once-over and most probably found sadly lacking. Oh well, couldn’t be helped. She combed her fingers through her Worzel Gummidge hair and said, ‘You too,’ smiling back in a Yes-I’m-his-girlfriend-aren’t-I-lucky kind of way.

‘Come on!’ Lily was scrambling impatiently to her feet, sending up a spray of sand. ‘Let’s play volleyball! Mya, you can play too.’

To her credit, Mya was a good sport and she did join in. Bracelets and necklaces clanking like a jailer’s keys, hair rock-steady thanks to the impenetrable coating of Elnett super-strength, she threw herself into the game with enthusiasm and on several occasions accidentally-on-purpose threw herself into Zack’s path. Ellie couldn’t help liking her, though; when Zack had described Mya as a Labrador puppy he’d been spot on.

The game was great fun, noisy and boisterous. Afterwards Zack draped his arm around Ellie’s shoulders and planted an affectionate boyfriend kiss on her forehead. ‘Well done. If your team hadn’t cheated, we’d have beaten you.’

He’d only done it for show, but it still felt fantastic; imagine what it would be like if he were doing it for real. Ellie gave him a girlfriend jab in the ribs. ‘I’ve got news for you. You still wouldn’t have stood a chance.’

As they made their way back to the house, Mya caught up with Ellie while Zack was taking control of the dogs.

‘Hi. Look, sorry if I was over the top back there. Steph’s just told me I was being a bit obvious with Zack. The thing is, I don’t mean to be, I just can’t help myself. My body language gives me away. When you’ve had a crush on someone as long as I have, it’s hard to keep it under control.’

‘It’s fine. No problem.’ Ellie was charmed by her frankness.

‘But you don’t have to worry, I wouldn’t do anything. Not while he’s with you.’ Mya shook her head vigorously. ‘I’m not that kind of person.’ She sighed. ‘Oh, but he’s gorgeous. You’re so lucky.’

‘I know.’ Ellie shifted the stripy beach bag over her shoulder. ‘He’s great.’

‘And you look so happy together.’

‘We are.’ Well, I am. Especially when he puts his arm round my shoulder and kisses me on the forehead like an actual proper boyfriend.

‘But were you like me? I mean, when you first realized how much you liked him, did your body language give you away? Were you all googly eyes and touchy-feely without being able to control yourself?’ Mya made touchy-feely gestures in the air and her bracelets jangled like sleigh bells. ‘Was that how you were with Zack or were you able to keep it all under control?’

‘I think I probably… kept it more hidden.’ Zack and Steph were coming up behind them now, which was distracting to say the least. Ellie said, ‘I was scared of giving myself away, because of working for him. I mean, if it didn’t work out, I risked losing my job. Which would have been awful.’

‘Oh God, I knew it. You didn’t let on and it got him interested. Instead of pretty much jumping up and down, going, “Me, me!” I’m a complete failure.’ Mya was looking forlorn. ‘I’m just shooting myself in the foot.’

‘Maybe, but body language is just being honest. It’s nature’s way of letting other people know how you feel. I think your way could be best.’ Only in theory, obviously.

‘Do you? Ah, that’s nice of you to say.’ Without even realizing she was doing it, Mya gave Ellie’s arm a grateful squeeze. ‘But I’m really going to try and rein myself in. Give it a shot, see how it goes.’ Beneath the layers and layers of mascara, her amber eyes were bright with determination. ‘After all, your way worked for you.’

Elmo caught up with them. Zack, materializing at Ellie’s side, said easily, ‘What are you two chatting about?’

‘How Ellie stayed cool at work and didn’t let on how much she fancied you.’ Mya reached across and gave him a nudge. ‘I bet you kept your feelings under wraps too, didn’t you?’

‘Yes.’ Zack smiled slightly. ‘I did.’

‘Ha, I knew it! Neither of you saying anything, no giveaway body language, just all these incredible emotions smoldering away under the surface. Imagine the excitement, the adrenaline buzz, the electricity.’ Mya heaved a sigh of envy. ‘So romantic.’

For a moment nobody spoke. Ellie couldn’t look at Zack. At last she said faintly, ‘Yes, yes, it was.’

‘Ellie!’ The next second her hand was seized. ‘Quick, we’re having a race home and we need to beat Zack and Lily.’ Joss was already trying to jump up behind her. ‘Come on, catch my legs, you have to give me a piggyback!’