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Georgie is insanely talented. She designs and makes custom surfboards, which have become highly sought-after.

“It’s okay.” I shrug. “It’s not like I was doing anything special.”

“Well, I know your mum and the others are planning a massive welcome home, congrats on surviving uni, welcome to your future shindig at Sully’s.”

I groan.

“Come on, it won’t be that bad.” Georgie grins.

“They’ve invited half the bay, haven’t they?”

“Yeah they have,” Cookie says. I twist towards him.

“You know about this too?”

“Everyone knows about it,” Cookie says breezily. “Your mama was in yesterday afternoon ordering a whole bunch of stuff for the party.”

“Oh god,” I mutter.

Georgie looks down at her waterproof watch and sighs. “I better get a move on. Cookie, is the cake ready?”

“Sure.” Cookie jumps up and heads around the counter. “I’ll grab it for you.”

“Cake?” I look at Georgie.

“It’s Josh’s birthday.”

“Josh?”

“He works at the Surf Shack. Lots of new faces since you last came back home. Still, you’re back here permanently now, so it won’t take you long to catch up.”

“Yeah.” My stomach clenches. I’m not back permanently, although I’ll be closer than I was in Exeter. I’m not staying in the bay, and I have no idea how to tell my family when they’re all so pleased to see me.

“Here you go.” Cookie reappears and ends over a square cake box.

“Awesome. Gotta run, I’m already late.”

“Let me get that for you, it’s time to open anyway,” Cookie says, flipping the sign on the door before opening it for her.

“Thanks,” Georgie calls over her shoulder, and then she’s gone.

“You staying?” Cookie asks, and I jolt at the question, but when I look over to him, he nods towards the table. “Your coffee’s getting cold.”

“Oh right, thanks.”

I take a seat back at the table as a few new people wander into the shop and start to queue at the counter. Picking up my coffee, I take a sip and watch Cookie as he slips off his hoodie and hangs it up. Putting on an apron, he slips behind the counter and greets the first customer with a blinding smile.

It’s like pure sunshine and for some reason, I find I can’t look away.

ChapterThree

Cookie

Itry to force down the surprising disappointment. There’s no way I could have missed the way Quinn looked at that surf girl, Georgie. Judging from the look on his face as he held her and breathed her in, I’m pretty sure he’s straight.

I’d been hoping to find myself a hot English guy to pass the time with until Ty and I head to London but damn, Lady Luck has not been on my side. That bitch was clearly messing with me when she dangled that fine-ass man in front of me.

It’s not like there aren’t plenty of gay guys around this tiny little bay, but they all seem to be spoken for. Even Ty’s hooking up with his childhood crush while he’s back home, though he insists he’s not.