Page 43 of One Golden Summer

“I see you’ve changed a keyword from the original.” Saffron mirrored the crisp move, wondering why Kirsty was focused on the question. Did she want to be around a movie star to reap the rewards? Not that Kirsty seemed the type. Was there another reason?

“I see you’re still evading.”

Saffron gazed at the puppies, marvelling over their excitement greeting an English bulldog who sported a Hawaiian shirt and bandana around his neck. “In the beginning, it was exhilarating. Growing up, I never particularly thought I was all that special, but when people started treating me like I was different—”

“Is that your word for beautiful?” Kirsty grinned, not so innocently.

“You like words, don’t you?” It was an adorable trait and quite foreign for someone who mostly had words put in her mouth by writers.

“I find them useful when communicating.” The grin widened.

“I’ve always leaned into observing to pick up on things.”

Kirsty inhaled deeply. “You really should teach a class for how not to answer simple questions.”

“Fine!” Saffron playfully groaned. “Yeah, of course it was flattering to feel beautiful. At first…”

“Then…?” Kirsty waved for Saffron to fill in the gap.

“The thrill of celebrity wears off quickly, or at least, it did with me. I couldn’t and still can’t fathom why people are so curious to know what groceries I buy at Waitrose.”

“If you want to shop at Waitrose while here, you’ll have to drive to Winterbury.”

“I’m certain I can survive without one.” Saffron swilled her drink, feeling the back of her shirt becoming damp from the sweltering night air.

“Are you? I wouldn’t want to have your death on my conscience.” Kirsty added in a melodramatic voice, “Hollywood star dies of starvation, refusing to step foot into her local Iceland for food.”

Saffron tossed a crisp at Kirsty. “So funny. Not.”

Kirsty swiped the crisp from the front of her shirt and popped it into her mouth. “Thanks.” After swallowing, Kirsty asked, “How are you finding it here? Aside from the subpar food shop choices?”

Saffron smiled and then pointed at her lips. “Firstly, that. There’s this sense of peace here. Every morning, I wake to the sound of waves. Not honking cars, or the beeping of a delivery van backing up, or construction. There’s always something going on in London.”

“Is there a secondly? You did mention earlier you’re terrible at maths.”

Saffron loved the playfulness in Kirsty’s eyes. “I need to be careful around you.”

“Why’s that?” Her breath had a hitch to it.

“You zoom in on my faults.”

“That’s not true! It’s nice to know you aren’t perfect. Besides, being bad at maths isn’t a fault. It’s a part of you. And, if you want to know the truth, when you brought the oysters earlier, admitting you weren’t great with numbers, you had this adorable blush on your cheeks. It’s nice seeing you relaxed. Much different from our first interaction.”

“When I acted like a spoiled brat.”

“You said it, not me.” Kirsty wore an innocent expression, but the way she shifted in her chair suggested she was in full agreement.

“I’m terribly sorry about my first impression.”

“It’s safe to say, both of us weren’t at our best. I’m still embarrassed by the things I said.”

Saffron started to rethink the reason for Kirsty shifting in her seat moments earlier. Was she…? No, don’t go down that path. “It’ll take time not to think everyone wants something from me.” Saffron filled one cheek with air, and released it gradually, hoping the action took away the guilt.

“That’s got to be hard to live with. Always wondering if someone has a secret mission of some sort.”

Saffron leaned on her forearms. “Do you have one? Come on; you can trust me.” She offered her bestconfide in mesmile.

Kirsty mirrored Saffron by also leaning on her forearms, giving Saffron more than a glimpse. “Why do I have to be the one with the ulterior motive? Are you projecting?”