The Next Season (novella) (6 page)

Shaun nodded as he reached out and shook the hand she'd offered him. She ignored the spark that came when his fingers closed once again around hers. Right now she needed a friend, and if this chat was any indication, maybe they could get past the fact they'd once been lovers and help each other through tough times.

‘I take it you're looking for a job in town?' he asked once they'd both withdrawn their hands.

‘Yep.' She hung her head, thinking of all those poor trees she'd sacrificed handing out her résumé to people who obviously had no intention of employing her. ‘Started the hunt today.'

‘Any luck?'

‘Nope. It appears the tail end of the summer season is a crap time to find work in Wildwood Point.' She might have to look further afield in Busselton, Dunsborough or Margaret River tomorrow, but there was the whole petrol issue to consider if she had to drive far to work.

‘What type of job are you looking for?' he asked. ‘Restaurant or café work again?'

‘Beggars can't be choosers.' She tried to smile. ‘I'm not fussy. I've worked in cafés a lot, but I've also done loads of other jobs over the years. Did you know I'm a qualified flower essence therapist?'

‘A what?'

She laughed. His raised eyebrow was the standard response when she told most guys about her unusual qualifications. To be fair, not many women knew what she meant either. ‘I'll explain later, but I can also wax, do manicures, pamper pooches and mow lawns. Short of selling my body for sex, I'm prepared to do anything.'

At the mention of sex, Shaun looked like he might be choking. Zoe pursed her lips together to stop the grin that threatened to burst across her face. Even though neither of them were in the market for a relationship, it felt good to know she still affected him.

He recovered quickly and said, ‘Did you see the new Chocolate Dreams Café on the main street?'

She thought back a moment. ‘I did. It was all closed up when I walked past though.'

‘That's Hannah's new project. Apparently she once joked to Matt that the only way she'd ever go out with him was if he owned a chocolate factory. So he bought the place for her.' Shaun chuckled. ‘We're all learning never to joke around Matt. He's the kind of bloke who makes things happen.'

‘Wow.' Zoe sighed, imagining having a boyfriend who made that kind of grand romantic gesture. ‘A new baby
and
a new business. She's gonna have her hands full.'

Shaun snorted. ‘Between our mum and Matt's mum, she'll probably never get to see the baby, but Matt will manage the business when the baby's young—and they're hiring enough staff so they won't be too pressured.'

‘Sounds like they have it all sorted.'

‘Yep. And, in a roundabout way, I'm trying to say that maybe Han could give you a job. She said only last night that she still needs a couple more waiters. Or waitresses.'

Zoe's heart leapt. But then it dropped again. Shaun had already rescued her from the side of the road and then offered to help her collect her furniture. She couldn't keep relying on him to get her out of scrapes. Before she knew it she'd be calling him whenever her shoelaces became undone. Then again, there was that saying about not looking a gift-horse in the mouth.

‘Should I give her a call or stop by the shop?'

He glanced down at her attire. Despite being dry again, her clothes no longer looked fresh and professional and her hair, well, she didn't have to look in a mirror or run her fingers through it to know it wasn't neat enough for an interview.

‘I meant tomorrow,' she said, fighting a giggle. ‘Obviously.'

The grin he returned made her feel like jelly. ‘I'll give her a call tonight and say you might stop by.' He dug his mobile phone out of his pocket. ‘I'll text you to tell you what she says. What's your number?'

And although she didn't feel entirely comfortable about him setting this up for her, Zoe couldn't resist punching her number into his phone. She did so without analysing why it felt so good and then handed it back to him. ‘Well, I suppose I'd better be getting back to Sandee's before she sends out a search party,' she said, pushing herself off the sand into a stand, reluctant to leave his company but knowing they couldn't stay there indefinitely.

Eeyore, who'd been asleep all the while they'd been talking, raised his head and then jumped up as if ready for action. She and Shaun laughed, their gazes meeting. Holding the dog's lead, Shaun also stood and then things got a little awkward. They'd just bared their souls to each other and now it was time to say goodbye, but she wasn't sure how to do so. Should she offer her hand for another shake, simply thank him for listening, or maybe give him a hug? After all they'd discussed, a hug probably wouldn't be over-the-top but she didn't want things to get awkward between them. She got the impression Shaun was contemplating the same dilemma.

He moved his eyebrows a little, dug his free hand into his pocket and gazed down at the sand as if it were the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen. Zoe wiggled her toes, sand sliding between them, and racked her brain for something to say. This felt ridiculously like the pressured finale of a very good first date. In the end, he spoke first.

‘I…I guess I'll text you.' He glanced down the beach and then back at her. ‘And a word of advice. Next time you decide to go for a swim, maybe plan ahead and bring your bathers or something.'

Without thinking, her hand lifted and connected playfully with the side of his arm. The friendly gesture seemed natural and she felt the seven years they'd been apart melting away. So many times over those years she'd thought about him, wondered if turning him down had been the worst mistake of her life. But she'd been young and confused and scared by how serious he'd wanted things to be between them when no one had ever wanted her before. Not even her own mother. She'd been terrified of getting close and then losing him, so she'd pushed him away.

‘Very funny,' she said, shoving the maudlin thoughts aside. ‘Ever thought about being a comedian?'

‘Nope.' He yanked his hand out of his pocket and held it up to her. ‘I'm much better with my hands.'

And although he was referring to his craftsmanship, the way he looked at her said he'd meant the double entendre. She swallowed, remembering exactly how talented those hands had been—despite their inexperience—and wishing, just for a moment, that she could have them once again. On her.

‘Anyway…' He interrupted her thoughts. ‘I'd better take this big guy home for dinner. Look out for my text.'

Oh, I will
, she thought, but managed a nod and a casual smile instead. ‘See ya later.'

Five

Zoe did not spend all night checking her phone for messages from Shaun like some kind of lovesick teenage girl. She interspersed the longing glances at her mobile with other things—like playing a painful game of Pictionary with Daniel and little Reese, baking a cake (something that always gave her a buzz) and watching TV with Sandee before finally falling into bed just before midnight. And anyway, the incessant checking was down to her desperately needing a job and nothing to do with the fact that the conversation with Shaun had been the best fun she'd had in ages, even though it had mostly revolved around their tragic love lives. The only thing that could have made their time together more perfect would have been a greasy package of fish and chips to share.

In the morning, when she checked her phone again—to see the time, not in case of a message—and he still hadn't texted, she thought maybe he'd decided against recommending her to Hannah. He probably wanted less scatty employees for his dear sister. Not afraid to admit to a little disappointment, Zoe dragged her sorry body out of bed and threw herself into the shower. Half an hour later she was sitting at the table, surrounded by Sandee's little tribe all munching on toast and shovelling cereal hastily into their mouths so as not to miss the school bus. She'd just poured herself a glass of fresh orange juice when her phone vibrated in her pocket and the message jingle sounded.

She jumped, having given up all hope of hearing it ever again.

‘You okay?' Daniel raised an eyebrow at her over the top of his Weetbix-laden spoon. ‘You look like you've never gotten a text before.'

She smiled; for someone passed from pillar to post, he was a sweet kid, who hadn't kicked up a fuss about losing his bedroom to her. She guessed Sandee had a lot to do with his attitude too. ‘I'm fine.' Then she slid the phone out of her pocket and held her breath as she glanced down at the screen. There wasn't a name—merely a number because Shaun hadn't put his details into her phone—but she knew it was from him.

Sorry I didn't message you last night. I only just got hold of Hannah. She's keen and wants to see you at 10am. Can you make it?

Of course,
she texted back.
And thanks.

No worries. Good luck.

Damn, he was nice.

‘Who or what is responsible for that crazy smile on your dial?' Sandee asked, as she finished wrapping sandwiches for lunches.

‘I think I might have found a job.'

‘Oh? That's fabulous? Where?'

Zoe took a quick breath, knowing Sandee would read more into her answer than she should. ‘I'm going to see Hannah Elliot at her new café. Apparently she's looking for waitresses.'

Sandee looked like she wanted to interrogate her further—probably ask exactly how she'd come by this snippet of information—but Zoe made her excuses before she had the chance. ‘Better go get ready for my interview.' She swiped a slice of vegemite toast off the communal tray in the middle of the table and hurried to her room to dry her hair.

By ten o'clock she was standing outside the Chocolate Dreams Café, wondering if Shaun had told Hannah how badly she needed this job. She didn't want to be hired as a charity case, so she was determined to impress her with her experience and work ethic. As the shop wasn't yet in business—it was opening this weekend according to signs splashed all over the window—she had to knock on the door and wait for someone to let her in.

She tried to look all cool and carefree but the butterflies in her stomach felt as if they'd overdosed on red jellybeans. And when the door peeled open to reveal Shaun standing in front of her she almost went into cardiac arrest. She'd been expecting Hannah or maybe her fiancé, and it hadn't crossed her mind that Shaun might be here, looking all DIY-delicious in cargos, a black t-shirt, chunky boots and—
oh Lord
—an actual tool belt. He could have been Mr January on a handyman charity calendar. And if she owned said calendar, she'd never get to the rest of the year.

‘You made it.' He almost smiled as he gestured for her to come inside.

She swallowed, attempting to regulate her hormones and her heart. Somehow her brain managed to give her feet the direction to follow him in. ‘Thanks.' She pulled a smile from deep within, unable to determine whether her skittish pulse was down to Shaun or nerves about the interview.

‘Hannah's in the kitchen with the pastry chef,' he explained, seemingly oblivious to her nervousness. ‘I'll just go get her.'

Zoe welcomed the chance to pull herself together before the meeting with the woman who would hopefully be her future boss. She wasn't sure whether already knowing her would be an advantage or disadvantage. They had almost been close once, but when Zoe had turned down Shaun's proposal, his sister had predictably taken Shaun's side. Although that was years ago now and they'd barely been out of high school at the time, the female of the species were good at holding grudges. Trying to forget about their prior connection, Zoe lingered between the beautifully handcrafted tables and took a look around.

The cream painted walls perfectly complemented the wood of the furniture and the amazing counter. Also, someone—Shaun she guessed, judging by the tool belt—looked to be in the middle of hanging up frames with quotes about chocolate, which when complete would give the café a lovely warm and friendly atmosphere. There were a pile of these frames stacked on the floor near the counter and she went over and read the quote on top.

Happiness is an unexpected piece of chocolate.

Zoe smiled.
Or an unexpected run-in with your first love.
She pushed that thought aside and read another quote.

For some, there's therapy. For the rest of us, there's chocolate.

She laughed out loud at that, suddenly desperate for Hannah to give her a job. She had the distinct feeling that working in this happy place would be like food for the soul.

‘Zoe!'

She lifted her head at the sound of Hannah's voice and saw Shaun's sister walking towards her. For some reason she'd expected her to look older with a mammoth baby bump protruding in front of her, but you could barely tell she was pregnant and she didn't look as if she'd aged at all in the last few years. She wore her dark chocolate brown hair in a high ponytail and had a smile that looked like it might jump off her face at any moment.

Zoe opened her mouth to reply but her words were smothered as Hannah drew her into a warm hug. She'd never started a job interview in this familiar manner before, but decided to go with the flow. Maybe Hannah was so consumed in her bubble of love and baby joy she didn't have room to hold onto hard feelings.

‘It's so lovely to see you again,' Hannah said, still grinning as she stepped back slightly to look properly at Zoe. ‘When Shaun said you were looking for a job I almost leapt with joy.'

‘Thanks.' Okay, so her excessive excitement was a little unsettling but some people were simply perpetually friendly. ‘I really appreciate you considering me.'

‘Considering you?' Hannah looked at her like she was speaking gobbledegook. ‘The job's yours.'