Beach Cute, page 30
“If you start crying…,” Rory threatens.
Luna’s head wobbles. I think she actually is on the verge of tears. “Shut up. I’m going to miss you both so much!”
“I will literally be messaging you as soon as I’m on the train,” I say. “You’ll be sick of me before you even get a chance to miss me.”
The three of us hug goodbye for what must be the eighth or ninth time.
I’m with Luna on this, though. It doesn’t feel like I’ve only known them a few days, or that this time last week we were total strangers.
Something tells me that all this talk about messaging and visiting each other, hanging out and having group chats isn’t just an empty promise that will quickly dissolve into bland “Happy Birthday” messages once a year and liking a post on social media from time to time.
They feel like friends for life.
And I’ve not had friends like this for a long time.
Admittedly, I felt an initial pang of jealousy at Rory’s sudden internet fame and newfound success as an artist, but it disappeared quickly. Mostly, I just feel excited for her because things seem to be working out the way she wants them to.
Which, for me, is a new feeling.
I’m so used to competing with my friends.
This is a nice change.
“Rory!” a voice yells. “Rory! Oi! Lobster Girl!”
We all look around. A blond woman with a round face, a nose like Rory’s, and dressed in an expensive coat and high-heeled shoes is waving at her.
“That’s Hannah,” Rory says. “Looks like my lift’s here!”
“Lobster Girl, who’re your friends? Who are you wearing? Watch out for the paparazzi!”
“Oh my God,” Rory mutters. Her cheeks are red and she gives an awkward smile when she realizes people are looking at us. “Better go before she starts making a scene.”
She hugs us again before giving her suitcase a kick and dragging it after her as she strides over to her sister. They hug and kiss on the cheek, and Rory tries to give her sister her case. Hannah flicks Rory’s hat, laughs and starts walking off.
Rory turns around with a flourish, holding her sun hat to her head.
“Love you losers! Goodbye, Miss Ho-dee, Miss Lola!” she yells, and blows us a kiss before following her sister out of the airport.
Luna’s phone buzzes and she looks around, letting out an excited, “Oh!” when she sees someone. “My ride’s here, too.”
I follow her gaze and spot a short, stocky guy wearing round brown-framed glasses, waving to Luna with a slightly bored, put-upon look that can only mean he must be her big brother.
“Looks like your cue to head home,” I tell her. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Yes! Definitely!”
We hug again—what’s that now, the tenth time?—and Luna takes a breath as if to steel herself.
“You sure you don’t want a lift to the train station? My brother won’t mind.”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ve already got my bus ticket. And it’s out of your way anyway.”
“If you’re sure. Well…see you.”
I let her get halfway to the doors before firing off a text: Miss you already xoxo
She stops to check her phone. She turns around, laughing, and then waves over her shoulder as she leaves.
My turn now, I guess.
It’s weirdly bittersweet to have watched them go. It was the same with my goodbye to Gabriel. We promised again we’d stay in touch.
“I really like you,” he’d told me before I checked out. “I could fall for you, Jodie.”
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Why not? It’s true.”
“I know. But it makes me not want to leave.”
But I had left, and there’s a text from him waiting for a reply, asking how the flight was and hoping I got home safe. (With four kisses.) (Not that I’m counting. But I am.)
I can’t see me losing Rory or Luna anytime soon—and honestly, I don’t want to lose Gabriel, either. I feel so silly admitting it, given that I’ve hardly known him any time at all, but…there was something so real about the spark between us. Maybe I’m a gullible fool, or he’s uncovered the hopeless romantic within me, but…
I’d like to think there is something there, with us.
And he seems to feel the same way.
This past week feels like it’s gone on for years.
And I don’t know why, but I just feel…different.
Like a new Jodie.
I guess Gran was right: a vacation was exactly what I needed.
The arrivals gate is starting to empty out and I realize it really is time to go. I pocket my phone with plans to reply to Gabriel once I’m on the train, hoist my bag higher onto my shoulder and make my way toward the bus station, suitcase dragging behind me.
“Excuse me,” says an all-too-familiar voice, making me stop in my tracks. “And where do you think you’re going?”
Mum steps in front of me, her arms crossed, car keys dangling from one finger, looking at me expectantly.
All I can do is stare at her.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Fine way to greet your mother! What about, ‘Hey, Mum, good to see you, thanks for coming to collect me and save me from a bus and a train ride’? Didn’t even wave back at me, too busy talking to your new friends. Not even a hug?”
I laugh, still not believing it, and give her a hug. We’re not exactly a surprises kind of family, so this has thrown me completely.
“Thought I’d come and pick you up! Hmm? Nice surprise, isn’t it! We can head over to Gran’s so you can see her. Thought you’d probably want to go straight there for a cuppa and a natter—and even if you don’t, we’re dying to hear all about your week away, so tough!”
“Thanks, Mum. And that sounds brilliant, you’re right.”
“When am I not? Here you are.” She takes my case from me, and we walk out. “So? How was it? You’re looking very tanned. Very relaxed, for once.”
“It was…”
I think for a minute. This past week was a lot of things, and such a roller coaster I don’t even know where to start.
“You know what, Mum? It was perfect.”
Luna Guinness created the group chat
Luna Guinness
Aaaand one group WhatsApp sorted!
PS here’s the link to that resort in Portugal we were looking at for our next vacation! They’ve got quite a good deal on at the minute, if we book soon
Jodie Davenport
Perfect! Thanks, Luna. Let’s book it!
Rory Belmont
Ditto
Don’t even have to beg my parents for a handout now I’m flush from selling out my store lol
All sixteen items xo
Jodie Davenport
Sixteen more than yesterday!!!
Luna Guinness
I want dibs on your restocks of that Tenby landscape btw! My grandad’s bday is coming up and he’ll love it
Rory Belmont changed the name of the group chat to “Casa Dorad-nah”
Rory Belmont set Luna Guinness’s nickname as “Her Name Was Lola”
Rory Belmont set Rory Belmont’s nickname as “Lobster Girl”
Rory Belmont set Jodie Davenport’s nickname as “Sangria Slut”
Sangria Slut
Why am I Sangria Slut????
Lobster Girl
Uh, you did have wild, fantastic sex with a Spanish bartender on a beach
But also I have never seen anyone embody the heart-eye emoji so much as you whenever you saw a jug of sangria, so
Her Name Was Lola
Casa Dorad-nah, LOL
Love it
Luna Guinness set Jodie Davenport’s nickname as “Steve Irwin”
Jodie Davenport set Jodie Davenport’s nickname as “Sangria Slut”
Sangria Slut
Nah, I kinda like this version of me
Anyway, guess who has a FaceTime date with Gabriel tomorrow night!?
Acknowledgments
In all honesty, I don’t think I’d cope for a week without my phone half so well as Luna, Rory and Jodie do—but if I had to, I know the friends who’d make me forget all about the internet and who deserve a thanks for always being there for me. Lauren and Jen, I miss your faces and am forever grateful to have you in my life. The Gobble (née Cactus) Gals, where would we be without the life updates that go completely unmentioned for weeks and giggly brunches and board nights? (Hannah and Ellie—it wasn’t Casa Dorada, but I’m glad we got lumped together for *that whole thing* and then went out into the world as besties.) Aimee, the lifelong friend I love to bits. The Cluster/Squad Ghouls—love you nerds. What’s a few thousand miles and a couple of time zones when you have the group chat!
A special shout-out and hug to the Physics gang. Two of the main characters in this book are struggling with the big life changes that university brings and the impact it has on their friendships, and I genuinely cannot imagine that time of my life without you lot. Seriously—who would I have held up drunk on the way to a club, or cried with in the library, or had in-depth discussions with about the Doom of Valyria instead of making sure I’d nailed Planck’s law of blackbody radiation ahead of an exam? Who would I still be laughing with over silly memes and games of charades all these years later? Katie, thanks for always being on the other end of the phone and making me smile; I know I can trust you to share my standards when it comes to an overnight stay—especially one involving an air bed. And, Amy, aren’t you so glad we bonded over academic diaries after being put into the same tutor group in freshers’ week, now that you have me in your life to annoy you constantly and send you all the goblincore TikToks I find? Aren’t you??? Love you all tons, my wonderful Physics gang xo.
As ever: big, big thanks to my family. To Mum and Dad, to Gransha (who can truly find fans of my books anywhere!), to my auntie and uncle, and my sister, Kat—lots of love to all of you, and thanks for always being supportive of my books. Also, to Katie and Harriet—on the one hand, I’m sorry our girls’ trips don’t involve life-changing epiphanies and sexy bartenders, but…c’mon, who doesn’t love aqua aerobics?! *Cue the jazzy arms*
And of course, no book is complete without a MASSIVE thank-you to the team behind the scenes. Clare, you’re a true rock star, and I couldn’t do any of this without you. To Naomi and Sara, thanks for believing in my book and helping bring the girls to life with me, and to the rest of the team at PRH UK—thank you for bringing this to bookshelves!
And a big thank you to the brilliant team in the States—Noreen, Megan, Colleen, Trisha (who designed such a stunning cover!) and my editor, Kelsey. Thanks for bringing my stories across the pond!
About the Author
Beth Reekles is the author of The Kissing Booth series, which inspired the Netflix films. She first published The Kissing Booth on Wattpad in 2010, at age fifteen, and it accumulated almost 20 million reads before it was published in 2012 by Random House Children’s Books.
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Luna’s head wobbles. I think she actually is on the verge of tears. “Shut up. I’m going to miss you both so much!”
“I will literally be messaging you as soon as I’m on the train,” I say. “You’ll be sick of me before you even get a chance to miss me.”
The three of us hug goodbye for what must be the eighth or ninth time.
I’m with Luna on this, though. It doesn’t feel like I’ve only known them a few days, or that this time last week we were total strangers.
Something tells me that all this talk about messaging and visiting each other, hanging out and having group chats isn’t just an empty promise that will quickly dissolve into bland “Happy Birthday” messages once a year and liking a post on social media from time to time.
They feel like friends for life.
And I’ve not had friends like this for a long time.
Admittedly, I felt an initial pang of jealousy at Rory’s sudden internet fame and newfound success as an artist, but it disappeared quickly. Mostly, I just feel excited for her because things seem to be working out the way she wants them to.
Which, for me, is a new feeling.
I’m so used to competing with my friends.
This is a nice change.
“Rory!” a voice yells. “Rory! Oi! Lobster Girl!”
We all look around. A blond woman with a round face, a nose like Rory’s, and dressed in an expensive coat and high-heeled shoes is waving at her.
“That’s Hannah,” Rory says. “Looks like my lift’s here!”
“Lobster Girl, who’re your friends? Who are you wearing? Watch out for the paparazzi!”
“Oh my God,” Rory mutters. Her cheeks are red and she gives an awkward smile when she realizes people are looking at us. “Better go before she starts making a scene.”
She hugs us again before giving her suitcase a kick and dragging it after her as she strides over to her sister. They hug and kiss on the cheek, and Rory tries to give her sister her case. Hannah flicks Rory’s hat, laughs and starts walking off.
Rory turns around with a flourish, holding her sun hat to her head.
“Love you losers! Goodbye, Miss Ho-dee, Miss Lola!” she yells, and blows us a kiss before following her sister out of the airport.
Luna’s phone buzzes and she looks around, letting out an excited, “Oh!” when she sees someone. “My ride’s here, too.”
I follow her gaze and spot a short, stocky guy wearing round brown-framed glasses, waving to Luna with a slightly bored, put-upon look that can only mean he must be her big brother.
“Looks like your cue to head home,” I tell her. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Yes! Definitely!”
We hug again—what’s that now, the tenth time?—and Luna takes a breath as if to steel herself.
“You sure you don’t want a lift to the train station? My brother won’t mind.”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ve already got my bus ticket. And it’s out of your way anyway.”
“If you’re sure. Well…see you.”
I let her get halfway to the doors before firing off a text: Miss you already xoxo
She stops to check her phone. She turns around, laughing, and then waves over her shoulder as she leaves.
My turn now, I guess.
It’s weirdly bittersweet to have watched them go. It was the same with my goodbye to Gabriel. We promised again we’d stay in touch.
“I really like you,” he’d told me before I checked out. “I could fall for you, Jodie.”
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Why not? It’s true.”
“I know. But it makes me not want to leave.”
But I had left, and there’s a text from him waiting for a reply, asking how the flight was and hoping I got home safe. (With four kisses.) (Not that I’m counting. But I am.)
I can’t see me losing Rory or Luna anytime soon—and honestly, I don’t want to lose Gabriel, either. I feel so silly admitting it, given that I’ve hardly known him any time at all, but…there was something so real about the spark between us. Maybe I’m a gullible fool, or he’s uncovered the hopeless romantic within me, but…
I’d like to think there is something there, with us.
And he seems to feel the same way.
This past week feels like it’s gone on for years.
And I don’t know why, but I just feel…different.
Like a new Jodie.
I guess Gran was right: a vacation was exactly what I needed.
The arrivals gate is starting to empty out and I realize it really is time to go. I pocket my phone with plans to reply to Gabriel once I’m on the train, hoist my bag higher onto my shoulder and make my way toward the bus station, suitcase dragging behind me.
“Excuse me,” says an all-too-familiar voice, making me stop in my tracks. “And where do you think you’re going?”
Mum steps in front of me, her arms crossed, car keys dangling from one finger, looking at me expectantly.
All I can do is stare at her.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Fine way to greet your mother! What about, ‘Hey, Mum, good to see you, thanks for coming to collect me and save me from a bus and a train ride’? Didn’t even wave back at me, too busy talking to your new friends. Not even a hug?”
I laugh, still not believing it, and give her a hug. We’re not exactly a surprises kind of family, so this has thrown me completely.
“Thought I’d come and pick you up! Hmm? Nice surprise, isn’t it! We can head over to Gran’s so you can see her. Thought you’d probably want to go straight there for a cuppa and a natter—and even if you don’t, we’re dying to hear all about your week away, so tough!”
“Thanks, Mum. And that sounds brilliant, you’re right.”
“When am I not? Here you are.” She takes my case from me, and we walk out. “So? How was it? You’re looking very tanned. Very relaxed, for once.”
“It was…”
I think for a minute. This past week was a lot of things, and such a roller coaster I don’t even know where to start.
“You know what, Mum? It was perfect.”
Luna Guinness created the group chat
Luna Guinness
Aaaand one group WhatsApp sorted!
PS here’s the link to that resort in Portugal we were looking at for our next vacation! They’ve got quite a good deal on at the minute, if we book soon
Jodie Davenport
Perfect! Thanks, Luna. Let’s book it!
Rory Belmont
Ditto
Don’t even have to beg my parents for a handout now I’m flush from selling out my store lol
All sixteen items xo
Jodie Davenport
Sixteen more than yesterday!!!
Luna Guinness
I want dibs on your restocks of that Tenby landscape btw! My grandad’s bday is coming up and he’ll love it
Rory Belmont changed the name of the group chat to “Casa Dorad-nah”
Rory Belmont set Luna Guinness’s nickname as “Her Name Was Lola”
Rory Belmont set Rory Belmont’s nickname as “Lobster Girl”
Rory Belmont set Jodie Davenport’s nickname as “Sangria Slut”
Sangria Slut
Why am I Sangria Slut????
Lobster Girl
Uh, you did have wild, fantastic sex with a Spanish bartender on a beach
But also I have never seen anyone embody the heart-eye emoji so much as you whenever you saw a jug of sangria, so
Her Name Was Lola
Casa Dorad-nah, LOL
Love it
Luna Guinness set Jodie Davenport’s nickname as “Steve Irwin”
Jodie Davenport set Jodie Davenport’s nickname as “Sangria Slut”
Sangria Slut
Nah, I kinda like this version of me
Anyway, guess who has a FaceTime date with Gabriel tomorrow night!?
Acknowledgments
In all honesty, I don’t think I’d cope for a week without my phone half so well as Luna, Rory and Jodie do—but if I had to, I know the friends who’d make me forget all about the internet and who deserve a thanks for always being there for me. Lauren and Jen, I miss your faces and am forever grateful to have you in my life. The Gobble (née Cactus) Gals, where would we be without the life updates that go completely unmentioned for weeks and giggly brunches and board nights? (Hannah and Ellie—it wasn’t Casa Dorada, but I’m glad we got lumped together for *that whole thing* and then went out into the world as besties.) Aimee, the lifelong friend I love to bits. The Cluster/Squad Ghouls—love you nerds. What’s a few thousand miles and a couple of time zones when you have the group chat!
A special shout-out and hug to the Physics gang. Two of the main characters in this book are struggling with the big life changes that university brings and the impact it has on their friendships, and I genuinely cannot imagine that time of my life without you lot. Seriously—who would I have held up drunk on the way to a club, or cried with in the library, or had in-depth discussions with about the Doom of Valyria instead of making sure I’d nailed Planck’s law of blackbody radiation ahead of an exam? Who would I still be laughing with over silly memes and games of charades all these years later? Katie, thanks for always being on the other end of the phone and making me smile; I know I can trust you to share my standards when it comes to an overnight stay—especially one involving an air bed. And, Amy, aren’t you so glad we bonded over academic diaries after being put into the same tutor group in freshers’ week, now that you have me in your life to annoy you constantly and send you all the goblincore TikToks I find? Aren’t you??? Love you all tons, my wonderful Physics gang xo.
As ever: big, big thanks to my family. To Mum and Dad, to Gransha (who can truly find fans of my books anywhere!), to my auntie and uncle, and my sister, Kat—lots of love to all of you, and thanks for always being supportive of my books. Also, to Katie and Harriet—on the one hand, I’m sorry our girls’ trips don’t involve life-changing epiphanies and sexy bartenders, but…c’mon, who doesn’t love aqua aerobics?! *Cue the jazzy arms*
And of course, no book is complete without a MASSIVE thank-you to the team behind the scenes. Clare, you’re a true rock star, and I couldn’t do any of this without you. To Naomi and Sara, thanks for believing in my book and helping bring the girls to life with me, and to the rest of the team at PRH UK—thank you for bringing this to bookshelves!
And a big thank you to the brilliant team in the States—Noreen, Megan, Colleen, Trisha (who designed such a stunning cover!) and my editor, Kelsey. Thanks for bringing my stories across the pond!
About the Author
Beth Reekles is the author of The Kissing Booth series, which inspired the Netflix films. She first published The Kissing Booth on Wattpad in 2010, at age fifteen, and it accumulated almost 20 million reads before it was published in 2012 by Random House Children’s Books.
What’s next on
your reading list?
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great read!
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_147003908_
Beth Reekles, Beach Cute
