Free An Ocean Apart by Robin Pilcher

said nothing but smiled wickedly at him.
    â€œCome on, are you going to move, or am I going to have to carry you?”
    Her reply was immediate. “All right.”
    David shook his head. “Oh, hell’s teeth!” he said under his breath as he walked up to her. Putting one hand behind her back and the other under her knees, he picked her up off her feet, and as he half-walked, half-ran towards the car, Rachel linked her arms around his neck.
    The whole episode had a dramatic effect on Toby. He was finding it hard enough to deal with the pace of this new bowler without the distraction of a sudden burst of music and the appearance of a girl in front of the sight-screen. As he held his hand up to signal his state of unreadiness to the bowler, he recognized David’s car, and realized immediately that this was the girl who had given him such a hard time in the pub. It was, to Toby, an ill-fated omen. As David carried the girl away, he took up his stance once more, but when the umpire dropped his arm and allowed the bowler to start his run, his eyes were distracted from their normal line of concentration to watch David and the girl move towards the car. He never saw the ball. He only heard the thump and clink as it cart-wheeled his middle stump out of the ground and knocked the bails clean over the wicket-keeper’s head. The fielding side erupted in delight and ran to the bowler, slapping his hands and patting him on the back in congratulations.
    As soon as they reached the car, David dropped Rachel onto her feet and dived inside to switch off the stereo. When he reappeared, she was looking out towards the cricket game.
    â€œToby seems to be walking off the pitch. Does that mean he’s out or in?”
    David glanced over to the score-board in time to see the number 49 taken off the main display and relegated to the “Last Man” position, then turned back to view the dejected figure of Toby as he slumped his way back to the pavilion, slamming his bat into the ground as he went. David looked across at Rachel, who was biting at her lip, a cringe of embarrassment on her face.
    â€œOops, was that my fault?” she asked quietly.
    David laughed. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Anyway, I think he probably more than deserves it, don’t you?” As Toby reached the steps of the pavilion, he turned to glare in their direction. David hastily opened the door of the car. “Nevertheless, I think the best thing we could do right now is get the hell out of here.”
    Rachel seemed to heed the suggestion immediately, but instead of climbing in, she reached over to the back seat and retrieved her book. She straightened up and stood directly in front of him, looking up at him. “I’ll think I’ll walk from here,” she said.
    â€œYou don’t have to.”
    â€œI know, but I need to clear my head. That champagne has just made me feel like going to sleep.”
    â€œWell, why don’t you?”
    â€œBecause I have a mountain of work to get through this weekend, and because of today’s … well … circumstances, I haven’t even started.” She clutched the book in her crossed arms and looked down at her feet. “But anyway, it was lovely to meet you—and thanks for the champagne. It was delicious.”
    She suddenly reached up and gave him a light kiss on the cheek, then turned away and walked off towards the gates of the cricket park.
    â€œDo you want to meet for a drink sometime?” he called after her.
    Rachel turned and smiled. “No, I don’t think so.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause I’ve only got a month before my finals, and I really don’t want any distractions.”
    â€œI wouldn’t be a distraction.”
    â€œI think you would.”
    â€œWell … er … what about after the finals?” David asked, desperate to prise even the faintest hope of commitment out