Page 96 of Take Me Away

‘He’s a scientist really, underneath that fisherman’s beard,’ Nina says, blinking up at him, goofy faced.

‘This has taken years of cultivation,’ Peter grins, stroking his red and grey streaked beard.

‘You’re a bloody twat,’ I tell him and Isla snorts her wine.

‘Kit’s got the rescue team well drilled.’ Peter winks. ‘I reckon when Cal steps down, Kit’s going to be next up.’

‘Isn’t it dangerous?’ Isla asks, looking at me with an expression I can’t read.

‘No more than fishing,’ I say. ‘The Atlantic during spring tides is like something the gods have sent.’

‘We’ve got each other’s backs,’ Peter adds. ‘Best crew in Cornwall. Wouldn’t trust anyone else out there with me than Kit and the rest of them.’

Isla doesn’t say anything else, but her fingers curl a little tighter around her wineglass.

Before the mood can sink too deep, which no one wants for a first date, Ayo calls across the bar, voice booming.

‘Quiz night in ten, folks! Teams of four max! No fighting!’

‘We’re playing, right?’ Nina asks, eyes bright with competitive spirit. ‘We’re the perfect team of four.’

I glance at Isla. This isn’t quite what I had in mind when I suggested a date, but then I did say dinner at the pub, which probably serves me right for forgetting about quiz night.

‘I’m terrible at quizzes,’ I warn Isla. ‘My knowledge is pretty much limited to fishing, boats, and Eighties action films.’

‘And I know far too much about celebrity gossip and Oscar winners,’ she replies. ‘Between the four of us, we might have a chance.’

‘Don’t underestimate Peter,’ Nina says proudly. ‘He’s got an encyclopaedic knowledge of useless facts. It’s maddening but useful.’

‘Comes from spending too many nights on watch,’ Peter explains with a modest shrug. ‘Read anything and everything to stay awake. Gets stuck in your head after a while.’

‘Team name?’ Nina asks, already scribbling on one of the answer sheets Ayo has distributed.

‘How about “Quiz-tine’s Chapel”?’ Isla offers. ‘Art history pun.’

‘Too clever by half,’ Nina decides. ‘What about “The Sea Salt Bay Avengers”?’

‘Boring,’ Peter teases.

Nina rolls her eyes.

‘“Fishermen’s Friends”?’ I suggest.

‘Makes us sound like cough drops,’ Nina says dismissively.

‘“Quizteama Aguilera”?’ Isla tries.

We all pause, considering.

‘That’s not bad,’ Nina admits, writing it down. ‘Pop culture reference but not too obvious.’

‘And Ayo will appreciate the pun,’ Peter adds, signalling to Tilly, who’s laughing behind the bar with Cal, who’s standing next to his teenage son. I give them a wave, ignoring the high raised eyebrow and as-unsubtle-as-hell look from Cal when he sees Isla next to me. ‘First round’s on me. Second round’s on Kit when we win.’

‘Confident, aren’t you?’ I raise an eyebrow.

‘With these two lovely ladies on our team? Absolutely.’ He winks at Isla. ‘Hollywood’s finest and Sea Salt Bay’s sharpest. We can’t lose.’

With our team name settled we order another round and a basket of chips. The quiz kicks off, and shockingly, we’re not complete crap. Peter handles anything vaguely nautical or historic like he’s been waiting his whole life for this. Nina crushes music and lit. Isla’s a machine when it comes to pop culture and film. I handle the sports stuff, mostly. Don’t humiliate myself, which is enough.