Author's note: This was written for a friend.
1.
James sat in the corner of the bar, watching a group of younger folk playing pool as he sipped his Deuchars. Early to mid-20s, he thought, focussed on the girl. She wasn't playing, just sipping a vodka-based drink, occasionally participating in banter with the guys at the table. She was a sexy young thing, he thought: he wouldn't mind at all. But it wasn't going to happen. He picked up his novel, the new Kelman, settled into it with a fresh pint. But his eyes kept returning to the girl.
He'd hit a barren spot in his writing and a kind friend, seeing him languish, had given him the use of her wee caravan on the Fife coast for a couple of weeks. The van was pretty basic and he wouldn't have fancied it in winter, there was a scent of damp from the stains at the seams. But it had electricity for his laptop, cooker and gas heater, a plumbed toilet and shower. It was fine for June. He was content, and his keyboard had begun rattling again after the first day. So content that this was the first time he'd gone to the pub for his evening meal and a couple of pints. Saturday night out at the Crusoe Hotel in the wee village of Lower Largo was not jumping, but he hadn't expected it to be. He focussed on the Kelman till the young woman came up to the bar beside him. He smiled hi and she said: You're a stranger here: on holiday?
Aye, staying in a caravan along the bay, just east of the village. I take it you're local? He was watching her face, the wee shower of freckles on her cheeks, pierced nose. He couldn't help but notice her full breasts, her sleeveless t-shirt wasn't designed to hide them. Traces of blonde hair at her oxters, so she wasn't dyed. Well, mostly not: her hair was finished with purple ends round her neck. She was delicious, slightly plump in a most sexy way.
Yeah, she said: Just out with some pals for the evening. It's a quiet place. Usually go to Edinburgh at the weekends to stay with my boyfriend, but he's away this weekend, so this is the best I have. She worked in a law office in Kirkcaldy, she said, was beginning a law degree part-time as a mature student. Meantime she was a legal secretary.
She took a tray of drinks to the pool table for her pals, returned to the bar with her Smirnoff Ice: So why a caravan in Largo for your holiday? If you don't mind me asking, you don't look that poor, usually we get Dundee neds at the caravans?
He explained why he was there, and that the van wasn't on the rather rowdy site he'd noticed up the brae. Also realised she wasn't exactly sober. And was looking at him in a way he thought he recognised. He was very surprised, but she was younger than his daughters and he didn't know the codes for her culture, so he ignored the twinge in his cock and resigned himself to expecting nothing.
They blethered a bit and he couldn't help evaluate her. She seemed a nice lass, bright, good company. And she breathed sex, he thought. She touched his arm a couple of times as they spoke and he moved his leg so it brushed her slightly. She didn't move. He asked her about the weekends in Edinburgh, and her boyfriend. He'd graduated last summer, was doing his teacher training at Moray House. It was the cricket season and he was off to Aberdeen for a match for the weekend. He was in the college First Eleven. She hadn't been interested in going with him, neither cricket nor his friends did anything for her.
She asked him about his writing and he noticed her glance at his empty ring-finger, looked in her eyes then: I'm not long divorced, he smiled, that's why the finger's still a bit shiny. Explained he wasn't a published writer, yet. He paused: Unless you count online? She looked at him quizzically: Of course, tell me when I get back, I need the girls' room.
Her bottle was empty and he ordered up a round, carried the tray to the pool players. Chatted briefly about their game, returned to the girl, now back at the bar. We haven't been introduced, he said, corners of his eyes crinkling into a smile. I'm James. He extended his hand to her.
Karen. Glad to meet you tonight. She smiled winsomely and he looked her straight in the eye: Glad to have met you too, Karen.
Now, she said: You were going to tell me about your online publications?
Aye. He was slightly embarrassed; this wasn't something he usually talked about to anyone, far less a sexy lassie thirty years his junior. He sipped his beer. Well, mostly my writing is fairly mainstream, short stories, and I've started a novel. But my online stuff is a bit less mainstream...
Her eyes widened and she caught her breath slightly, her incisors bit her bottom lip. It was a provocative sight, and her eyes were sparkling now. He looked away: I, er, I contribute to an erotica site.