My heart is beating so fast now that I have to cough to get over the fact that I have just had the hugest palpitation!
‘This is incredibly forward of me, but if you’re leaving soon, I don’t suppose you fancy going for dinner tomorrow?’
I don’t know if it’s the lights of the casino, but I swear he is blushing, and so I feel terrible for turning down his offer.
‘Ah, I can’t. I’m so sorry. It’s my best friend’s big birthday tomorrow. This is a girls’ holiday. That’s why we’re here. Then we leave the following day, as I said. I’m really sorry.’
‘No, of course. I totally understand. Well, it’s been lovely meeting you.’
‘You too, Elias.’
‘You remembered my name?’
‘Of course I did.’
We smile at each other, and a warm, tingly feeling comes over me. I tell myself to ignore it. That will just be the reminder that I need to increase my HRT.
‘Well, bye, Lucy. As I said, lovely meeting you.’ He remembered my name too!
I watch as Elias walks away for the second time today. Only this time, I know there’s no chance of seeing him as he will probably set sail before our paths can cross again. If things had only been different then I might well have been persuaded to join Elias for dinner. What bad timing.
Chapter Seven
Over a bottle of the cheapest fizz available in the bar at the casino, Carol quizzes me about Elias.
‘You looked like you were having a good conversation there.’
‘Not really.’
‘Well, you both looked pretty engrossed from where we were standing, didn’t they, Soraya?’
‘Yeah, you did look pretty captivated.’
‘He just said he was a skipper on a yacht, that’s all.’
‘He has a yacht?’ says Carol. Her eyes widen in excitement.
‘No, he sails a yacht for his boss. They’re off to Andalusia next, I think.’
‘Does he have room for us?’ says Carol.
‘I dunno. I didn’t ask him.’ I shrug my shoulders and remind Carol that we aren’t even allowed to talk about men on this trip.
‘Oh, you’re too slow for your own good. You’ve just found out that the Mystery Mancunian of Monaco is sailing around on a yacht, and you didn’t even ask him if he could show your friends around. Some friend you are.’
I roll my eyes at Carol.
‘Look, we’re here for a girls’ holiday.’
‘Yes, but us girls love yachts, don’t we, Soraya?’
‘Yeah, I do love a nice yacht.’
‘Right, I’m off to find him. I’m going to ask him,’ says Carol.
‘You can’t do that!’
People sat behind us turn to look at me as I seem to get everyone’s attention except Carol’s.
