They all looked at each other. It didn’t actually sound like he was joking.
‘Great,’ said Matt eventually.
Norm turned to a glossy wooden drinks cabinet. ‘If you won’t have a cigar, can I at least give you a whisky or glass of champagne for the trip?’
‘This is the life,’ said Alfredo. The four of them, all clutching drinks and all wearing shades and their hair pleasantly wind-blown, were sitting around the edge of the deck, while Norm was at the helm.
Matt nodded. ‘It’s amazing.’
Lily wanted to scream. She didn’t want to be here with him, finding him this attractive. She wanted to be on her way home, licking what now felt like very deep wounds, about to never see him again. Once she’d thrown herself into work for a few days, she’d get over seeing him again very quickly. Like, Felix and Alfredo had been a great distraction this afternoon. She just needed other distractions.
‘Can I just say?’ Felix did a circling motion round his face in Lily’s direction. ‘You’re looking particularly gorgeous. It really suits you having a tan.’
‘Thank you.’ Lily smiled at Felix and looked up, sure that Matt’s eyes were on her. Yep, they were, and his lips were twitching. Shelovedthat he always saw the ridiculous in things, and that he had zero ability to remain aloof. And shehatedthat she loved so much about his personality.
Matt mouthed, ‘Mud?’ and she nodded, and he snorted with laughter. And she got goosebumps literally just at the sound. She really did just need this trip, beautifully scenic as it was, to be over, so that she could walk away from the heartbreak of Matt.
‘I forgot to say,’ Norm shouted over. ‘You’re obviously all stuck on Paros for tonight at least and Carole’s expecting you to stay with us.’
What? No.
‘Are you absolutely sure?’ Felix asked.
‘Yes, yes.’ Norm nudged the helm and the boat turned slightly. ‘Loads of spare room and Carole adores hosting. As do I, of course. You’re more than welcome. Which is another way of saying if you don’t agree Carole will nag you half to death, so you might as well give in now. We’ll make a night of it.’
‘That’s great. Very kind. Thank you so much,’ said Alfredo.
Lily looked at Matt, who was staring over the side of the boat somewhere into the distance, and said, ‘Thank you so much but I couldn’t possibly. I’ll find somewhere else to stay.’
‘Not sure you will,’ said Norm. ‘The island’s chocker with tourists; never seen it so busy. We got a lot of arrivals this morning and not everyone whose holiday had finished managed to leave. So I doubt you’ll find anywhere unless you have about five thousand euros to drop on a very high-end hotel and even those might be at full capacity this weekend. One of the busiest weeks of the year already.’
‘So kind,’ Lily repeated, ‘but I’m sure I can squeeze in somewhere else and I’ll probably have an early start tomorrow.’ Spending an evening and night under the same roof as Matt really wouldn’t help her frame of mind.
She felt her phone vibrate inside her bag and took a quick look in case it was something important. It was Aaliyah texting.
Just landed at Heathrow. Going to see the kids in a minute!!! Oh yeah, and Patrick :) I saw on the news there’s a ferry strike I just missed – did you get caught???
Yes I did. Going to have to stay until tomorrow. On Norm’s boat right now with Felix and Alfredo and Matt. Norm says Carole wants us all to stay with them!!!
Love Felix and Alfredo – danced with them last night. But OMG. You okay being with Matt??
Totally fine. Not going to stay there tonight. Can’t face spending so much time with Matt. Had a really bad conversation with him last night.
Lily was too miserable not to moan to Aaliyah.
Oh my love. So sorry. Will call later. At the carousel now – witch next to me trying to elbow me out of way – will call as soon as I can. Good luck!!!!! Love youuuuuu
Thank you!
Lily added some heart emojis, pressed Send, put her phone down and looked over at Matt, who was still staring into the distance.
Norm steered the boat parallel to Paros, and Lily sighed and looked out of the opposite side of the boat from Matt. At least the scenerywasamazing so it would look completely normal for both of them to be staring at it for the rest of the journey.
‘Helloooooo,’ called Carole when they eventually moored on Paros. ‘That took a long time, Norm. What were you playing at? Sorry to hear you’ve all missed your flights tonight but your loss is our gain. We’re so pleased to be having you to stay.’
‘Oh, I don’t think…’ Lily began.
‘Don’t think what?’ Carole drew her into a big hug. ‘I hope you aren’t going to blow me out. You won’t find anywhere nice to stay and I need another woman with all these gorgeous men around.’ She pinched Felix’s bottom and he play-smacked her back. There was no way Lily could politely turn the invitation down.
