‘No rush,’ Ralph muttered when she was just out of earshot. ‘I reckon she’ll need at least two nights to soak up the atmosphere.’
Edie giggled. ‘Shh.’
‘With any luck she’ll bump into the Minotaur in the labyrinth and that’ll be that.’
Soon, Mac appeared in running shorts, a white vest top and trainers. It was noticeable that neither he nor Jessica had suggested starting the trip to the village together.
‘Do you want to take some shopping bags?’ Edie asked Mac, but he said he didn’t want to have to carry anything except keys; he’d rather get bags at the shop.
It was only after he’d left that Edie realised he hadn’t asked what food to buy. Perhaps Hannah had given him a list, or maybe he had his own ideas.
Once Edie, Ralph and Hannah had tidied up the breakfast things, Hannah went upstairs to read her book.
‘I’ll be amazed if Mac makes it in an hour,’ she said. ‘I reckon it’ll be more like two.’
Ralph decided to do some lengths in the pool before he and Edie headed to the beach. She guessed he felt a bit guilty about not going running with Mac, and was trying to compensate.
Meanwhile, Edie sat at the patio table again and quickly checked her emails before phoning Maisie first, then Ollie. He hadn’t been in touch since she’d been away. She wasn’t surprised. Like a lot of boys, he wasn’t particularly communicative and tended to ring only if he was feeling down or needed cash or a lift.
‘How’s it going?’ he asked, sounding distracted. There was a lot of noise in the background; he said he and several friends were staying at another mate’s house for a few days, while the parents were on a long weekend away.
‘I hope you’re looking after the place,’ Edie said.
Ollie sighed. ‘That’s such a mum comment. Obviously, we had a rave last night and we’re sniffing lines of leftover coke right now.’
Edie managed a humourless laugh. ‘Very funny. Not.’
Ralph walked by in a towel, dripping water on the ground. He’d finished his lengths and was on the way upstairs to shower.
‘Gotta go,’ Edie told Ollie. ‘We’re off to the beach in a moment. Take care. Love you.’
In truth, she was quite relieved to have an excuse to wind up the conversation, which was giving her the jitters. Ollie was pretty sensible and she trusted him, mostly.
But there was always a little niggle at the back of her mind telling her everyone slipped up occasionally and could do something out of character. Especially if, like Ollie, you were just nineteen and away from home for the first time.
Rising, she picked up her phone and glass of water and strolled into the kitchen. Her beach bag was already packed and she was ready to go as soon as Ralph came down.
As she rinsed out her glass in the sink, her ears pricked at the sound of a key in the front door lock. Someone entered the villa and she could hear footsteps on the marble hallway floor and heavy breathing.
It must be Mac. She checked the time. But he’d been gone just under an hour. Speedy.
When she went to find him, he was at the bottom of the stairs, bent over and taking off his trainers.
‘Goodness! You were quick.’
She noticed the large, dark sweaty patch on the back of his top and his glistening arms and shoulders. His knees were covered in dirt and his hands, too, by the looks of it.
‘Did you fall over?’
He glanced up at her, before slipping the trainers off his feet and rising. ‘I tripped over a rock, annoyingly. No damage done, I’m pleased to say.’
‘Are you sure?’
He showed her his palms, which were grimy but unscratched.
Edie breathed in and out slowly.
‘Thank goodness. You must have run incredibly fast. I can’t believe you’re back already.’
