“ ‘Be brave and take that leap, whether it be off the top of a cliff or out of a plane—’ ” I paused. “I see, well, I’m not doing any such thing. I’ve had enough adrenalin to last me a lifetime, what with narrowly escaping latex-covered gimps and wild threesomes.” I walked over to the mirror and grabbed a hair band, twisting my hair into a bun and tying it up.
Alex walked up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. He looked at me in the mirror seriously. “It’s already booked for later this afternoon, after we hike up the volcano.”
“Mmmmm . . .” I mumbled, “we’ll see about that.” I put my most serious, stern face on and Alex just laughed. And then his hand slid around the front of my neck and my breath got caught in the back of my throat. He traced his finger over the bruise on my neck which was a bright violet color today.
“Does it hurt?” he asked softly.
I shook my head, locking eyes with him.
“Sorry about that,” he said, looking somewhat concerned.
“It’s okay,” I said softly, as if something had stolen my voice. We held each other’s gaze for a while and then my eyes drifted down to the green ribbon on his finger. I’d almost forgotten about them. Alex moved his hand away and then suddenly walked over to my cupboard. He pulled my suitcase out and placed it on the bed.
“You should pack, the rental car is already here.”
“I see.” I turned and faced him.
“Are we taking her?” He pointed at the blow-up doll in my bed.
I smiled. “Well, we can’t leave her here, can we?”
“I’ll deflate her then?” Alex said, picking her up. Suddenly this was all so funny again.
I nodded and laughed as I watched him trying to squeeze the air out of her by any means necessary. Once she was completely flat, Alex looked up from her and asked, “By the way, you can drive, can’t you?”
“Why?”
“Well, I’m from London. Don’t think I’ve driven in years, thought it would be safer if you drove.”
“Sure.” I gave him a very noncommittal nod, which soon turned into a very committed shake when I saw what it was that I was meant to be driving.
“You want me to drive that?” I asked, looking at the car in horror. “It’s huge.”
“It was either that or a tiny Renault,” he said.
“I don’t think I can.” I walked around the thing—truly, it was massive.
“Sure you can. I believe in you, Val.”
“You know how cheesy that sounded?” I shot him a doubtful look.
Alex smiled at me and put our bags in the car, a huge grin plastered across his face.
“Hey!” I scolded him. “You are way,waytoo excited about this.” I walked around to the driver’s side and climbed in. Alex climbed in too.
“I am,” he said, happily. “I really am.”
“Why?” I slipped the keys into the ignition and turned it on.
He shrugged and looked over at me. “I’m having so much fun with you,” he said seriously.
I looked at him and started to smile. “Me too,” I said and that’s when I realized I hadn’t thought about Matt once in the last twenty-four hours.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Steer it!” Alex shouted.
“I am, I am!” I shouted back.
