CHAPTER 36
I woke to the sound of Cam’s voice. ‘Lizzy . . . why is there a fish in the bath?’
‘Aargh.’ I rubbed my head and eyes. I was exhausted. I’d only crawled back into bed a few hours ago. After wandering around half the damn island trying to clear my head, I’d finally returned with my fish friend.
‘Lizzy, I’m serious. Am I hallucinating?’
I groaned, shoved the covers off and joined Cam in the bathroom. He was looking at the fish with a quizzical expression.
‘He’s sick,’ I said. ‘I’m helping him.’
Cam turned slowly and looked at me.
‘What?’ I asked, feeling defensive now because of the strange probing look he was giving me.
‘A fish rescuer. One could almost think you had a soft side,’ he said, disappearing back into the bedroom.
‘Whatever,’ I threw over my shoulder. I crouched down and peered into the bath. The fish seemed to sense my presence and looked up at me. ‘I know, buddy, I know. I’m also in a totally weird situation and unfamiliar surroundings, but you’ll be home soon and so will I and then we’ll both be happy again.’ I hesitated. A strange feeling had risen up in me as I’d said those words. Home again. Away from Cam. Away from this strange arrangement we had. A thought that a few days ago had filled me with glee but now filled me with—
‘We’d better get ready,’ Cam shouted from somewhere in the villa.
‘I just don’t know how I managed before you were around telling me what to do.’ I headed for my suitcase, grabbed my outfit of the day and went to change.
Our boat cut its way through the water. It was early morning – apparently the best time to see the reef – and the low sun was casting a warm glow across the surface of the turquoise water. It was so picturesque out here, so perfect.
‘It’s perfect.’ Amber said what I was thinking. She adjusted her glasses when the boat gave a little bounce, the glasses I’d given her yesterday, the ones that had sealed our friendship, because apparently all you needed to do to make friends was give really expensive gifts. She was wearing her famous gold sarong, and it sparkled obnoxiously in the sunlight, sending little flickers of disco-ball-style light dancing around the boat.
‘Perfect,’ I agreed, and tried to force a smile. I was struggling today, though, because the bikini I was currently wearing was cutting into me like dental floss. And every time we went over a small wave, it dug in deeper.
‘Lizzy.’ Cam leaned close. ‘Try to act like you’re at least having a tiny bit of fun.’
‘I’d like to see you try and have fun while your bikini string is lodged up your ass.’ I attempted to adjust it through the sundress I was wearing, hoping the wedgie might decide to finally unwedge itself. It did not. ‘Let me tell you, if you think I’m thrilled about squeezing myself into this stupid thing, not to mention having to wear it in front of an audience, you must be completely mad.’
‘Everyone else is pretty thrilled, though,’ Cam said seductively.
‘Stop that.’ I smacked his arm just as Amber turned to me.
‘Oh my God, Lizzy, that bikini is so cute,’ she gushed. I’d now hitched up my dress completely in an attempt to deal with it. ‘Where did you get it from?’
‘Oh, you know.’ I waved my hand in the air. ‘I just picked it up somewhere.’ I stopped. I had no idea what to say. I couldn’t think of the name of a single high-end shop, so vague hand circles were far safer.
‘Oh my God, I’m always forgetting where I buy things from.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘I suppose I’m always shopping, though.’ She laughed, and it sounded like champagne bubbles bursting forth from a bottle.
‘Me too.’ I played along, also trying to give a champagne laugh. Mine didn’t come out quite so effervescently, though, and I heard Cam chuckle next to me.
‘You’re going to need to practise your fake laugh,’ he whispered in my ear, and for a split second the feel of his breath—No! Screw the feel of his breath.
‘Shut up,’ I whispered back while still smiling at Amber.
Across the boat, Victor had opened a cooler box and pulled out what looked like a very expensive bottle of champagne. It was ten in the morning, and besides, I didn’t think scuba diving and alcohol blended particularly well. Amber seemed to be on the same page as me, at least.
‘Vic, honestly.’ She swatted him with a playful giggle. ‘You can’t drink before you go in the water.’
‘That’s not going to stop me. Besides, I think I’m going to sit this one out. I’ve never liked masks over my face. I get claustrophobic.’ Mmm, if he didn’t like masks over his face, he was definitely not going to enjoy what a Mafia enforcer did to him. He turned to Cam. ‘You’ll have to look after the ladies on your own down there.’
Cam nodded and leaned back against the side of the boat, stretching his arms out casually behind his head, like the smuggest man on the planet.
‘Don’t worry, Victor, I’ll make sure our girls stay safe.’
