“I mean, if I found a hot dude on my deckchair I would at least…you know.”
“You’re not that hot, Riley.”
“I think you’re hot. I’d do you, Fairweather.”
“Don’t call me that. Sounds like we’re back at school.”
“Well.” I had to laugh out loud. “I’m the current headmaster at Kilmartin School. You can google me too.”
“It sounds like we’re trying to outdo each other on the normal, decent-human-being scale.” He was at least smiling. “You’re really a headmaster?”
“Absolutely.”
More small smiles.
“I know I don’t look it, lying naked and hungover in your bed.”
“Drink your tea, Fox Riley.”
“I never told you my full name.”
“Fox,” he said softly. I liked it. “Mum had all the gossip this morning. Sorry. And for heaven’s sake, just call me Noah.”
“Shall I tell you something, Noah?” I sat up properly in the bed and grabbed my cup. Took a sip. “Not bad. Not bad.”
“Travel kettle. Oat milk.” He tapped his nose. “And a secret stash of low opioids on prescription just in case some nutter burns his foot to a crisp.”
“Grateful.” I nodded. Another sip. “Look. I may be normal and all that, but let me tell you a little story. About five years ago, I took my new boyfriend on holiday. A bunch of my friends and I go every year, and this particular time? I was head over heels in love, so I brought him along. Paid for him and everything. You following me?”
“Yes?” He didn’t look convinced, sat there in his shorts and plain navy T-shirt.
He was handsome. Stubbly in a smart way. Broad shoulders. The kind of guy who would pick me up and carry me all across this godforsaken sandpit and deposit me back in my room, where I would sit and be depressed and hobble around and wish someone would make me a cup of tea.
“He…decided last year, I think it was last year. I honestly don’t know how long he’s been fucking other people behind my back, but when I booked to go on this holiday, I had no idea that the dickhead who had left me for a…a bloody child, I didn’t in my wildest dreams think that he was planning to come along and bring his little boyfriend with him just so he could ruin my life properly for the one week, the one week, Noah, when I was supposed to get myself together and relax. I was going to get drunk and eat nice food and maybe, maybe even get laid. Have a rebound and start to feel good about myself again. And here I am. Miserable as fuck, falling asleep on deckchairs and losing my shoes.”
“Mum went looking for your shoes. Didn’t find them.”
“She knows I’m here?”
“Of course she does. Do you think anything slips under her radar? The minute I sat out here with some other dude’s clothes flapping in the wind on my washing line? She was right here snooping through the curtain.”
“For heaven’s sake.”
“Yeah, wasn’t my plan for a holiday either. I have three books that I really want to read, and enough unread mandatory training emails to keep me busy for weeks. I have… My mother can be intense, okay? But she means well, and she’s taken a shine to you, and you have no idea how thrilled she is that, after not even forty-eight hours here, you’re in my bed.”
I had to laugh because he was. And it was…in a way. Nice. He was nice. He was really, really…nice. He sounded honest. I wasn’t used to that, and I was definitely not used to men being honest with me. I’d learned that the hard way. Bitter and jaded, me.
“I was going to suggest that the two of us embark on a sordid affair,” I suggested, flaunting that honesty right back in his face. “Let’s spend the rest of this week shagging. I can lie here, and you can bring me food and tea, and my foot should be fine by the time I get to fly home. Do you think your mum would agree?”
His laughter was my new favourite thing in the world. I wasn’t quite sure why. Maybe because he was as far from Thomas-the-wanker as I could possibly find. That he was, maybe a little softer around the edges than myusual type. His hair a mess of brown. Twinkly eyes and that constant blush on his cheeks.
“And just how sordid?” he asked quietly, glancing at the open patio doors.
“Very.” I grinned. “I mean. Who doesn’t like sex?”
“People who are crap at it?”
Okay. Not only was he cute, but he was also able to stun me into silence. I wasn’t sure if he was being honest or just…messing with me.
