Thankfully he loosens up as the night goes on. He’s rather charming and his body language indicates that he might feel the same about me.
Three drinks in, I spot the same group of people from the pool standing by the bar. They seem very interested in what we’re up to. ‘Are those your friends?’ I ask. ‘At the bar.’
He turns and gives them a quick wave. ‘They are. That’s Andrew and his girlfriend Bianca, Dominic and his wife Margot.’
Andrew looks much older than Bianca. She’s hanging off him like a tipsy koala while he looks our way.
‘I think I shared a lift with Dominic and Margot,’ I tell him. ‘They seemed. . . happy.’
‘Yeah, they love to cruise. They actually met Andrew and Bianca on a Caribbean cruise last year. Very like-minded, if you know what I mean.’
‘Yeah,’ I reply. I have no idea what he means.
‘Actually, it was Bianca who spotted you first. I’m glad she did. She’d really like to meet you. They all would.’
There’s a look in his eyes that tells me he doesn’t mean for polite conversation.
He leans in. ‘I’m sure we could all have a lot of fun.’
I pull back slightly, not sure how to react. And that’s when I notice it. I start to laugh.
He joins in with my laughter for a second, then realises that he has no idea why I’m laughing. ‘What is it?’ he asks as I continue cackling.
‘Your shirt,’ I reply, my finger placed under my lashes in a desperate attempt to stop my mascara running. ‘Nice pineapples.’
To:Alex Steward
RE:Hello!
Hi,
Eight months? I’ve only been doing it for three. There’s no way I’m lasting another five months, let alone twelve.
Yes, Ellis is a brilliant guy but you’re right, there’s no point pursuing anyone unavailable. I probably did enough of that in my twenties.
I said yes to ziplining today. It was scary as shit and I’m never being more than six feet above ground ever again, which doesn’t bode well for my flight home. They may have to sedate me.
In other news, I met someone. Good-looking, fit (you may see abs every day. I do not) and about three hundred years younger than me. Anyway, I agreed to have drinks with him, and it turns out that he wanted me to join in some sort of weird group sex party with his friends. I did not want that. I just want someone to be silly with, not a memory that will haunt me every night for the rest of my life. Next time you’re single we should absolutely start dating. I accept all phone brands and make excellent poached eggs.
I’m glad you find my trauma funny. Despite your disclaimer, I still blame you.
Sophie
Chapter 46
The ship docks in Palamós for our final excursion. It feels strange knowing that tomorrow I’ll be on a plane home, headed for smoggy London. Back to the grind. It’s almost depressing but I still have one more day to cram in as much fun as possible. Another email arrived from Alex this morning. Despite my drunken blunder, I like chatting to him. It’s like having my own cheering section.
To:Sophie Smalls
RE:Hello!
Hi,
Ziplining sounds fun. I would care more about this if it wasn’t for the GROUP SEX CRUISE SHIP STORY.
Who the hell are these people? A contained floating vessel seems like an odd place to facilitate a 3some/4some/entire floor-some. What if it’s horrible and you need to see these people at breakfast every day? That’s so strange to me. In London you can at least cut and run, safe in the knowledge that you can easily go into hiding or just move. This cruise sounds hilarious and terrifying.
Hope you’re good anyway and that it hasn’t added to the trauma. You’re going to make me pay for your therapy, aren’t you?
