‘Yeah,’ I reply. ‘Bit too much booze last night.’ Why is he grinning like that?
‘I thought you’d be chirpier this morning,’ he says, nudging Cameron.
‘Why?’
‘Oh, you know. . . I saw you and Ellis. . . on the deck.’
‘He was spying on you,’ Cameron interjects. ‘For the record, I do not approve.’
‘I wasn’t spying!’ he insists. ‘I was just out on deck, you know, making sure the sea was still there.’
They both stare at me, hungry for my response.
‘It was nothing,’ I reply. ‘Just a silly drunken kiss.’
Lucas frowns. ‘Well, that’s no fun. I was hoping for something a little more salacious.’
‘Sorry to disappoint.’
‘You should take my number,’ Cameron says, while Lucas continues to pout over the lack of gossip he so desperately wanted. ‘If you’re ever in our neck of the woods, you must come and see us.’
‘I might just do that,’ I reply. ‘Put your number in my phone and I’ll message you so you have mine.’
He takes my phone and enters his details. Finally I get someone’s digits.
‘Any sign of the rest of the group?’ I ask, checking around.
‘I saw Brian and Evelyn a while ago,’ Cameron replies. ‘Haven’t seen Dieter or Mia. They’re probably having one last marathon on deck three.’
‘Shame,’ I reply. ‘I’d have liked to say goodbye.’
‘They’ll absolutely be on Facebook,’ he states. ‘Guaranteed. I’ll be adding them later.’
‘And Ellis?’ Lucas asks.
‘Not sure,’ I reply. ‘He’ll be around somewhere.’
My coach to the airport is announced and I give them both a hug. Making my way out, I have one last look for Ellis but to no avail. It doesn’t matter anyway, we’ve already said our goodbyes.
Chapter 51
‘Ladies and gentlemen, flight 158 to Liverpool is now boarding at gate six. Please have your boarding passes ready for inspection.’
I don’t see Ellis at the airport either. He travelled independently, unlike me who’s now on her way to Liverpool, with a train journey back to London to look forward to.
I get into my window seat and check my phone before airplane mode is activated, and we all lose contact with the outside world for a whole three hours. I’m greeted by a black screen. The battery must have gone flat. I rummage around in my bag, hoping that my plug-in portable charger still has some juice. It powers up to a barrage of message notifications.
OMG. Tell me everything!
I’m waiting. Hurry up.
Missed call.
Sophie, do not leave me hanging.
3 missed calls.
WTF? Bitch, where are you?
