‘Tagomago, it’s privately owned but that white building that you can see is a lighthouse.’ He’s talking architecture so I’m interested.
‘Cool. Did you know that every lighthouse has its own distinctive flash pattern? It helps ships to identify their location at night, like a nautical light fingerprint,’ I tell him.
He looks at me and smiles.
‘I’m big on trivia and buildings,’ I explain.
‘Are you the sort of person I want on my team in a pub quiz?’ he asks.
‘Of course,’ I say. It’s my superpower. I am Useless Trivia Woman. I rest against an olive tree in the clearing, grateful for the shade and a chance to not be attempting to run.
‘Well, there are lots of cool beaches, lighthouses and old churches we can visit if that’s your thing. Miguel knows the island much better than me. I can ask him,’ Ben replies.
‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘I’d like that.’
He pauses for a moment before looking at me; his face is still covered in a thin veil of perspiration. ‘I’m sorry about last night. I feel I overstepped the mark. I said too much. I’ve no doubt that you’re excellent at your job.’
I don’t reply. I think it’s because I’m stunned that his apology is so open and sincere.
‘But please do promise me that you’ll try and get some proper rest on this break too,’ he says.
I nod, still silent.
‘Is there anything I can do to help? Any favourite foods I can cook?’ he asks.
‘Melon. I like melon,’ I say a bit randomly.
‘Melon, old buildings…go on,’ he says, smiling.
‘I don’t really know what I’d like to do. I’d like to watch a film from start to finish. Get off my phone. I liked being in the pool yesterday. I liked putting my head under the water and…’ I pausefor a moment but I’ve already embarrassed myself enough this morning to worry about sounding stupid, ‘…pretending I was a dolphin.’
He smirks in reply.
Disclosures like this may be why I’m still single. ‘Please don’t think I’m weird,’ I plead.
‘Quite the opposite really. I usually pretend I’m a shark. Sometimes I put my hand on the top of my head and pretend it’s a fin,’ he tells me. ‘I guess that makes Miguel a killer whale then…’
I pause to let his humour land. ‘Free Willy? That’s a terrible joke…’
‘But you got it, no one normally gets my jokes,’ Ben says before going quiet. ‘Well, I have a checklist now. Just know you’re safe here. Let me look after you.’
There’s a way he says those words in a deep whisper which makes me freeze for a moment and sends an unearthly sensation down my spine.I believe him. I believe the intention, and clouds of doubt are starting to move away. My cells are responding to those words, in that tone, that cadence.LET HIM LOOK AFTER YOU, CHLOE! God, girl – let this man in. But like that? That also goes against holiday rules, no?I’m also fairly certain he’s gay. But there’s a way he edges towards me, slowly, while my back is still against this tree. We’re in the outdoors.Are we going to kiss?
‘Don’t move. No sudden movements,’ he says.
Why would I move suddenly? Why are his eyes so big? Is it the heat or because we’re near a cliff?But it’s then I hear the hissing.Oh my fuckety fuck. There’s a snake behind me. I might wet myself.Don’t scream. I thought that was a branch moving in the breeze. But I don’t stick around to find out, I’m all about the sudden movements. I push Ben out of the way, do a strange jumping dance and run back to the villa. I’ve seen thatAttenborough clip, snakes are fast. I hope I can escape it. I hope Ben can keep up too.
12
BEN
There aren’t any poisonous snakes in Ibiza. Snakes are taking over the ecosystem but there’s more of a problem in the sea with jellyfish and the occasional shark sighting. I was only worried because the snake was wrapped around a branch very close to Chloe’s hair so I wanted to limit the potential shock of her seeing it. But instead, she reacted in the most dramatic way possible. She did a strange ritualistic dance and ran for her life. I’ve never seen anyone run like that. There was windmill-style action in her arms like she was swimming through air, and she made a yodelling sound that really echoed through the trees.
I was left standing there, astonished. The snake stayed still, possibly in a state of shock. Maybe she was running to get help? Or maybe she was running away from me? Again. But I stood there for a moment, laughing. The girl has depths, intelligence; she’s on the funny side of mad but she’s also undeniably attractive in a glowing, natural way. And she clearly doesn’t realise it herself.
No, Ben. We don’t think of the guests in that way, I remind myself.We don’t but that doesn’t mean I can’t find her the best melon on the island.
‘¿Cuánto cuesta esto?’ I say, now perusing the fruit stall at the market.
