Their grins are etched across their faces in permanent marker as Noah helps her out of the boat.
‘You must be Amorie!’ she says, arm linked gleefully around Noah’s. ‘Noah was telling me all about you and your articles!’
I stiffen at the mention of my column, something I am yet to share with Hendrik, but thankfully he doesn’t seem to be listening. He’s taken the new company as an excuse to flick through his phone and catch up with his clients, who he proudly declared he ‘gives full access to, even outside of hours’.
‘Yeah, that’s me,’ I say, smiling. ‘And you’re Adriana? Love your top!’
She’s wearing a basic black cropped cami, but over it sits a purple loose knit, with a dipped hem and big flared sleeves. She’s paired it with some straight-leg jeans and some Converse, both not far from my own but with so much more flair.
‘Thank you! I actually crocheted it myself.’ She tugs at the sleeve bashfully, shrinking into herself, but Noah looks towards her proudly. I just know he made a big deal out of it the second she told him on their date. I’m sure she loved every minute of it.
‘That was fun, right?’ Noah asks, head flicking back towards us.
I glance over to Hendrik, who feels my eyes and shoves his phone back in his pocket.
‘Very. Amorie got the hang of it by the end,’ he replies, before grinning down at me.
I don’t feel much of a spark as our eyes meet, but I do feel general comfort off the back of his quasi-compliment. I reach for his arm, linking us together and squeezing tightly into him, mirroring the pair standing opposite us. He follows willingly, squeezing my side in return, one more smile passing between us before we look back out at our company.
‘How’d you two find it?’ I ask.
‘Oh, I was awful!’ Adriana says, the two of them erupting into a fit of giggles. ‘Noah did all the work; I am eternally grateful.’
He shrugs, poorly feigning humility. ‘Well, what can I say?’
‘Noah said you two are here for only two more days?’ she asks me.
‘Yeah, a quick stop here and then off to Berlin,’ I say.
She’s polite and bubbly, and so excited to be here. From what I’ve seen the last week, it seems to be the Noah effect. His unwavering positivity is so nauseatingly contagious that even I got a case of it the first night we met.
‘That’s not enough time.’ She pouts. There’s still somehow a smile in it. ‘You’ll barely see the place! You’ve got to soak in the culture and the neighbouring towns!’
‘Speaking of culture...’ Noah says, giving her a playful nudge in the ribs.
‘Ah, yes,’ she says, indulging in their private joke. ‘It’s still early, so Noah and I were going to visit a coffee shop and unwind. Do you two want to come?’
I’ve only done weed once. I ate a brownie Paige made, because I wanted to prove that I could keep up with her friends. I ended up lying on the floor in the middle of her sleepover convinced I was having a heart attack. She said it was because it was my firsttime and I ate it too quickly, when I should have taken it bit by bit. It was a brownie – of course I ate it in one go. If it was meant to be rationed, then it should not be that tasty.
I look up at Hendrik. He looks reserved.
‘You can go ahead, but I should probably call it a night. Got my first client at five. Plus, I don’t really go near the stuff,’ he says.
I feel myself untense immediately.Thank you, Hendrik, for the easy out.
‘I should head back too, but you two have fun!’ I say.
‘You can’t go alone this late.’ Noah turns back to his date. ‘Can we reschedule?’
‘No need. I’ll escort Amorie back,’ Hendrik says.
Noah and I both turn to him in shock.
‘I would love that,’ I say coolly.
‘Are you sure?’ Noah asks, scanning my face for any signs of distress.
‘Of course I am,’ I say, as reassuringly as I can. ‘Enjoy yourself.’
