Page 67 of Be More Octopus

He looked disappointed. 'That's a shame. If you're sure?' That cheeky grin again.

'Yes, I'm sure.' In her head, her dad's voice was saying 'Don't settle for second best', and Karl was definitely second best.

'If you change your mind, I'll be home from 10 pm.' He gave her one last smile as he walked back to his car.

Em waved him off and closed the door.

Lucy was eagerly waiting in the kitchen. 'What was all that about?'

'I'm not sure.' If it hadn't been for the earring mistake, she would have taken Karl up on his offer. 'But it's confirmed that I'm a rubbish judge of character.'

Lucy had been over-ambitious, thinking they could cope with a morning yoga session after a heavy night's drinking.

Lucy kept up reasonably well, Em had a decent stab at it, but the yoga teacher called it a day after half an hour when she encouraged them to do child's pose, and they all fell about laughing at Lydia's farts.

The pampering session after lunch went better. Lucy had booked three therapists so they could all take turns having a facial, a massage and a manicure.

Em was last on the list for the massage. Having someone work on all the knots and tension in her shoulders and neck was so soothing. Em felt her body relax into the couch.

'Who's Jack?' Ivanna, the massage therapist, asked as she wiped the massage oil from her hands.

'Sorry?' Em said, confused. Why was this woman asking about Jack?

'You said his name while I was massaging you. I think you were asleep, yes?'

Not again. How embarrassing. So much for not thinking about Jack. Em's subconscious clearly couldn't let him go. 'He's just a friend.'

'A very close friend, I think.' Ivanna gave her a knowing look as she passed Em her robe. 'He's good at massage, no?'

'I've no idea.'

'But you are hoping he is.'

'Possibly,' Em got off the massage couch.

'I hope you and Jack are very happy together,' said Ivanna as Em left the room.

Lucy was sitting on the sofa in the living room. 'What was that about you and Jack?'

'What do you mean?' Em sat down next to her.

'I heard Ivanna say she hoped you and Jack would be very happy together.'

'I nodded off during the massage, and apparently, I was talking to Jack in my sleep.'

Lucy shook her head. 'What are we going to do with you?'

'I don't know. I just hope that by the time I get back to Devon, he's decided to see sense about Isabella because it seems I'm incapable of forgetting about him.'

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

The rest of the weekend passed without any major incidents. The meal at the restaurant was good. They all had a great time dancing at the club till the small hours of the morning. The basket weaving was far more fun than it sounded. And their Sunday lunch was as delicious as the TripAdvisor reviews for the pub had promised. But as they packed their luggage back into the minibus, Em started to think about Jack again.

‘Are you with us?’ Lucy asked. ‘You seem miles away.’

‘Sorry. I’m trying to work out what could have made Jack go back to Isabella.’

‘Don't waste any more energy on him. He's moved on. I know it’s hard, but you're going to have to forget about him.’