Page 12 of The House Swap

‘Well, if you don’t mind,’ she said, still a little doubtful.

‘It will be perfect. You get the best of both. Time with me and time to yourself.’

It did sound good, Poppy had to admit.

She thought of the villa he’d shown her. Sun-warmed stone, the pool catching the light, and the quiet road leading down towards the coast. Compared to that, her flat suddenly felt very far away from where she wanted to be. Two weeks. And she would have sunshine, space and silence. Plus a luxurious escape that would cost her only the flight to and from Crete.

And finally, she would get to spend time with Tom.

Poppy leaned back in her chair, her heart beating a little faster now.

‘I’ll look at flights,’ she promised him, as they ended the call.

She put her phone down on the desk and stared around her flat – at the mismatched cushions, the bookshelf crammed full of books, many of which she still hadn’t read, and the view of neighbouring rooftops through the window.

For the first time in days, the idea of leaving didn’t feel like she would be running away. Instead, all she felt was relief.

6

Keira’s eyes widened as Poppy finished explaining her holiday plans, her wine glass paused halfway to her mouth. ‘You’re going to Crete to stay with Tom?’

Poppy blushed self-consciously. ‘I haven’t booked the flight yet.’

The two of them were sitting opposite each other in a small wine bar that they sometimes went to. It was a trendy but cosy place with fairy lights and mismatched furniture. Its mood ambient with soft jazz playing in the background.

‘Yet,’ Keira repeated slyly, a broad grin on her face as she set down her glass. ‘Because we both know you’re going to. Poppy. Bloody hell. This is huge.’

‘I know.’

‘How are you so calm?’ Keira continued, bubbling with excitement. ‘This is Tom. This is you flying to Crete to meet a man you’ve been talking to for ages, and you get to stay in that gorgeous villa of his.’

‘Oh, I’m not calm. I’m in shock.’

And if she was honest, Poppy still couldn’t quite believe it. She had almost chickened out of asking if she could go stay with Tom. Thank God, she hadn’t.

Keira reached across the table and squeezed her hand. ‘This is going to be so good for you. You need to get away from all the Simon rubbish. You’ve been driving yourself up the wall reading all those awful, spiteful comments. Tom will soon put the smile back on your face.’

Her comment made Poppy laugh. ‘I think you’re jumping the gun a bit there. We’re just friends.’

Keira smirked. ‘If you insist,’ she teased. ‘But remember, even if nothing happens, you still get a holiday out of it, which is more than you’ve had in ages.’

‘I guess so.’

‘Book the flight, Poppy. Have something nice to look forward to for once. And remember, I want daily updates.’ Keira raised her glass. ‘To Crete, then.’

Poppy picked up hers and clicked it gently against her friend’s.

‘To Crete,’ she agreed.

She really was going to do this.

7

FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER

After Poppy booked her flight on Tuesday morning, the rest of the week passed quickly, and her stomach churned with a mixture of excitement and nerves.

The call from Tom that came on Friday evening brought her swiftly back to earth with a sharp bump.