Page 48 of The Forbidden Fling

“Mentiroso.” An alarm buzzed on Carla’s watch, and she switched it off. “Bruno, precisamos de ir agora. Come on!” She turned back to Faye and tapped her nose. “I can pick you up. It’ll be fun.”

“Maybe.” Faye didn’t know anything about poker, but she was still trying to say yes to things.

Bruno appeared, giving Faye a nod with his balding head.

“Maravilha. See you later, Dog’s Bollocks!” And then they were gone, the bell jingling behind them and a new course of energy swirling around Faye.

Though Dog’s Bollocks wasn’t a nickname she’d ever intended acquiring, somehow, she didn’t mind.

In fact, she needed to start living up to the nickname. As she continued watching the door, the chatter of Riley and Catarina in the background, her mind started to clear. She knew what she wanted, what she needed. She wasn’t going to sit back and let the world pass her by. She’d done her fair share of that already.

The situation with Molly and Diana wasn’t ideal, no. But what journey is plain sailing? She couldn’t stay on the dock for fear of rocking the boat.

Faye had to get on board and be her own captain.

Chapter Fifteen

Faye

The next day, the air blanketed them, thick and humid, as they trekked through the forest. Riley and Ella led the group through the lush vegetation, while Faye and Quin lingered at the back. Chitters and chirps rang out from the trees above, birds flying overhead from canopy to canopy. It would’ve been paradise for Faye if Diana hadn’t been avoiding her all day.

Faye’s confidence from psyching herself up in the mirror dwindled with every step. She repeated Carla’s words to herself—“You’re the dog’s bollocks”—but even that started to lose its effect.

She’d already dealt with tricky situations on the island; what was one more? But she knew deep down that she liked Diana more than she cared to admit. This couldn’t end yet. Not like this.

The sight of Diana walking at the head of the group with Molly made Faye frown again. She needed to talk to her, and for that she needed to get her alone. But how?

Quin bumped her shoulder, pulling the navy baseball cap further on their head, their black coils bursting out in every direction. “So, when are you going to spill the beans on Mrs Robinson?”

Faye shushed them, though she knew Diana couldn’t hear. “There’s nothing to spill—and please stop calling her that.”

“You do know I have a sixth sense for sexual chemistry? I was blessed by the gay gods. That’s why my hair is so curly.”

“You’re full of it.” She looked down at the soft mulch underfoot and adjusted the backpack on her shoulders. Ahead, the river they’d been following curled around the corner out of sight. The waterfall must be close; that made her even more nervous.

Quin shook their head, putting extra bounce in their step. “Nuh-uh. That’s how I know something’s up with Blondie over there, too. You guys having a three-way?”

“Quin!”

The older couple in front of them, Henrietta and Marvin, turned their heads. Faye offered a weird half-wave, and they spun back around, whispering something to each other.

She gave Quin a stern look. “You’re gonna be starting rumours in a minute.”

“Is it a rumour if it’s true?”

“It’s not true.” She grimaced. “That’s just…gross.”

“Don’t knock it ’til you try it.”

Her voice had a bite to it. “They’re mother and daughter.”

“Oh.” Quin’s smile slipped for a moment, then they shrugged. “Fair enough, then.”

Large ferns and blue hydrangeas popped up beside the path, adding a burst of colour to the endless green. Faye brushed the leaves with her fingers but couldn’t shake the feel of Quin’s gaze on her.

“What?” she asked. They raised their black eyebrows, and she sighed. “Fine. But it’s a bit of a weird one.”

Quin grinned. “That’s what I was hoping.”