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Just like Holly, Caroline was standing back from all the action, although it was difficult not to be intrigued. As such, Holly took just a small step closer, at which point she was close enough to see what was on the headbands. Tiny penises.
‘Time to get you properly dressed for a hen do.’
‘Zahida, there is no way I am wearing this.’ Jamie stepped back from her friends. ‘This is a classy stag and hen do. An adult trip.’
‘Yeah, right. You do remember how long we’ve known you, right?’
Nai – or Naomi as Holly knew her actual name to be – stood beside her friend and for a second, Holly thought she might be about to come to Jamie’s defence. But instead, she began clapping her hands and chanting.
‘Wear them. Wear them!’
‘Wear them! Wear them!’ The women had the chorus down to an absolute tee, which attracted the attention of several passers-by. Not to mention the small tourist police box positioned at the edge of the building.
‘Should we maybe move away from this area?’ Holly said, gesturing to the police officers nearby.
‘Why? Do you think there’s a law about wearing penises on your head?’
‘There probably is if they’re not plastic ones.’
Finally, Jamie snatched a headband and held it down by her side. ‘Fine. I shall wear it in the villa, in private.’
‘No. Where's the fun in that?’ Naomi stopped her chanting to speak. ‘How about this: if you wear them now, in the airport, then we won’t make you wear them out?’
Jamie’s lips disappeared into a straight line as she contemplated the deal.
‘Fine, I’ll wear them. But only if these guys do, too.’ She nodded to Holly and Caroline.
‘Please no,’ Holly whispered to herself as she momentarily closed her eyes, but from the grins on Naomi and Zahida’s face she knew that there was no escaping it.
‘Obviously. We bought plenty for everyone. Sandra, we got one for you too.’ And just like that, they reached into the bag and pulled out a handful. ‘We even got them for the boys.’
With all of Jamie’s side now present, all they were waiting for were Fin’s three college friends, who were due to get off their flight any minute. As they still needed to get through passport control, Evan suggested they move over to the café and take a seat while they wait.
‘Or you can go sit on the chairs over there, and I’ll grab us all a croissant,’ he offered. ‘Assuming nobody here is gluten intolerant?’
‘I’m tolerant of anything you want to give me,’ Naomi replied, her lips twitching.
Holly felt a pang of relief. If Naomi had her eyes on Evan, perhaps that would keep Caroline off her back about this whole holiday romance thing. Not that Evan could consider her cute any more. Not after the flight they’d just had.
As Holly watched Naomi scurry after Evan, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. A release of tension flooded through her; Evan had been right about it taking time to get some signal. That was a good thing. Assuming the message would be from Ben, perhaps with another photo of Hope, she opened it nervously. But instead, it was her mother.
How’s it going?
How was it going?
The embarrassment of being treated for a near concussion on a plane, vomiting endlessly, and now being made to wear penis-decorated headbands, while they waited to stay in what could well be the most shambolic accommodation anyone had ever stayed in. That was how things were going.
Holly looked at her mother’s message. She couldn’t say any of that. She replied with,
All going well.
‘Everything okay?’
The voice made her jump. When she turned around, Holly found Evan standing with his hands outstretched. ‘One croissant. I got you a lemonade too. It always used to make me feel better when I got travel sick.’
‘Thank you. That’s really kind.’
‘I’m a kind guy.’ His smile caused an unexpected fluttering to erupt within her.
