Although I didn’t get to bed until five in the morning yesterday, I made sure I woke up to have breakfast with Halle.I’d ordered some waffles and pancakes from the Love Hotel’s restaurant to be delivered to our villa.
After devouring breakfast, we’d gone for a walk on the beach, before relaxing by the pool at our villa.Then whilst she did the nails for a guest who’d seen Sammie’s nails and asked if Halle could do the same design on hers, I’d liaised with Sammie to set up my final date with Halle tonight.
Yep.Today was Friday: our last full day at the hotel.
My stomach sank.I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Halle.She meant too much to me.
But we’d agreed that it was only temporary, so I couldn’t go back on my word.I really wanted to, but it wouldn’t be fair to Halle.
Yeah, I’d written these songs, but I still had to find a way to record, distribute and market them and that would be intense and time-consuming.Halle deserved someone who could give her all the attention in the world and who lived in the same state as her.And that wasn’t me.
That was why I had to make sure tonight’s date was something she’d remember forever, for all the right reasons.What I was planning was ambitious, but thankfully Sammie said her partner Romeo and a French Love Alchemist guy I hadn’t met, called Claude, had the skills I needed to pull everything off.I hoped she was right.
My cell buzzed and my jaw tensed.This morning was the first time I’d turned it on it two days.
On Wednesday, Wilma had called again, demanding that I reveal Halle’s identity immediately.I refused.She called back and I told her no again.But when she called a third time, I switched it off.
The only reason I’d switched it on again was because Halle had another request to do a guest’s nails and she didn’t know when she’d be back so said she’d call to update me and the phone in the villa wasn’t working properly.
I was so damn proud of Halle.She was killing it with all the nails she’d done.Just like I knew she would.
When the first guest request came in, she was gonna turn it down because she said we were on holiday and she wanted to spend the time with me, but I reminded her that this was her future and I wanted her to succeed.
Plus, I might’ve offered to congratulate her with my tongue if she accepted the job… That incentive seemed to work.And whilst she was gone, I wrote another song, so it worked out well for both of us.
We worked well together.Everything felt so… effortless.There was no drama, we just connected on every level.
My cell stopped ringing, then started again.I’d gotten so distracted thinking about Halle that I’d forgotten to even look at it.
It was Wilma.
Fuck it.I’d be leaving the hotel tomorrow, so I’d call her back once I’d left.I wasn’t gonna let her ruin my mood or my last day here with Halle.
I switched off the phone.Halle would try and call but hopefully when she couldn’t get through, she’d just come back to the villa.
About an hour later, the villa door opened.
‘Hey!’ Halle waved, then walked out to the garden.‘You’re here!I was trying to call you.’
‘Yeah, sorry.’ I got up to kiss her.‘My cell was on but Wilma called again, so I switched it off.’
‘She still hassling you about posting a proper photo of me?’
‘Yep.’
‘Maybe I could…’
‘No,’ I said firmly.‘You’ve already done enough.It’s fine.We’ll be leaving tomorrow, so…’
My words lingered in the air and our eyes locked.I wondered if she was dreading saying goodbye forever as much as I was.
‘How’d it go with your customer?’ I changed the subject.
‘Amazing!’ Halle beamed.‘She was so happy and asked if I’d have time to do her girlfriend’s nails too for their final date tonight too.They’re the cutest couple.Apparently, they hit it off straightaway and put a label on their relationship by day two.I wouldn’t be surprised if they got engaged tonight!’
‘Wow.’
‘She said,when you know, you know…’ Halle held my gaze.‘Anyway, I said I couldn’t because I had my own match to spend time with.’
