Ozzy wipes away the happy tear that escapes his eye.
‘Give over, you’re making me fill up,’ he tells us. ‘I get it, I get it, I’m amazing. I’m just glad this didn’t happen on camera.’
‘We’ve taken a mental picture,’ Honey teases him.
Tomorrow’s going to be hard. Maybe even dangerous. But right now? Right now, it feels like we could do anything, as long as we do it together – as cringe as it sounds.
I can’t resist resting my head on Lockie’s shoulder. I just feel so comfortable – which is ironic, given how uncomfortable this island is.
‘Okay, okay, if Ozzy’s getting a speech, we’re all getting one,’ Honey declares.
Tony groans.
‘Oh, God.’
‘Go on, Honey, we’d love to hear it,’ Lockie encourages her.
Honey shifts on her seat and tucks her hair behind her ears.
‘Right,’ she starts, suddenly shy, ‘before all this, I thought the biggest thing I’d ever do was… I dunno, bag myself a job on breakfast telly, or be the ditzy one on a panel show. But I haven’t been scared here. Not really. ’Cause I knew you lot wouldn’t let anything happen to me. And I’ve done things I never thought I could – but I’ve also found out that the best thing for me is to be myself. That people will like me for me.’
‘We love you, Honey,’ I call out, like I’m a diehard fan at a footie match.
‘Well, I didn’t think I’d last a day,’ Camilla says, taking to her feet. ‘I thought I’d be useless. Or worse – I’d die.’
To be fair, that is worse.
‘I know I can be…’ She pauses. ‘A lot.’
‘You’re a lot of wonderful,’ Tony tells her. ‘An absolute diamond.’
Camilla blows him a kiss.
‘You’ve all put up with me. And I’ve – weirdly – enjoyed roughing it with you on this island. This is roughing it, right?’ she checks, not wanting to be offensive.
‘It is,’ Ozzy reassures her.
‘Phew,’ she replies.
‘My turn next,’ Tony announces. ‘I’ve never gone this long without a mirror. Or decent clothes. Or just the essentials like moisturiser.’ We laugh, but he’s serious beneath it. ‘But I think… I think I needed it. It turns out people don’t actually hate me when I’m not trying so hard. And I kinda like not worrying about whether my eyebrows are doing that weird thing – you’ve all been too polite to point it out.’
I don’t think any of us has a clue what weird eyebrow thing he’s referring to, but that’s being self-conscious, isn’t it? You worry about things that other people don’t even clock.
‘Your eyebrows look banging, mate,’ Lockie tells him.
Tony smiles.
‘I’ll worry about my pores when I’m back home, but here – who cares?’ he adds.
‘I’ll drink to that,’ Ozzy tells him. ‘And to being your island daddy. Honestly, it’s been an honour. You say I’ve taken care of you – it’s been my pleasure. And you’ve been a joy to take care of.’
Suddenly all eyes are on me, like I’m the only one who hasn’t been yet. I got in on Lockie’s – does that not count? I guess not.
‘Your turn,’ Camilla prompts me. ‘Don’t think you’re getting out of it.’
I open my mouth, then close it again. What can I say that hasn’t been said already?
‘I suppose…’ I start slowly, staring at my emotional support coconut. ‘I didn’t think I’d cope this well. Or at all. I’ve never been… brave.’ I laugh softly. ‘Not like this. I thought I’d crumble. And if I could have boarded the first plane home, I probably would have.’
