‘Didn’t fancy the full traveller experience, then?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘A cheap and cheerful hostel. Sharing a dorm with ten other people?’
‘God, no.’
The image of her depressing room appeared before Olivia’s eyes. Maybe a hostel would have been preferable.
‘Which hotel are you in?’
‘It’s not far from the centre. You probably won’t know it.’
‘Try me.’
‘Really?’ She was exasperated enough as it was, without indulging in his silly game.
‘Yeah.’
‘Fine, it’s called the Evergreen.’
‘You’re joking?’ He winced.
‘Why would I joke about that?’
‘Because that place is a shithole.’
‘Great. Say what you really think, why don’t you?’ Olivia snapped.
‘Sorry, but it’s the truth. Come on, you have to admit it’s a dump.’
Olivia could feel her sense of inadequacy rearing its ugly head again.
‘OK, I’ll admit it’s not the height of luxury, but how was I supposed to know that? I used a travel guide, and it came up as one of their recommendations.’
‘A travel guide that was probably written about twenty years ago by someone who came to India once, for about two days. Things change around here by the minute. Sometimes it’s better to turn up somewhere and feel out an area before booking anything,’ he replied casually, his blasé attitude grating on Olivia’s already wearing patience.
‘And that’s your expert advice, is it? Just turn up somewhere and “feel it out”,’ she scoffed, adopting a terrible impersonation of his cool nonchalance.
He steered them around another corner.
‘Yeah, it is. It’s always better to get to know a place through experience.’ He raised his sunglasses and fixed his eyes on to hers. They were so dark, like pools of liquid liquorice. Olivia felt unnerved looking straight into them. ‘Nice impression of me, by the way. Although I like to think I soundslightlyless arrogant than that.’
Olivia’s cheeks coloured with embarrassment.
‘But in all seriousness, I wouldn’t leave the hotel after dark, if I were you. You’re not staying in the best part of town.’
‘Thank you. Any other pearls of wisdom you’d like to bestow on this clearly inadequate traveller?’
‘Erm …’ He tapped his chin. ‘Always look where you’re going when running down the street. Stops you banging into people and hurting yourself.’
Olivia felt her blood boil under her already overheated skin.
‘Come on, I’m only messing around.’
‘Well, I’m not in the mood for jokes right now. I’m tired and hot and I want my phone sorted so I can get back to my shithole hotel, call my best friend who I haven’t spoken to since I landed, clean up my open wounds, which are probably already a bacterial breeding ground, and not be judged by some random stranger who keeps taking the piss out of me.’
‘Wow.’ Jacob stopped and held his hands out in apology. ‘Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to annoy you.’
