“Then, let's go,” she says and she's moving – fast - finishing her drink with a hefty swig, gathering up her belongings and standing. I move a little slower, so I have to jog a little to catch up with her as she charges out of the bar, through the lobby and onto the path to the villas, with only a few coy looks back at me behind her. I take in the way her light blue denim dress floats out around her legs, and how she's maybe a little bit more tanned than this morning, and I wonder again about those freckles and where they are to be found on her body. I stop briefly to check the time on my phone, and to see if Maeve has reported any blowback from my parents but there are no messages.
“There you are!” I hear a voice and I know it's for one of us. Luckily for me, it's an English accent.
“Oh, hey,” Jenna says, and up on the path ahead of me, I watch her turn to face her brother who emerges from the walkway to someone’s villa.
“Going back to your villa?”
“Yes, I-”
“Did you not get the champers I sent Lionel to give you while I sorted out this absolute ball-ache of a guest? Claimed his pillows weren’t fluffy enough. I literally had to come and plump them up myself. I can’t believe Marty O’Martin didn’t show up. That slippery Irish cockle.” Jake puts his hands on his hips, no clue I'm about to walk into his line of vision.
“Hi, Jake!” I say with a broad smile on my face.
“Oh!” Jake startles. “Oh, hi!”
“Pretty sure ‘Irish cockle’ is offensive, but I'll forgive you,” I say.
“We're just...” Jenna begins but then looks at me with pure mischief, “... going to have dinner.”
“Oh. Should I make a reservation for you somewhere? In the resort or down in the village?” Jake pulls a phone out of his pocket.
Jenna straightens her shoulders. “Actually, that was a complete lie. Marty's coming back to my villa.”
“Oh,” he says again, the hand holding his phone falls to his side. “Yeah, I don't think I can help much with that.”
Jenna smiles and I laugh under my breath.
“Hopefully I've got this one covered,” I say and put my hand on the small of Jenna's back. Her shudder prompts me to curl my fingers and apply more pressure.
The heavy second of silence between us that follows is interrupted by Jenna smothering a giggle with a cough.
“Yes, well, enjoy,” her brother says and he's looking beyond us now, his professional smile and smooth forehead back in place. “Have a nice evening.”
“Oh, that we will, that we will.” I practically sing.
“Okay! Enough. That is my sister!” Jake launches forward with a finger pointed at Jenna who is still trying to hold her giggles in, possibly not helped by the fact my hand is now flat against her backside, my fingertips digging into her flesh.
I hold my other hand up in surrender to Jake. “I apologise. I'm just being my cheeky Irish cockle self.”
“Did you just emphasise the ‘cock’ in cockle?” Jake squints at me then shakes his hands to dismiss us, addressing Jenna as if I'm not there. “I cannot with this one. Good luck, be safe and for God’s sake, don't put bubble bath in the jacuzzi.”
Then he turns on his heels and heads back to the reception.
“Love you, Jakey! Enjoy your champagne with Lionel!” Jenna calls out to him, and before waiting to see his response, she’s off, her body moving away from my hand so quickly that I have to rush again to catch up with her.
Chapter Sixteen
Jenna
“Well, that wasn't awkward at all,” Marty says, stepping up to walk beside me as I climb the hill to my villa. The light is that dreamy shade of silver-grey that somehow opens up the sky in a more mysterious, ethereal way than the blue of the day.
I don't reply, but I do pick up my pace.
“He cares about you,” Marty adds.
I nod, but I'm not sure he sees.
“And I was just having a bit of fun with him. You know, it's what I do when I'm in an awkward moment. I make it more awkward. I crack bad jokes. I try to make everybody laugh but I forget that most people don't have my effed-up sense of humour.”
