‘I’m fine, just work.’ She bites down on her bottom lip to contain her smile as she types a quick reply.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hell no
I can’t believe you came up with that masterpiece so quickly. Maybe this ideadoeshave legs after all …
How did your meeting go with her today, by the way? It was your first information-gathering interview, wasn’t it?
The reply comes in quickly.
It was … interesting. When E eventually turned up. She was 45 minutes late. Then there was lots of chat about her celebrity ‘friends’ that we probably won’t be able to include for libel reasons.
But I’ve worked with plenty of Esmereldas. It will be fine! R xx
Tilly’s thumbs dart across the phone’s screen.
I’m sorry she kept you waiting. I’m actually going to be away for ten days now but do message Sade if there are any problems.
*
I hope you’re going somewhere nice. No one deserves a holiday more than you. R xxx
‘OK, time’s up!’ Harper says, plucking Tilly’s phone from her hand. ‘The holiday officially startsnow. No more work. Onlyfun.’
‘OK, OK, no more work.’ Tilly sets her out of office notice and makes a show of putting her phone away in her bag.
It hits her how lucky she is to be here, on her way to a beach resort thanks to Joe. He wanted her to relax on this trip and she owes it to him to try her hardest to make that happen.Only fun, Harper said. Maybe for this trip at least, Tilly can stop being Harper’s boring, grieving big sister and actually let her hair down.
‘Do you think we’ve got time for one more cocktail?’
Harper grins in reply. ‘Definitely.’ She goes to stand but Tilly waves her back into her chair.
‘No, I’ll get these. Same again?’
When she returns to the table a few moments later Harper is typing rapidly on her phone, a slight frown on her face.
‘Everything OK?’ Tilly asks as she puts the drinks down on the table.
‘Just texting Raj to let him know we’re nearly setting off.’
‘Is he all right? I haven’t seen him for a while.’
There’s a moment’s pause before Harper replies. ‘He’s fine.’ Her eyes flick to the information screen. ‘Our gate is up! Come on, let’s go!’ She necks her drink in one gulp, placing the empty glass firmly on the table and grabbing her backpack, neck pillow and eye mask swinging.
‘Coming, Tils?’
Tilly takes a breath and lifts her own cocktail to her mouth, tipping her head back in a swift motion. Her throat burns and she fights back a cough, heat spreading to her stomach. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she puts down the empty glass. She adjusts the brim of her obnoxiously large hat, trying to imagine what Joe would say.
You’ve got this, Mouse. Now go have an amazing time.
‘Bali, here we come.’
12
The beach bar hums with life, groups laughing and chatting over the background sounds of chilled music and waves crashing down on the shore. Paper lanterns swing in a gentle breeze from the straw roof of the bar and fire pits glow on the beach, groups gathered around them on colourful beanbags. Streaked across the horizon are the last shades of lilac and rose-gold from the evening’s sunset.
