I shook my head again. “He was just honest. He’s only ever been honest.”
“Has he been in touch today?”
“No. I thought he might.”
“Men work on a different time frame to us. I wouldn’t read too much into it.”
“He suggested I went with you to London.”
“And that upset you because?”
“Because I felt like he was trying to get me away from him.”
Lala shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe he’s just not a possessive jerk.”
I rubbed my tears away. “I wanted him to want to spend more time with me. Now I feel so fucking stupid and immature.”
“You’re neither. You’re just in love with a man.”
“Who doesn’t love me back.”
She laughed, sounding just like Livi. “No, how can anyone not love you back? He just doesn’t know it yet.”
“He might never know it.”
“Yeah, he might. Let’s grab that OJ and go find Gav. I want some gossip on this band he’s obsessing over.”
I followed her back outside, trying to push Tommy out of my thoughts and be in the now with my family.
I did hearfrom Tommy the following day, just after Gav and Lala had left to go to the airport. It was a brief message, to the point and clear.
I miss you. Would like it if you came over. Not just a booty call.
I didn’t respond at first, not knowing what to say and also wanting to make him wait. I wasn’t sure if waiting would have any effect, but it made me feel as if I had a little more control.
I headed over toCòctelsjust after two. Livi was hell bent on being the perfect pseudo mum with Daisy, taking her shopping and then for dinner. She’d invited me, but I hadn’t been tempted. Daisy had been pissed off with me since we’d gone for brunch and I’d said no to mimosas. Somehow I’d become the bad big sister. Alfie was hanging out with some footballer’s son who’d come for a holiday on the island who he knew from school, so I was relieved from any babysitting duties.
The bar was busy outside, a few faces that I recognised, but most were new. Today had been a change-over day in the hotels; the holidaymakers from the last week or two departing, being replaced by more, paler faces. In another week we’d hit peak season; the island would be at its busiest.
I went inside the bar and sat down at one of the tables, waiting for Tommy. I’d only just returned the text, saying I was around Santa Gertrudis and I’d pop in to see him. For all I knew, he could be elsewhere on the island.
He wasn’t. Five minutes after I got there, his tall, broad body appeared at my table, dark eyes gleaming.
He sat down opposite. “I was a jerk. I’m sorry.”
“How long did it take you to compose that apology?”
“About three minutes after you’d left.”
I gave a small nod. “I know this has an end date. I was upset you didn’t want to make the most of the time I was here, and you’d suggested I go with Lala.”
“I know. I didn’t want you to go. I just thought it might be best with everything with your mum and Lawrie.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. Lawrie hasn’t been around for over a week.” I toyed with the cocktail menu.
“He’s on the island.”
“Oh. That’s weird.”
