“Because apart from us, he’s the only person on this island who actually believes I’m not your wife.”
Astheyenteredthevillage hall, Dan was aware that even more curious gazes were on him and Libby.
Or rather, just on Libby.
She looked beautiful in that yellow dress, the same dress she’d worn to dinner with his mother and Malek.This time, she had flowers in her pink and purple streaky hair, tucked behind her right ear.She’d also pinned a small bunch with pink petals at the side of her generous cleavage.
“Where did Henry go?”she asked.Her glittery eyelashes caught the low light as she licked her ripe-berry-red lips.She was in full content creator makeup tonight.“I thought he was right behind us.”
“He, um…had to go and help out in the kitchen,” Dan told her.Or that’s what he thought the colonel mumbled after Dan had glared at him, having caught the old guy helping himself to another eyeful of Libby’s breasts.Not that Dan could blame the colonel’s wandering gaze.Dan had been having trouble all week keeping his eyes off Libby.Even though they were friends—and working together—he could still admire her great figure from afar.Especially as it was made more beautiful by her sunny personality.
“Good evening, Mr.and Mrs.Jones,” a mock-solemn voice said behind them.It was Christopher Mac, who—by the sounds of it—was being extra annoying tonight.“I will show you to your table.Please, follow me.”
“Thank you, kind sir,” Libby said with a giggle, and Dan pulled a face, which amused her even more.
As they walked to their table, they greeted some of the islanders they’d met during their stay on Atiu.There was Father Piri and the woman who ran one of the shops by the harbor.Then Andrea—their hostel manager—who, despite the island’s size, they hadn’t seen since she’d collected them from the airport ten days ago.She was collecting them again tomorrow morning for their flight back.
Leaving Atiu twinged something in Dan’s chest.
He’d begun to find himself again here, on the smallest piece of land he’d ever stepped foot on.When he’d first arrived, he’d been shrouded in those thick, dark, suffocating clouds.Now, he was shedding the dead skin of that physically and emotionally exhausted man he’d been.He hadn’t quite left him behind, but he was getting there.
“We are here,” Christopher Mac said with a flourish of his hands to indicate the corner of a very long table.“This is where you’ll be sitting.”
“Thanks.”But Dan didn’t trust that toothy grin, nor the cheeky glint in the kid’s eyes.
Before he could grill the child about what he was up to, Rellina, Christopher Mac’s younger sister or cousin—Dan couldn’t remember which—came over to them.She loved to play with Karim and took him by the hand to join some other kids about the same age.Libby followed them, hovering close to her son like she always did, while she chatted to some of the other parents.
When it was time to eat, they took their seats where Christopher Mac had shown them, only to find that the whole gang had taken all the seats next to them.
“Haven’t you kids got to be in bed or something?”Dan huffed.
Libby cracked up.“I think it’s sweet how they follow you.You’re their hero.”Then she gave him a narrow-eyed look, like she’d just discovered a secret.“You’re gonna miss them, aren’t you?”
“No,” Dan scoffed.“I’d be glad to see the back of them.”
But he’d already written his email address out on a scrap of paper, ready to give to Christopher Mac in the morning, along with a couple of T-shirts the boy and one of his male cousins had said they’d liked when Dan had worn them.They’d grow into them one day.
Dinner was served soon after they were seated.Heaped plates of grilled pork, taro, and rukau, just like the colonel had said, were passed along the tables.Karim sat on Libby’s lap throughout the meal, nibbling this and that from her plate as he took in his surroundings.With all the children around him, Dan felt like a giant at a kids’ tea party.They were all talking over each other as they ate, just like at his own family gatherings at Mum’s house, with Femi and Gabi, his brothers-in-law, and all their children.Auntie Zeezee, too.
A pang for those times took him by surprise.Even before the accident, he’d missed so many get-togethers.Training and personal appearances took up most of his time, and so did being engaged to Isabella.He’d wanted to spend time with her, of course—he’d been in love with her—but how much of that time had they really spent alone?Photographers had always followed them, thanks to tip-offs from Issy and her publicity team.Walks by the beach, weekends away in Paris, shopping in London.They were all photo opportunities.It hadn’t bothered him that much at the time because he’d respected it was part of Issy’s work, but with some distance from all thatBritain’s Favorite Couplebullshit, his vision had cleared and exhaustion no longer clouded his judgement—nor his heart and soul.
Spending this past week reflecting on his life had made him realize a few things.Top of the list?Isabella hadn’tstoppedloving him, because she was never really in love with him in the first place.She’d tried her best.He could see that now.But even with the pressure of the whole nation oohing and ahhing over their seemingly perfect pairing, she hadn’t succeeded.That’s why there’d been a gap in her heart when she’d met Hunter, a gap big enough to let the other man in.
A beat of the drums yanked Dan back to the present.It was time for the performance.Like his empty plate, he pushed all thoughts about Isabella to the side and shuffled his chair closer to Libby’s.Karim immediately climbed onto his lap.Libby got her phone out to record.She’d already asked Father Piri, and all on stage, for permission and had promised to send them a copy of the footage.
More drums rolled.
On stage, about twenty girls and women of all ages filed out.They all wore flower crowns, blue T-shirts, and straw skirts with what looked like cycling shorts underneath.They were charmingly real and unique.Much like Libby, even with her sparkly eyelashes and red lips.He smiled at her.
“Aren’t they gorgeous?”she said.“How do they even shake their hips that fast?”
Dan dragged his gaze away from Libby’s mouth.On stage, straw skirts rustled as dancers shimmied their hips to the frantic beat of the drums.A handful of men walked on.Big guys with shoulders like boulders who didn’t look anywhere near as nimble as the women.But Dan’s perceptions were wrong.These guys moved with purpose and a steady, flowing beat.
“Wasn’t that so cool?”Libby said when the performance had finished.
The music still played, and people were gathering on the dance floor.
“It’s our turn now,” the kids cried, scrambling out of their seats.
