This seemed like the most shocking piece of news that had ever been delivered to Zoë. ‘Never?’ she asked, eyes wide. ‘How come?’
He focused on her face as the engine roared to life. ‘I manage to stay busy enough – I don’t have much time off work.’
‘Oh,’ she said, nodding. ‘I totally get that. I feel like I’m constantly working, but since I’m in Brighton, the beach is close by. It’s a great backdrop for my peaceful yoga meditation videos.’
‘That sounds nice,’ he said, managing to keep a straight face as he glanced off the port side. ‘I’ll have to try one out sometime.’
Brian handed them a champagne bottle and glasses, gesturing for them to lie out on the bow.
‘Cheers,’ Oliver said, and Zoë smiled again as the cameraman stepped even closer to them to catch their glasses clinking. The situation was getting claustrophobic, but he took a deep breath and ploughed on: ‘I’m glad I got the chance to ask you on this date.’
‘Oh yeah?’ she asked, looking up at him through thick, dark lashes. ‘I was disappointed that we didn’t get to hang out more before Declan chose me.’
‘Exactly! I think we have great potential,’ he said. ‘I fancied you like mad as soon as I saw you in the villa that first day and I admire your work ethic as a fitness coach.’ He grinned at her, feeling like a complete idiot.
Zoë giggled. ‘You’re not so bad yourself. And I’m glad you acknowledge how difficult my career is. A lot of men undermine what I do, but managing a brand is difficult work.’
There was a beat of silence. ‘So, you also run a brand?’ Oliver asked finally.
She rolled her eyes. ‘Iam the brand.’
‘Right, so, you manage yourself?’ He’d meant it as a joke, but he could tell by Zoë’s flared nostrils that it hadn’t landed.
She pasted on a smile. ‘And I do it excellently. I just hit 250,000 followers on Instagram.’
Even Oliver knew that was a lot. ‘Wow, that’s impressive.’
When he didn’t continue to congratulate her, Zoë glanced to the side for direction. Brian took a step forwards – now fully wedged between them – and grabbed the bottle of champagne, pouring them fresh glasses and looking like he would rather drown himself in the bottle than continue to watch their date.
‘Zoë,’ Brian muttered, ‘you could ask Oliver about his job, his hobbies…’ He trailed off and gave her a pleading look before stepping back.
‘So,’ Zoë said, her voice suddenly lower and more flirtatious, ‘what’s a guy like you do in his free time?’
Oliver paused for too long and Brian facepalmed.
‘I, uh, volunteer as a dance instructor for kids who come from areas with fewer arts resources.’ It was the only hobby Oliver had ever had, but he hoped Zoë wouldn’t ask him anything about it. When he’d started, he and Sophie had been co-teachers.
‘Oh! That’s nice,’ she said, leaning in. ‘That’s actually one of the reasons I started my channel. Wellness shouldn’t be only for the rich. Having all my videos available online means anyone, anywhere can get fit if they want to.’
‘Right, it’s wonderful to see the kids connect with something that’s such a big part of me.’ She gave him such an unexpectedly earnest look that he continued, ‘I was one of them, once. My first ballet instructor’s encouragement is the only reason I have the career I do, and I want to be that source of support for them.’
‘You must like kids,’ Zoë said.
He nodded. ‘Love ’em.’
‘I have a younger sister,’ she said, her face lighting up. ‘She’s four years old, and she’s so much cooler than me already. Do you have siblings?’
‘Two older sisters and a younger brother. We’re not really close…’ he said hesitantly, not wanting to explain that he and his siblings had never had a thing in common, ‘but I love kids.’
She smiled. ‘Well, we agree there.’
‘All right,’ Brian said, startling them into remembering that he was still only a foot away. ‘We certainly gotsomethingthat can air on television, anyway. Let’s move on to B-roll.’
When Oliver and Zoë returned to the villa that evening, they found Niall and Stella cuddling on a daybed and Callum and Poppy having a splash-fight in the pool, with the rest of the contestants out of view.
Zoë turned to him. ‘Great date today,’ she said perkily. ‘I’m going to head inside. I usually do my daily affirmations around sunset.’
He wasn’t sure what a daily affirmation was, but he didn’t know if he cared to find out either. ‘Er… great. I’ll see you later?’
