‘Very childish.’ He shakes his head, dishevelled.
‘Me? You’re the one who started to run.’
‘No, you started it,’ he huffs, rearranging his glasses. ‘That smug little wave?’
‘I was not smug!’ Well, not much. Okay, maybe a bit, but there’s no way I’m admitting that.
We are saved from descending into yet more squabbling by the arrival of Cody, who turn up at the gate in their own chauffeur-driven luggage buggy. I hastily mop my brow, regretting the mad dash here, while Callum mutters under his breath. I can’t quite hear what he says but it sounds a lot like the F-word and a very undignified part of me is thrilled that he’s rattled.
‘Clio, Brody,’ he beams, recovering himself just in time tospread his arms wide and welcome our clients. Which, actually, should be my job.
‘Clio, Brody,’ I echo, spreading my own arms wide. I shoot him a look which tells him that this is still my gig, he’s just here for the ride. ‘Amazing to see you both.’
Clio is clapping, delighted. She’s wearing cargo pants, a vest and a loose-fitting shirt over the top, and Brody is in matching cargo pants with a plain tee. They have heavily modelled themselves on the Posh and Becks aesthetic of the early Noughties and their fans lap it up.
‘I can’t believe it’s happening. Wait …’ She pauses, eyeing up Callum and me. ‘Did you two match on purpose? Because ohmygod how cute, you know how much I love to harmonize with this one.’
Clio places a manicured hand on Brody’s chest.
I’m too busy processing the idea that Callum and I could ever be ‘too cute’ to think of an answer.
‘Nina is always texting me with outfit options,’ jokes Callum. ‘She loves it.’
‘Ha ha, yes, I love it,’ I say, my smile hardening when I meet his gaze. ‘Besides, poor Callum does need all the help he can get.’
‘Adorable.’ Clio nods approvingly. ‘I do the same for Brody. I just lay out a fit for you on the bed every morning, don’t I, babe?’
We all turn to Brody.
‘Whatever you want, babe,’ he says placidly. ‘Makes sense to keep your partner happy, right, Cal?’
Callum looks briefly startled before he rearranges his features back to affable.
‘So, are you …’ Clio trails off, looking between the two of us.
The penny drops. Bloody hell, she thinks we’re together because we’re wearing matching clothes.
Imagine! Or rather, don’t.
I scoff so hard I end up having a coughing fit.
‘Ah, no. Just colleagues,’ Callum replies smoothly, giving me a pat on the back.
‘We’re going to have so much fun. I was so pleased when I heard you were coming too, Cal,’ says Clio.
The self-satisfied look he gives me! That alone is enough to stop my coughing fit.
‘Yes,’ I beam, eyes snagging on the world’s most annoying colleague. ‘So much fun!’
Callum smiles right back at me.
‘It’s going to be awesome,’ he says. This is classic Callum. To Cody, he’s a charming addition to the trip. To me, I can see right through that professional veneer. His smile might be wide but his teeth are gritted when he meets my gaze and he’s shooting daggers directly at me.
I begin to plot his demise.
THREE
There is no 31B. Repeat, THERE IS NO 31B. Appalled, I stare at the set oftwoseats in front of me in disbelief. One 31C and one 31A.
