‘Yeah, and likeyou,’ I replied, teasing Dad.
And that interaction, and the laughter that followed, brought me back to the way things used to be, if only for now.
9
The next morning, I woke with sunlight streaming through the paper-thin curtains. I jumped out of bed and walked straight to the mirror. Here, I looked tanned. My white skin had a slight golden glow, and already there were new freckles on my nose. I’d washed my hair the night before and now it was an explosion of blonde curls that just about reached my jawline. I stared at the sparkling stud in my nose. It didn’t look right here. Not without all my usual make-up. Maybe it never looked right. I took it out.
I checked my phone to see if Priya, Ari or Theo had replied. But there was nothing. So I left it on my bed, knowing that if I took it with me, I’d be checking it all day.
Everyone was still asleep. So I decided to go for a walk. My mind drifted back to Felix and the thought of our date later on. I’d noticed that so many of my thoughts brought me back to him. Like my brain was giving itself a soft landing after torturing itself with things from home. So, naturally, when I went outside, into the warm morning air, I found myself at the Brasserie.
It was busy already, with families getting breakfast andsingle people at tables sipping miniature cups of coffee. I slowed down and looked for Felix. But I didn’t have to look too hard. There he was, cleaning a table in his white shirt and black trousers. The shirt was rolled up at the elbows and I just watched him for a second. My stomach fluttered when the image of him kissing my hand yesterday filled my head.
‘Margot!’ he called when he saw me, his face all lit up. He pushed his hair back, as if he was trying to get a better look at me as he walked over.
‘Salut,’ I said.
‘Salut.’ Felix leaned over and kissed me gently on each cheek, lingering on the second one. I breathed him in. It was that smell again – lavender, vanilla, but with something deep and rich underneath that made me want to bury my head in his neck. But I resisted. ‘You have come for breakfast?’ he asked.
And I hesitated, because I couldn’t explain why I’d come. I’d gone for a walk and ended up here. ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Everyone in my family is still asleep.’
‘It is their holiday,non?’ Felix smiled, then held up one finger. ‘One minute. Wait there.’ Felix ran towards the bar and disappeared behind it. He came jogging back to me holding a paper bag. ‘Un chausson aux pommes.It was the last one. I hope you like apples. And alsodes croissants, un pain au chocolat et un pain au raisin. But you should have thechausson.’ He handed me the bag and it was warm. The smell of pastry, sugar and sweet apple escaped from the paper, and I closed my eyes and breathed it in.
‘It smells amazing. Thank you. And I’ll see you later? What time?’ I asked.
‘I will be finished around seven if you want to meet me here?’ he asked. I looked behind him to see Yves staring in our direction. I leaned in to kiss Felix on both cheeks before I left.
Rue and Wren were waiting for me outside when I got back.
‘Margot! Are you excited to come surfing with us?’ Wren asked with a big smile on her face.
‘Of course.’
I wasn’t. I was worried about that surf guy. I wondered how he would cope with Rue and her balance issues. He’d seemed great with those other kids we saw, but I don’t think any of them had a disability. A visible one anyway.
‘What’s that?’ Rue poked the bag I was holding.
‘None of your business.’ I snatched it away from her.
‘It smells so good!’
I took thechausson aux pommesout of the paper bag and held it to my nose, breathing it in again before taking a huge bite. ‘Oh my God, it’s so good.’ Pieces of pastry flew out of my mouth and Rue’s face was a picture.
‘Give me a bit.’
I handed them the bag and they dived into it like vultures.
‘It won’t be long before your lesson. Make sure you’re ready in thirty minutes,’ I said.
Mum was drinking coffee inside when I went in.
‘I’ve been very lazy today, Margot. I’m only just up!’ Mum smiled sheepishly.
‘Sure, it’s a holiday, isn’t it?’ I repeated Felix’s words and smiled at Mum, before sitting down beside her.
‘Are you having fun, love? I know this isn’t the kind of holiday you want to go on at your age. Your dad knows that too. And I know you have your boyfriend at home, but it’s just that we miss you and we’d like to spend time with you –’
‘Mum,’ I said, cutting her off. ‘Iamhaving a good time. I think. Sort of. And I might be going on a date tonight.’ A smile appeared automatically when I said it.
