I don’t know why I find this funny but I do. “You’rejoking.”
“I wish I was.”
I sigh. “Well then. Enjoy travelling to Dubrovnik alone. Count me out.”
His eyes widen. “I’m not selling it very well. You also get great company?”
“Is someone else joining us?” He doesn’t even fight his smile this time, instead he stomps his feet and bursts out laughing.
“Buuuuuurn. Oh, you’re so mean. Stop it, or I might fall in love with you.”
“Shut. Up.Right, you candefinitelysleep in the hall.”
“No. I’m sorry. I take it back,” he says, straight-faced, swallowing another laugh. “I’m going to be good now, I promise. Shall we talk about something more sensible?”
“Maybe we could be silent?”
He takes another bite of pizza and chews quietly for about five seconds before saying, “Nah. I’m not adept at silence. Tell me why you’re cruising the Med all alone. That’s ballsy.”
I stare at the ceiling as a seed of betrayal grows more branches and punches me in the heart. “I just wanted to travel in style. I don’t get much time off work. Even whenI’m off, I’m not really. This time though, it was different. I logged out and told my boss I wouldn’t be checking in. Probably the first time since I started there that I’ve actually switched off.”
He eyes me. “What’s different this time?”Nope. Not answering that. I don’t need to get into personal details with this man. I change the conversation.
“What about you? You could probably afford to cruise anywhere, right? Why here? And why not your very own private yacht?” He pauses for a second and I wonder if he’s going to call me up on changing the conversation away from me.
“I’ve been to most places. I’m well-travelled but rarely for fun. I’m hoping this will be the first of many solo travelling experiences. I like seeing places in detail. The smaller moments, you know? The life of a place. Fascinates me how different cultures span cities, towns, even streets. I love all that. Hence why I have my camera. So, I can capture it.
“Plus, I didn’t grow up with money. I can’t bear the thought of taking a yacht all by myself, it’s too pompous. Boring too. I like being around people, I enjoy soaking in the buzz.” He smiles at me. “You know, you missed out the other night. Edith, that elderly lady, she was a hoot. Those experiences are exactly what I signed up for. Two weeks of being treated as a normal person, enjoying things as they come.”
I blanch – this conversation is leading tothatevening. “Yeah, that makes sense.” I look down at my hands. “You know, about the other night… I was feeling…” I don’t know how to finish that sentence.
“You don’t have to explain yourself. I get it. Trust me.”He quickly steers us back to the original question. I chew on my lips, trying to brush the moment away. “Anyway, the Med seemed like the easiest location to persuade them I could do this alone. It’s easy to come get me when I inevitably fuck up and need rescuing.”
“I don’t know why they didn’t trust you?” I mock.
He fights that grin. “Considering I’m so responsible and time-conscious?”
“And you’d never put your safety into the hands of strangers.”
He smirks. “Would I ever? You know what? I don’t care. I feel alive for the first time in a long time. And I’m settling in for a painfully uncomfortable night on a tiled floor.”
“I gave you a blanket,” I point out.
“Yep. Because you’re so kind and generous.”
I shrug. “It’s character building,” I say. And because I can’t help seeing him trying so hard not to smile, I add, “Which you clearly need.”
“Clearly, and on that note,” he says. “I probably should know more about you. Any characteristics I ought to know about? Any criminal records?”
I look away, licking my lips.
Gus nearly chokes on the pizza he’s chewing. “Oh my God,” he mumbles, eyes wide. “What did you do? Am I in danger?”
“No. It was just a D and D.”
“Dungeons and Dragons?”
I make a face.What is wrong with this guy?“No… what? Drunk and disorderly. I don’t like to talk about it.”
