We all tittered and I wondered if she might be an interesting front for our campaign.
‘The salsa classes are in the ballroom, through those double doors,’ she said, pointing to the next section of the boat. ‘But let me take you downstairs and show you the activity pool where we’ll be doing aqua aerobics and water volleyball.’
We finished our drinks and followed her down the spiral staircase and out onto the deck. When she said whistle-stop, she meant it: I could barely keep up. The pool was already teeming with people, splashing about and enjoying the swim-up bar, which seemed like a recipe for disaster to me.
‘Are we OK to observe the aerobics? It’s not really my thing,’ Zach said.
Heidi jumped straight in. ‘Same here.’
Dahlia looked embarrassed at the question. ‘Sorry, guys, I’m under strict instructions to make sure you’re fully immersed, and Brooke wants you to take part.’
‘I’m happy with that,’ Leo said, with a winning smile. ‘Iloveactivities.’
‘Me too!’ I said, not to be outdone.
‘That’s er… great,’ Dahlia said, giving us a strange look.
This trip was going to be hell.
Six
Thursday 24th June
Heidi and I made it down to breakfast in record time. Neither of us wanted to spend a second longer than necessary in the bunk-bedroom, and we were up, showered and dressed in twenty minutes. I decided on my red trouser suit with the big sleeves, which I realised was a mistake almost the second we left the room. Heidi had already relaxed into holiday mode in a flowery halter-neck and oversized shades while I stood out like a sore thumb, literally, as neither cruiser nor crew. The dining room was mayhem, with an overflowing buffet full of every possible type of breakfast: fresh fruit, pancakes, waffles with bacon and syrup, cheeses and meats with an array of different crackers. So much food and so many people. Waiters buzzed from table to table, serving, clearing, pouring coffee and delivering freshly whipped eggs. I hoped we could at least enjoy our breakfast without bumping into the others, as I sidled over to the juice bar, but no such luck. Leo was already up and at ’em, and three ahead of me in the queue.
Heidi’s phone started bleating and she tutted loudly at the screen, then put on a big smile to answer. ‘Darling! How are you?’ she cooed, walking off.
‘I’ll take a kiwi refresher,’ the man in front of me said, as I hung back.
‘Coming right up. And for you, miss?’ The juice man was small and wiry, with a sharp nose and an oversized apron.
‘Orange and pineapple crush, please,’ I mouthed.
‘Sorry, can you speak up?’ the man called, causing Leo to turn.
His face lit up when he saw me and I couldn’t help but reflect his good vibes. He was still annoyingly handsome; there was no getting away from it.
‘The tropical crush,’ I stammered, giving him a professional nod and standing up straight.
‘Good morning,’ he said with a shiny smile, gesturing for the people behind him to go ahead. ‘Day one and all’s well, eh? How did you sleep?’
I didn’t want to have to speak to him, but two weeks in this situation was going to be impossible otherwise. I’d just keep it short. ‘Terrible,’ I said, rolling my shoulders. ‘I feel like I’ve slept in a drawer. You seem bright and breezy, though.’
‘As breezy as a crisp packet blowing in the wind.’ Leo laughed, then yawned, looking like a dishevelled little boy. ‘Sorry. I’m shattered. The last time I bagsied top bunk was twenty years ago at cub camp, and I was only four foot tall. I just about fit in the bloody thing. Zach gave up in the end and slept on the floor.’
I relaxed a little at his honesty. Maybe he wasn’t trying to catch me out. ‘It was pretty bad, wasn’t it? The ceiling wasan inch from my face. I was scared to go to sleep in case I sat up in the night and knocked myself out.’
‘There must be somewhere else we can sleep,’ Leo said. ‘I’ll try Brooke again later.’
‘We could all pile in with her,’ I said, sassily. ‘The presidential suite is plenty big enough for all five of us and being able to sleep would be far more conducive to thinking up pitch ideas.’
‘Your crush?’ the barman said, pointedly.
‘No?’ I looked at him confused, then at Leo, who cracked up, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He was obviously a morning person. ‘Oh, right. Thanks.’ I took my juice feeling like a right idiot.
‘Shall we sit together and exchange ideas?’ Leo teased.
‘Sorry, no can do. Heidi wants to catch up privately,’ I said, piling my plate with croissants and jam while Leo opted for fruit.Ugh. Ahealthymorning person at that. He was too much. We carried our trays to the coffee station and then over to the seating area, where I scanned every table for Heidi. Where the hell had she gone?
