‘You can always sneak over when Zach starts snoring. I’ve got the whole room to myself.’
‘Thewhole room, eh?’
‘All two metres squared.’
‘Sharing a child-size bunk bed with you instead of Zach, you say? Now there’s a proposition.’
I giggled at the thought of us wedged in a single bed together. There wouldn’t be much sleep happening in that tiny space either. ‘It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’ I said, from under my lashes.
‘Then how can I say no?’ he whispered, sending a shiver down my spine.
Twenty-five
Monday 5th July
My stomach was a cocktail of last-day-of-school excitement and end-of-holiday blues. I’d been awake and full of butterflies for what felt like hours; not least because I had a big, sexy man in my bed (good butterflies) who I’d crossed the business-pleasure boundary with once again (bad butterflies). My cardinal work rule had been broken for the fourth time in a week.Ooops. At least there was only one day of professionalism left to navigate before I could hide away and think about what I’d done. Leo looked so cute with his head on my chest, snoring gently. I had a horrible feeling it was well into breakfast time, but I didn’t want to risk waking him up to lean over and check my phone. Just a few more minutes of snuggling and then I’d get up.
An alarm started screeching and made us both jump, then Leo lay back down.
‘Is that mine?’ he mumbled, as it carried on.
‘Either that or there’s a fire. Quick! Zach will hear it through the walls!’
He barely moved, reaching one hand under the pillow to turn the alarm off. ‘I didn’t think it could get any tighter than a bunk bed under Zach – yet here I am now sharing one with you.’ Leo pulled me in tight and one of the mattress springs popped.
I giggled. ‘It’s a lesson in gratitude.’
‘Yep. You don’t know what you’ve got until you’ve only got half of it.’
We unravelled ourselves and wriggled out from under the bed, standing and stretching at the same time. Leo could almost get his elbows on the ceiling as he swayed, opening his eyes fully and accepting the inevitable – morning was upon us.
I couldn’t resist kissing his bare chest. ‘You can rest when you’re home.’
‘True. Sleep was never promised. I’ll be back in my own bed tomorrow night. My soft, comfy double bed with two pillows. I’ll be a physical wreck if I stay here much longer.’ He stretched again and checked his watch. ‘Shit! It’s nearly ten!’
‘Is it?’ OK, that was later than I’d thought.
‘Zach and I have got a call – I better run. See you later for our final “test” – whatever it might be.’
He hopped into his jeans and threw his T-shirt on, hitting his head on the doorframe as he left, and the room felt instantly colder without his sunny energy. I flicked on the radio to fill the void and Spanish guitar music played an appropriate lament while I got ready for our last day on the ocean. I hated goodbyes and this was potentially thebeginning of a goodbye relay –Esmeralda, the crew, Brooke, the Excalibur account, my job, life as I knew it… and Leo.
***
Dahlia was stood on stage dressed as a chicken when I arrived on deck, scrutinising the tables of guests in front of her and scribbling on a clipboard. Her expression was so serious and her costume so ridiculous, I wasn’t sure if she was in the middle of an arthouse performance. I tiptoed over to where Brooke was sitting with Leo and Zach so as not to disturb, and Dahlia picked up her microphone as soon as she saw me.
‘OK! That’s everyone here,’ she called, with a grin. ‘Welcome one and all. It’s our last day together here on theEsmeralda, so let’s make it a good one, shall we?’
Everyone cheered as I slid in between Brooke and Zach.
‘Mornin’ Kat,’ Brooke said.
‘Late again,’ Zachjoked. I gave him a filthy look and he laughed.
‘Am I?’
‘Only a touch, honey,’ Brooke said with a smile. ‘These boys get up when the birds start tweetin’.’
I nodded over at the chicken. ‘What’s going on?’
