I went to Nice and all I got was...
. . .a warm welcome
It takes three different trains and seven painful hours to get me all the way from Verona to the centre of Nice. Then another hour to journey up into the mountains to find El’s parents’ villa. The longer I have to myself, the more my big brave decision feels like a desperate, masochistic act. By the time I’m buzzed through El’s gates and directed towards her garden, there’s a lump in my throat so big I fear I won’t be able to speak. But as I turn the corner, I see a set of familiar hazel eyes spot me before I even take a step. He leaps from the pool, not stopping to bother with a towel, and bounds across the stone tiles into my arms.
‘There you are!’ Noah embraces me tightly.
This is the longest we’ve been apart since the moment we met, and I thought I was the only one that felt the distance. But as he squeezes me closer, dampening my clothes, I can tell he felt it too. This is the hug of someone who doesn’t want to let go. I take a big gulp as he pulls back from it, arms still holding mine.
‘Love the new hair,’ he says.
I run my hand through my braids, a dark brown that blends into gold, all the way from my scalp to where they stop at my hip bone.
‘Thanks, Paige did them,’ I say.
‘Well, pass on my praise!’
‘Are you angling for brownie points?’ I ask.
He winks. ‘Always.’
‘Amorie!’ El calls, running over to join us. ‘We’ve missed you! Honestly, it’s not been the same. He’s great and all, but everyone knows that you and I are the real romance.’
Bold words coming from someone I’ve never been one-on-one with, but I giggle in time with her nonetheless.
‘Let’s get you settled. Give us a moment?’ She turns towards Noah, shooing him away.
He leaves instantly and I hold my breath. My stomach sours with every step he takes into the distance.
‘So how was Verona?’ she asks coolly.
‘Beautiful, and so great to see my sisters,’ I reply.
It’s easy, it’s friendly, it’s absolutely fine. El’s not the enemy.No one’sthe enemy. I just need to get over this.
‘Any hot dates?’ she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.
I try to smile back. It’s meek at best. ‘Took a break actually.’
She nods, none the wiser. ‘I get it. Dating’s exhausting. I’m so glad I found Noah.’
I bite my tongue and try to ignore the fact that she ‘found Noah’ while in the midst of a long-term relationship. If I speak, I’ll be the villain, despite it being a fact. So, I’ll just have to let my tongue bleed out a little.
‘Have you eaten?’ she continues.
I shake my head.
‘Sam’s still by the grill; we can put in a request.’
‘Sam from Berlin, Sam?’
Her eyes grow wide. ‘Oh, yeah! I forgot you two had a thing... What happened with that anyway? He never said.’
I shuffle uncomfortably, trying to think of an appropriately dull response. El may be everyone’s friendly fav, but she doesn’t strike me as someone that can keep a secret. Unless, of course, that secret involves kissing a man who is not her boyfriend... But that’s none of my business.
I settle with a shrug. ‘Nothing much.’
She’s visibly disappointed. ‘Right. Well, I can go ask him for your food if you’re uncomfortable?’
