Page 63 of It's All Sun and Games

Playing the part of Andrea’s fiancée is starting to trick my mind, and my body, into thinking that is all real, when it’s anything but.

I just need to suck it up, to keep my eye on the prize, and to remember why I’m here.

I can’t go getting distracted now.

27

Another day, another supposedly fun activity planned by Rick. I know, I’m getting paid to be here, and I’m technically on holiday, but the forced fun is getting old now.

So, what is today’s escapade? Well, at first Rick described it as a boat ride, which didn’t sound too bad. I thought we might leisurely float along the coast, catching some rays, taking in the views, sipping Prosecco. Why did I think that, though? Because this is Rick.

‘It’s a boat ride with a twist,’ he announces, smiling widely, like some kind of sadist. ‘Shall we play a game?’

Okay, he’s giving off too much Saw energy for my liking. This can’t be good.

We’re all standing here, on the beach, in our swimwear, waiting to find out our fate. Andrea is holding my hand, which weirdly makes me feel better, even if it is just for show. As his thumb rests lightly on mine, he rubs it slightly. I can feel the calm transferring from him to me.

‘What’s the twist?’ Liz asks – even she is narrowing her eyes at him but, whatever it is, I’m sure she’ll do it to continue to suck up to him.

‘I’ve hired a boat to pull you all along, on a huge inflatable banana,’ he says, and for some reason he’s smiling in a way that suggests he thinks we’ll be grateful.

‘That sounds… dangerous,’ I dare to say.

‘It’s not dangerous if you’re careful,’ he replies simply.

Well, yeah, I guess that’s true of anything.

‘Everyone, come on, listen up, I need to explain the rules,’ Rick presses on. ‘I want you guys to get into pairs and, that way, you won’t be just responsible for yourself, you’ll be responsible for your partner too. The team who stays on the banana for the longest will be our winners.’

‘What if only one person falls off?’ James asks as he stretches lightly, limbering himself up.

‘Oh, if one of you falls in, the other will shortly follow,’ Rick informs us. ‘You will be tethered together in your teams.’

‘Sounds fun,’ James replies.

Sounds awful, more like.

‘All right, first up it’s me and Julie versus Henry and whoever he’s teamed up with.’ He grins at Julie, who returns the smile nervously. ‘Let’s show them how it’s done, Jules!’

‘I want James on my team,’ Henry says quickly.

‘Erm, no, that’s not fair,’ Cait chimes in. ‘Because you’re both blokes, and Robin will have Andrea, which just leaves me and Liz. We should do mixed teams.’

‘Okay, fine, you can be on my team, seeing as though you think I’m so great,’ Henry says with a laugh.

‘I was thinking more James,’ she replies with a shrug. ‘But sure.’

Rick waves off her comment.

‘All right, let’s get this show on the road,’ Rick says impatiently. ‘We’ll go first, and then the boat will swing back for you guys.’

Rick and Julie and Henry and Cait head to the boat and carefully clamber onto the big inflatable banana, leaving the rest of us to watch from the shore.

They’re all screaming excitedly as the boat begins moving. But as the speedboat picks up, well, speed, it’s only a few seconds before Rick falls off, dragging poor Julie into the sea with him.

‘Maybe we should mix up the teams,’ James suggests. ‘Robin, how about you team up with me? And Andrea can go with Liz. You guys are always together. This might be more fun.’

Liz looks truly devastated that James doesn’t want to be on a team with her, so she channels all her energy into her competitive nature.

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