Page 106 of The Love Position

It’s okay. We can just stay in the hospital. It’s safe here.

As if on cue, there was a loud bang from outside and a section of clapboard flew past the doors.

Focusing on her breathing, she thought of Isaac’s house in the sunshine, the leaves rustling gently overhead. Her tummy fluttered with excitement.

My future home! With my new boyfriend!

The situation still felt so unreal, but she was going to lean into it. She wasn’t the naïve eighteen-year-old falling in love with her professor anymore. She was nearly thirty and now knew enough about the world to make better choices.

Her phone pinged with a message.

Estelle: Just checking in to make sure you haven’t turned into a lentil. How’s the knee?

Sophia hadn’t told her family and friends the full extent of the accident, nor that she’d been to the hospital for it. And she certainly hadn’t shared that Isaac was on the island or what had happened between them.

Sophia: Ommmmmmmmmmm…

Estelle: PMSL. Please, for the love of GOD, when you first see your brother, can you wear orange robes? He’s already worried you’ve joined some kind of cult

Estelle: It would be fucking hilarious if you did that. Please? For me?

Sophia: I thought you were in love with him?

Estelle: Yeah, totally, but he needs to be kept on his toes, and messing with him is top drawer entertainment

Estelle: Oh! And shave your head!

Sophia: What? No way!

Estelle: Fair enough, that’s probably a step too far

Sophia: You think?

Estelle: Lolololololol

Estelle: So, two weeks left. Have you achieved enlightenment yet? Done a headstand? Started dreaming of cheeseburgers with crispy bacon?

Sophia: 100% the burger part. We only eat twice a day and I’m almost always hungry

Estelle: Whaaaaat???? You didn’t tell me that! Holy shit! Should we meet you at the airport with a bacon sandwich?

Sophia had already planned with Isaac for them to travel back to Foxbrooke together. Should she tell Estelle he was here? Lay the groundwork for a revelation none of them would expect?

Sophia: I’m okay. I’ve got transport booked to get me home. And we’re allowed one day off a week. I left the island the last time and had a mixed grill…

Estelle: Amazing. Will you now be reincarnated as a slug in your next life?

Sophia: Lol. We’ll see

A door opened off the main reception area, and Isaac appeared.

Sophia: Got to go xxx

Estelle: Good luck. And if you can’t find any orange robes, I’ll see if I can nick any from Mammy. She’s bound to have that kind of thing lying around XXX

Sophia pocketed her phone as Isaac approached. ‘Any luck?’

He gave her a relieved smile. ‘I rang Benjamin. His cousin’s neighbour runs a small guesthouse and has one room left. He’s going to pick us up in the next half hour.’

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