Page 43 of The Love Position

‘Yup. That’s part of the good news. It’s patchy, but I managed to get online and ring my mom to let her know I was here. The shop is crazy expensive. Trail bars are five dollars each! As soon as we can get off the island, we can go to Tortula and stock up with snacks as there is no way I’m gonna last with only two vegetarian meals a day.’

‘Why don’t they eat eggs?’

‘I dunno, some yoga thing? Anyhoo, I’ve checked everything out and even though it’s almost sunset, I’ll take you on a tour after dinner. But wanna know the best news of all?’

‘Am I guessing it involves hot men?’

Jessica snorted with laughter, and two people walking sedately in front of them turned their heads and frowned.

‘It sure does…’ Jessica lowered her voice. ‘I don’t know how many are spoken for or swing the lady way, but ma hoo-hah has been yelling yee-ha if you know what I mean…’

Sophia clapped her hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. Jessica reminded her so much of Estelle, and even though she didn’t share both women’s confidence, she felt very comfortable in their company.

Circling the hilly and rocky centre of the island, they reached the kitchens. In front of the buildings was an open space with wooden tables and benches. The scent of fragrant food filled the air, almost completely covering the sulphurous smell of sargassum coming from the beach beyond.

The place was packed with people and Sophia moved closer to Jessica, her social anxiety kicking in.

‘You okay?’

Sophia shook her head. ‘I’m not great with large groups of people, and people I don’t know.’

Jessica took her arm. ‘You okay with me?’

She nodded.

‘Alrighty then. I’ll stick by your side until you get tired of me, and I’ll give you fair warning if I sneak off to bone a dude.’

Sophia gazed at the crowds whilst waiting with Jessica in line for food. There were lots of people dressed in white trousers and different shades of orange t-shirts, and some were dressed head-to-toe in orange robes. She spotted a group of younger women in tight Lycra outfits and wondered if any of them were her roommates.

She also noticed plenty of good-looking men. Most weren’t wearing white or orange and were obviously checking some of the women out. When their eyes came to her, she looked away. She wasn’t interested. Having a casual hook-up wasn’t her style, nor an effective way of erasing Marcus from her mind.

After filling her plate with food, Sophia followed Jessica to a small picnic bench near the beach.

‘Did you see all the hot guys?’

Sophia nodded. ‘And they’re either single, or have the same level of fidelity as Mohan and my ex.’

Jessica laughed. ‘So true. I think I’m gonna ask them straight up if they’re unattached. It’s skeezy to go for someone with a girlfriend.’ She leaned forward. ‘But I tell you something, these dudes ain’t nothing compared to a guy I saw earlier. He’s not here now, but I tell you, one sight of him and I was sweating like a whore in church.’

Sophia choked on her mouthful and grabbed a glass of water.

‘I think he might be one of the staff. He was rocking the whole baggy white pants look.’

‘More handsome than Mohan?’

‘This guy shares the same gene pool as a Brazilian supermodel.’

Sounds like Isaac…

The thought made Sophia’s heart skip a beat, and she glanced around the dining area.

‘I told you, he’s not here. All the important people eat in a private area over there, but you can’t see all of it from here. Hey, you okay? Not feeling sick again from the sargassum smell? I picked here to sit because I thought you might like to be away from everyone else, but it is a bit stinky.’

‘I’m fine. Just jet-lagged, I think. What time is the Satsang thing we have to go to?’

‘Not until eight.’

Sophia slumped in her seat and let out a sigh. ‘I’d much rather be in bed.’

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