Page 10 of The One That Got Away

I was here at The Love Hotel in Spain.

This was really happening.

5

STELLA

‘Ready to go?’ Mum asked as I zipped up my suitcase.

‘Think so. I’ve got my passport, ticket, phone…’

‘I almost forgot!’ Mum rushed into her workshop, then returned to the hallway clutching a gift bag. ‘I got you a fewextras…’

‘Thanks!’ I smiled. I’d almost made my peace with Mum about forcing me on this trip. It clearly meant a lot to her, so I’d agreed to go. Reluctantly.

I’d changed my perspective about the whole thing. Whilst Mum thought I was going to find the love of my life, I’d decided to see it as a holiday. After all, it wasn’t like I was being shipped off to hell for two weeks. I was going to an all-inclusive luxury resort near sunny Marbella. I’d always wanted to visit Spain and now I had the chance.

The hotel was right by the beach and there was a gorgeous pool, so I’d be able to sit in the sun and relax. My Kindle was stacked with a load of eBooks and I’d bought a couple of new paperbacks, so I could finally make a dent in my TBR list. Maybe the trip wouldn’t be so bad after all.

‘Oh my God!’ I gasped as I unwrapped the tissue paper from the first gift in the bag. Mum had given me a whole set of thongs with different messages including: ‘Touch Me’, ‘Kiss Me’ and ‘Call Me Baby’.

‘What?’ she smirked. ‘If this was one of your steamy romance novels, it’d have something racier like “Spank Me!”’

She wasn’t wrong.

‘Thank you,’ I said, deciding it was easier to accept the gesture.

‘I got you some condoms as well!’ she beamed as I groaned inwardly.Reason number two hundred and one not to move back home with your mum as an adult. ‘There’s so much variety these days so I wasn’t sure what to choose. I got some fruity ones, ribbed ones and a jumbo-sized three pack too. Just in case he’s hung like a horse. Or is it a donkey? I forget the saying now!’

I shook my head, speechless. Did I really say Ididn’twant to go on this holiday? The sooner I got out of here, the better.

Thankfully the flight went smoothly and I was now in a fancy chauffeur-driven car the hotel had arranged, minutes away from arriving at the resort.

My heart raced and a million questions flooded my brain as the reality of what was happening hit me.

In just a few hours I’d be meeting a man. Going on a date, for the first time in what felt like thirteen years rather than just thirteen months.

Once it was clear that I couldn’t back out of the holiday, I’d decided that if I had to go, I’d be more comfortable if I was prepared.

So I’d gone to the salon and been waxed within an inch ofmy life, had a new haircut and even had a mani-pedi. Something I hadn’t done since, well, probably never.

And I’d got a gorgeous new bikini and a few summery dresses. If I was going to meet the supposed love of my life, I had to be prepared.

I’ll admit. I was a teeny bit excited. I’d spent the last two weeks reading every review and case study for The Love Hotel that I could find online and they had a fantastic reputation.

The magazine articles had featured the impossibly good-looking couples that had found success there. But there were also more average-looking people like me who’d found partners too.

It was weird to think that after years of wondering if I’d ever find love again, now I had a real chance of discovering that needle in a haystack: a man that I wouldn’t otherwise have found if I hadn’t been put in touch with a team of dating and relationship experts.

Plus, my match would’ve been vetted. So there wouldn’t be any horrible surprises like the last guy I dated who conveniently ‘forgot’ to tell me he was married until our fourth date. Apparently his wife was aware he was on the apps and they’d both agreed bringing a third person into their marriage would help to ‘spice it up’. I politely declined.

There was no guarantee that The Lovel Hotel’s professional matchmaking skills could prevent me from meeting a man who would break my heart beyond repair like my first love did years ago. But if I was going to try this whole relationship thing again, maybe this was a good way to dip my toe back in the dating waters.

Mum was right. This was a big opportunity. So many people dreamed of securing a place at this hotel and here I was on myway to spend two weeks there. I was basically Charlie Bucket with a golden ticket to enter Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

As the driver pulled up outside the resort, my jaw dropped.

Wow.

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