Page 65 of Hook, Line and Single

‘I can’t believe it,’ I murmur as we pass through security and walk up the airbridge. ‘We’ve made it.’

‘Yup. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to have a long shower and then head up to the pool for a well-earned drink.’

‘I think I’ll join you. For the drink, I mean. Not the shower, obviously.’

‘Obviously,’ he agrees, looking at me quizzically. ‘Are you all right, Ruby?’

‘Yes, fine. Just, umm, overcome by finally being back on board. See you shortly.’

I turn and flee in the direction of my cabin, blushing furiously. The idea of sharing a shower with Cameron was way more attractive than it had any right to be. I need to get this situation under control, and fast.

23

‘Oh, thank God. You made it!’ Before I even have a chance to put down my drink, Sam has sprinted over to my sun lounger and enveloped me in a massive hug. ‘I’ve been so worried,’ she murmurs into my hair, holding me so tightly it’s actually a bit of a struggle to breathe.

‘Relax,’ I tell her with a smile. ‘We’re absolutely fine.’

‘I’ve been such a terrible friend,’ she continues, ignoring me. ‘I dragged you onto this cruise, then abandoned you before leaving you to fend for yourself in a foreign country. I’m so, so sorry, Ruby. How can I make it up to you?’

I gently detach myself so I can look her in the eyes. She does look genuinely contrite and, for a moment, I’m tempted to milk the situation a little, but I can’t do that to her.

‘I wasn’t left to fend for myself,’ I tell her gently. ‘Cameron was there. And, although I wouldn’t have chosen things to turn out the way they did, we have had quite an adventure.’

‘Of course he was.’ Sam turns to Cameron, looking at him as if he’s some kind of comic book hero. ‘Thank you so much for looking after Ruby, Cameron.’

Cameron smiles. ‘We looked after each other,’ he says diplomatically.

‘That isn’t strictly true,’ I correct him. ‘It was Cameron who got the chief of police on side in Barcelona, and he’s taken care of all the arrangements since, some of which were more surprising than others.’ I smile at him and he grins back. He knows exactly what I’m talking about, and I’m enjoying the connection between us.

‘Hey, guys, great to see you back!’ The American accent is familiar, and I look up to see Brad and Gail coming over from the bar. ‘You gave us all quite the fright. Barry will be particularly pleased to see you. I don’t think he’s ever lost a couple before, and he hasn’t really known what to do with himself.’

‘Barry’s going to have to wait in line,’ Sam tells him. ‘Cameron, is it OK if I borrow Ruby for a while?’

‘Umm, I don’t think you need my permission, Sam. It’s up to Ruby.’

I’m torn. On one hand, I’d quite like to stay here with Cameron, who’s frankly been a much better friend to me on this cruise than Sam has. I’m sure Brad and Gail are going to want a blow-by-blow account as well, and part of me feels it would be a lot easier if we stuck together during this phase, so we can limit the number of times we have to tell the story. On the other hand, I can tell I’m not going to get any peace until I’ve given Sam what she wants.

‘Will you be OK?’ I ask Cameron.

‘I’ll be fine,’ he says with a laugh. ‘Go.’

Sam doesn’t need telling twice and practically drags me to my cabin, closing the door firmly behind us.

‘Start from the beginning and don’t leave out a single detail,’ she commands.

She listens open mouthed as I tell her about my phone being stolen and Cameron using his police ID to jump the queue at the police station.

‘Don’t you think that’s a little suss?’ she asks when I explain how Alejandro got my phone back. ‘I mean, if this guy is in the habit of stealing from tourists, he should be in jail, shouldn’t he? Sounds like this Alejandro guy is in cahoots.’

‘I don’t think so,’ I tell her. ‘What’s in it for him, for starters? He seemed genuinely concerned for the welfare of the boy and his mother. Anyway, he couldn’t do enough for us, even insisting we stayed the night with him and his family.’

Sam looks horrified. ‘I’m sorry. You’ve only known this guy for five minutes and youstayed the nightwith him? He could have been a kidnapper!’

‘Again, unlikely. One, he was the chief of police?—’

‘That could have been a fake. I’m still not ruling out him being in cahoots with the phone thieves.’

‘Hard to pull off, given that we literally met him in his office, in the police station, and all the other people there seemed to know who he was. And two, before you interrupted, what would he gain by kidnapping us? We’re hardly ransom material.’

---