Page 51 of An Island in the Sun

‘Yeah, trying to find out in a roundabout way if we’retogethertogether.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I told him we’re just friends.’ He kept looking at her as he sipped his drink. ‘Because that’s what we are, right? Friends?’

‘Yeah, totally.’ It dawned on her that she very much liked that idea and had been thinking exactly that when she’d been getting ready to go out. Not that she’d rule out anything more happening with him…

‘But just the way he was talking about you and asking after the two of us made me wonder what you two are to each other.’

‘Friends.’ Tabitha shrugged and waved her hand. ‘We used to be best friends and then shit happened.’

Raff made an ‘uh-huh’ sound that suggested he didn’t believe a word she was saying.

‘I know what you’re insinuating, but we’re just friends, that’s all.’

‘You’re honestly telling me the two of you never had one drunken night and slept together?’ Raff’s voice was incredulous.

‘That’s exactly what I’m saying.’

‘And he’s not gay?’

Tabitha snorted and shook her head.

‘Right…’ Raff was still looking at her with obvious disbelief. ‘It’s just even with whatever it is that happened between you, I can see how well you get on together, see the way he looks at you—’

‘He doesn’t look at me in any way. You’re seeing things that aren’t there.’

‘Yeah, well, I’ll be the judge of that.’ He sipped his beer. ‘I’m only thinking of the other night, you and me, all the flirting and drinking, which, er, would have led to us doing a lot more than kiss if you’d been compos mentis, if you get my drift.’

‘I do, but I don’t usually jump into bed with men I’ve just met.’

‘I was the exception, was I?’

Tabitha pursed her lips. ‘I was drunk.’

‘So what you’re telling me is you and Ollie have been drunk many times, yet you two never wound up in bed together?’

‘That was different.’

‘How?’

‘Well, for starters we met when we were freshers, we lived in the same halls, had the same bunch of friends and really got to know each other and became best friends. You must have a best friend; you understand that, right?’

Raff snorted. ‘Yeah, I do, because my best friend is a bloke, so getting drunk and sleeping together, never going to happen.’

‘But you understand about friendship and not wanting to mess that up.’

‘And sleeping together would?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘But how do you know that it wouldn’t be the best thing? You’re best friends – or at least you were – perhaps you’re soulmates and you’re missing out on a relationship with him because you’re afraid to give it a go?’

‘Why are you encouraging this?’

He shrugged. ‘Ah, I don’t know. Better to try and fail than not be brave enough and never know…’

Tabitha sat back on the seat, her gin clasped in her hand, and studied him. ‘It sounds as if you’re talking from experience.’

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