Page 21 of What Happens in Dubai

One new WhatsApp from Ashley and one new Instagram message from Andy.

I opened my Insta DMs and was surprised to read Andy’s message. My heart began to beat quickly inside my chest, and I clicked on it straight away. I couldn’t help but smile when I read it.

Hey, hope you lot have arrived safely! Any issues give me a bell! Andy x

I ran, grinning, out of the bedroom to see Ashley finally ready.

‘Andy DM’d me, guys.’

‘No way! What did he say? I bloody knew he liked you!’ Ashley waved her hands excitedly, making her jewellery jingle.

I read the message aloud, and Raj started to chuckle. Ashley shot him a disparaging look.

‘OK. Have you replied?’ she asked.

‘Not yet.’ My fingers were twitching, desperate to start a conversation up.

‘Don’t. Well, not yet. We need to be careful about how we play this one. Is his Instagram private?’ She was pacing the floor in deep thought.

‘Yes …’ I nodded slowly and took a deep breath to calm my nerves.

‘Listen Cilla, enough matchmaking for the night,’ Raj said. ‘The guy sent us on a business trip and said any issues to let him know. He’s hardly proposing. Can we eat now, please!’

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake. Maybe you should just like his message and keep him hanging – you’re in Dubai, mate!’ Ashley said. ‘And Raj,yes.All you ever think about is your stomach. Right, everyone stand at the mirror with me before we go. We need a pic!’

I walked over and examined us all in the shot, still hot with excitement over Andy.

Ashley held her phone above her head and pouted into the mirror. Her legs looked even longer with her tiny dress on. Raj stood smartly with linen trousers and a shirt, and I felt plain. My playsuit felt even tighter than last week when it was delivered.For fuck’s sake Zara.The Pringles from the plane were seriously taking their toll on me.

‘OK, everyone, ready.’

We all held our poses, me sucking in every inch of my body hoping for a decent take. There was the sound of the camera snapping.

‘Let’s eat, then hit Barasti!’ Ashley screamed.

Chapter Eight

We ate at the hotel and ordered a taxi to Barasti, a lively beach club crammed with loud music, hot men and fruity cocktails. We entered under an exotic archway of Hawaiian flowers and strolled down a decked area jam-packed with young couples, holidaymakers and businessmen, following the music off the deck and onto the beach.Wow.The sky was dark, but I watched my shoes sink into the sand in the light cast from the elevated DJ set at the other end of the beach. We were in the middle of a techno tropical paradise. It was beautiful and modern and by far the most incredible club I had ever been to. The beach was crammed with large crowds of people from diverse backgrounds, mixing and mingling, dancing around. There were large beach beds spread out with tables, loungers and shisha pipes all present. I had never been anywhere like this before in my life, yet I felt welcomed by smiling partygoers dancing casually around me. It was certainly nothing like my days at Colour Fest or the Arches, where smiling at a stranger meant accepting it could end up in a square go.

I turned to my friends, who looked equally mesmerised.

‘Ash, this place is amazing!’ I yelled over the trance music blaring around us.

She nodded enthusiastically as Raj beamed.

‘I know, it’s insane! Look at all the talent as well, Zara!’ she winked.

‘Yeah! Especially the girls! Look at the arse on that lassie! It’s got to be fake.’

I couldn’t help but notice the skimpy outfits the girls wore. I was shocked, having heard so many horror stories of people getting arrested for flashing the gash innocently in the Middle East.

‘I didn’t think you’d be able to wear half the clothes these girls are wearing. I honestly thought the way Adam was acting you could get arrested over here for having your shoulders out!’ I admitted.

Ashley laughed and called back over the music. ‘Zara, that’s ancient history. Dubai is with the times now. As long as you respect their culture and don’t do anything too wacky, then you’re fine. A wee bit of cleavage is completely fine nowadays.’ She sounded wise and sure of herself as she rolled her eyes at my naivety.

‘Would you girls like a drink?’ Raj asked, delving into his pockets for some dirhams.

‘YES!’ we yelled at the same time.

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