Page 22 of What Happens in Dubai

‘Two cocktails?’

‘Aye, each,’ Ashley called back. ‘It saves us going up to the bar all the time.’ She smiled angelically at Raj, who shook his head before shuffling his feet through the sand, making his way to the bar.

‘This is probably the coolest place I’ve ever been to, like look at it,’ I yelled to Ashley, and we hugged tightly with excitement.

‘Should we take that table? I think that group are leaving.’ She pointed to a large circular bench situated at the centre of the action.

‘Yes, let’s go.’

We hovered around the table waiting for a few minutes, then finally sat down just as Raj joined us with a tray containing four strawberry daiquiris and a bottle of water for himself.

‘Good spot, girls!’

I gave him a smile. ‘Thanks for the drinks, boss.’

‘Oh my god! Guys! Guys!’ Ashley was screeching at the top of her voice. ‘That’s the entire Celtic football team behind us! Footballers literally surround us!’

I turned around to gaze at a group of young men enjoying themselves, jumping around the sand to the music.

‘We have to get pictures with them!’ Ashley said.

‘Ashley, do you not support Rangers?’ I recalled seeing photographs on her Instagram of her draped in a Rangers scarf at the last Old Firm, and in Glasgow, we take the rivalry of football incredibly seriously.

‘Awk, I don’t bother. Dave supports Rangers, but who gives a shit? It’s good for the gram! Come on!’ She stood up, pulling me out of my seat. I looked at Raj for help, but he was laughing.

‘I’ll watch the drinks. On you go!’ He stuck his tongue out at me while Ashley kept on tugging on my arm.

‘OK, OK!’ I said.

We coolly walked over behind their table and stopped.

‘Now what?’ I asked.

‘Just dance, look easy-going,’ Ashley hissed under her breath, so I started moving, awkwardly sober, to ‘Horny’ by Mousse T.

I watched Ashley pout and pose seductively, trying to attract the footballers’ attention. There was a definite buzz in the air as the chorus dropped, and the crowds of people on the shore began jumping together, moving like a current through the strobe lighting. We were completely caught up in the moment. The more we bounced around, the closer Ashley edged to the football squad, and I cringed as she ‘accidentally’ crashed into them then winked at me. I was looking pleadingly at Raj for back-up, who laughed hysterically in the distance.

‘Ash, I’m going to get my drink,’ I yelled out after the second verse, now developing a stitch.

‘Zara, wait!’ she said, but I was already making my way back to the table.

‘She never fails to amuse me,’ Raj snorted.

‘I know. I’ve never felt so uncomfortable.’ I was panting from the effort of dancing in the heat and took a huge, cooling gulp of my strawberry daiquiri. ‘Oh, where’s she got to now?’ I searched through the busy crowd and spotted Ashley chatting away to one of the younger players.

‘Ah, she’ll be happy she’s finally got someone’s attention,’ I said and went back to sipping my fruity daiquiri with pure delight. The frozen slush immediately cooled me down from the hot, humid air and I brought my phone out, eager to respond to Andy with some cocktail confidence behind me.

‘Awww thanks Andy! We’re loving it! Thanks again for this. X’

‘Sheesha?’ A voice interrupted my lust just as I hit send.

I turned around to the barman who was asking to light up our pipe and grinned at Raj.

‘Shall we?’ I asked. I had never done sheesha, but I was craving the complete Dubai experience.

‘Yes, let’s go for it,’ he replied. Raj paid the gentleman, and our sheesha pipe began bubbling on the table between us. I lifted the hose and started to inhale the vapour furiously before erupting into a coughing fit. I hadn’t smoked since high school when I would occasionally purchase a fifty-pence fag that would guarantee me a nicky buzz that lasted the whole of lunchtime.

‘My turn?’ Raj lifted the pipe as Ashley returned to the table, holding her phone out, ready to capture the sheesha’s victory. He started puffing on it like Snoop Dogg, exhaling the steam from his nose.

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