Page 57 of What Happens in Dubai

‘You don’t recognise me, do you?’ He sighed disappointedly, and looked at the floor.

I also glanced down, trying my best to avoid staring any longer. Then I spotted his luggage – a khaki green holdall, the same as the one Cameron had on the flight back from Dubai. My head snapped up to examine the bald man before me, and as it all came together, I let out an almighty gasp.

‘Cameron?’ I held my hands up, wondering what had happened to my hot hunk from the Highlands.

‘I know, I know. I’m pretty scary. I’m so swollen. I think the pressure from the plane’s made it worse.’

I was frozen, completely fixated on his gigantic face and trying my hardest to see some resemblance of the handsome man I’d met.

‘I’m sorry, I can’t believe it, it’s just … all of this is from veneers?’ My voice was incredibly high-pitched as I was in complete shock. How did such a handsome man leave last week, and Quasimodo return?

Cameron attempted to laugh but his eyes closed over and wholly disappeared into his mangled mush.

‘My teeth? What? No, Zara, I had a hair transplant. Why, do you think I have something wrong with my teeth?’ He held his hand over his mouth insecurely.

I reached for his hand, wanting to comfort him about the miscommunication. ‘No, not at all. And your hair was fine too. This is all just a shock for me. A bit of warning would have been better, maybe a FaceTime,’ I giggled.

Cameron agreed and looked embarrassed. ‘I’m so sorry. My head wasn’t anywhere near as big as this when I left Turkey. I’m mortified you didn’t recognise me, Zara.’ He turned his head to the side but it looked just as big from every angle. ‘I imagined you standing there with a little sign to pick me up and a friendly welcome. This was a bad idea. I’m so sorry.’

I looked at his Bo’ Selecta face, all puffy and bald. Behind that inflammation was still the kind, warm guy I met on the plane, and I couldn’t help but feel like I still wanted him to stay.

‘I’m so glad you’re here, Cameron. This is sweet and cute. It just took me by surprise. I love the fact you’ve flown across Europe with your head so raw, and wow, it must be absolutely throbbing, which kind of makes all of this even sweeter.’ I paused and smirked. ‘I’m still into this. That’s what I’m trying to say.’

Cameron held out his hand for me to take and kissed mine gently.

‘Really?’

I nodded. ‘Of course, I’ve been counting down the days till I saw you again.’

‘Me too, he said. ‘Let me just turn this phone off and enjoy every minute with you,’ he reached into his pocket, switched off his phone and smiled towards me.

We wandered through the airport to the taxi rank like Beauty and the Beast. I spotted holidaymakers gasping in horror as they spotted Cameron. He didn’t seem to notice the stares or the kids wailing with terror; he was oblivious and laid-back. I was thrilled he was here, but part of me felt disheartened. I just wanted one aspect of my life to go smoothly, but the only thing that was smooth in this situation was Cameron’s ever-expanding, red-raw, entirely hairless coupon.

We travelled home in the taxi and laughed about the misunderstanding. Then, as I led Cameron up the stairwell to my flat, he suddenly seemed nervous.

‘Zara.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I’ve not stopped thinking about you since the moment I met you.’ His strong Highland accent echoed up the close, and I immediately blushed and turned to face him.

‘Awww. Me too.’

We stared at one another on the staircase, then he leaned towards me for a kiss. His lips were soft and tender. A rush of warmth and happiness subdued my body. Cameron lowered his holdall and ran his fingers through my hair. The moment felt perfect and natural, and although I didn’t know Cameron very much at all, once again I felt that strange comfort with him.

The kissing came to a halt, and I giggled and nudged him into my immaculate home.

‘This is it!’ I declared, shrugging my shoulders, still feeling his touch linger on my lips.

‘It’s fantastic, right in the town centre too.’ Cameron seemed impressed as he roamed the living area.

‘So, Ashley will be back tomorrow night. She’ll sleep on the couch, obviously,’ I said.

Cameron smiled. ‘Of course. She seems fun!’

I made my way over to the kitchen for a drink of water, feeling parched from all the kissing. ‘Can I get you a drink?’

Cameron placed his bag down and walked towards me at the sink. I turned my body round to face him, and he bent down to hug me, then suddenly lifted me onto the worktop. His teeth glistened cheekily behind his swollen face.

‘I have been on that plane for five hours, and all I’ve thought about is how blinking amazing it will be to strip you down. I want to make love to you, Zara, all day and all night.’

He was only a few inches off my face, and I felt his breath bounce off my skin as he spoke. I relished it. He wanted tomake loveto me! Was Cameron trying to tell me something? Normally this phrase would make me run for the Campsies but I thrived on it with him. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and started to kiss him more aggressively.

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