Page 66 of What Happens in Dubai

I walked alongside the old sandstone buildings, running my fingertips over the rough edges and thinking of how perfectly things were working out. Ashley toddled along at my side, more engrossed in her phone.

‘You know Dave’s got social media?’ she announced. ‘He’s never had social media. So why does he suddenly have it?’

‘Oh really? Maybe he’s trying to check up on you, or—’

‘Or maybe he’s putting the feelers out to get a new wifey. So that’s what it’ll be. What a fucking dick!’

I nodded awkwardly, trying to understand her overreaction. ‘Well, you don’t know that for sure …’

‘Oh, I fucking know, Zara. Has he added me? Naw! Has he added every other skanky lassie he can find – aye! Well, two can play that game!’

Right then, rain began to fall and splutter off the pavement, turning them shiny. I set a brisk pace towards the clinic, trying to avoid getting soaked.

‘Oh shit, no! Ash!’ I called out.

‘What?’ she answered, still staring at her phone screen, fingers rapidly swiping.

I nudged my head towards the Mercedes sitting outside the clinic with Tom’s private registration plate: TA 1.

‘What the hell is he doing here?’ I asked, cold dread shifting through me.

‘What? It’s Tom,’ she shrugged. ‘People make mistakes, Zara! You can’t hold a grudge for ever, you know!’

I was stung. Considering everything she knew I’d been through with Tom, this wasn’t the supportive or sympathetic response I was after. I wondered if she was thinking of her situation with Dave, and decided there was no point in trying to argue with her.

I opened the clinic door and immediately spotted Tom’s tall frame, standing with his back to me. The crisp white shirt, the posh English accent, his brown hair pushed back so effortlessly. And then he turned.

‘Ah, morning, ladies.’

I smiled politely, keeping my eyes on Raj, who seemed uncomfortable at us all being under the same roof.

‘Tom’s just signing some paperwork for the payroll and things. We won’t be too long,’ Raj said, seeming flustered as his fingers dove through a pile of documents.

I cleared my throat as the room fell silent.

‘Cool. I have a nine o’clock anyway – I need to set up. Ash, will you give me a shout when she arrives?’

Ashley nodded, still flicking through her phone.

I walked into my clinic room and closed the door. Then I pressed my back against it and felt my composed body crumble. When would it ever feel normal seeing that man? His aftershave filled the building, and even when I closed my eyes, he was there. Thank fuck for Dubai. I couldn’t cope if he was back on Raj’s friend list. Every time I saw him was a reminder of the old me, or the pathetic person he turned me into. A naive, heartbroken, needy woman, and I didn’t want to acknowledge her.

My door chapped, and Ashley’s voice echoed through. ‘Laura’s here!’

I jumped up. ‘Yip, two minutes, just need to get changed!’ I called back.

Take a deep breath, Zara!I thought.Get it together.

I changed into my scrubs and after a few deep breaths called for Laura, one of my regular clients. She was a stunning, twenty-five-year-old marketing executive, and owner of Gem Gyms in Scotland. She lived in Edinburgh but travelled through to get her treatments.

‘Aw, Zara, you have no idea how happy I am to be here! My lips are completely deflated!’ she said as she entered the room. Instantly the space turned fruity as her perfume swept in with her. She looked so glamorous with her bouncy blow-dry sitting perfectly with her tiny gym shorts.How did anyone look so good after a workout?I thought, reminding myself how I almost passed out at my last attempt to exercise, when even my Apple watch screamed ‘warning of cardiac arrest’.

I giggled at Laura’s exaggeration of her lips, feeling envious of her beautiful face.

‘Is it just lips for today?’ I asked as she sat down on the bed.

‘Yes, please. I’ll maybe get cheeks done next time.’

‘Well,’ I said, carefully wiping her make-up off, ‘as of Thursday, I’ll be working in Dubai! I will be back, but I’m not entirely sure when. Raj is amazing though; he’ll take great care of you.’

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