Page 17 of What Happens in Dubai

Her choice of words made me die inside all over again. ‘Wait – I’m not finished.’

‘OK …’ She lowered her sunglasses as her interest grew.

‘I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud, but his dad was William.’ Ashley shrugged, looking puzzled. ‘William! For fuck’s sake, the old guy I pumped last week!’

Ashley let out a gasp of disbelief, followed by the loudest scream. It felt like the entire plane suddenly turned to us in panic as she eventually erupted into laughter. Raj shot us a stare, but we both continued laughing frantically while he put his hands over his headphones.

‘No. No. No. Have you pumped the fatherandthe son? Naw, STOP IT! I cannae cope,’ Ashley shrieked, bursting into infectious laughter again.

‘Shhhh. Keep it down, Ash. It honestly wasn’t funny. They were fucking livid!’

She had tears of foundation streaming down her heavily painted face.

‘I’m not surprised. I would be too if Dave shagged my maw! No! How could this happen?’ she asked. ‘Tell me the truth, though, who was better? Because let’s face it, that’s exactly what’s going through their heads right now.’

I didn’t even have to think about it.

‘Luke,’ I replied.

I could tell from the way she was looking at me she was trying to recall which one he was.

I huffed. ‘The young one. It certainly wasn’t his da.’ I started giggling before doing my best seductive impression of William discreetly into Ashley’s ear. ‘Hiya, hiya, mmm … hiya, hiya.’

‘Ahhhhh!’ Ashley cringed away from me and pushed her body against the window as the plane paused on the runway.

‘Seriously, that’s so creepy, Zara,’ she shivered.

Beneath us, the engine rattled powerfully as the plane suddenly began to pick up rapid speed and roared down the flight strip. I gripped the armrests tightly along with my two friends. Raj smiled briefly to me then shut his eyes, looking anxious, as the plane finally lifted off the tarmac and into the air, heading for Dubai.

We weren’t long into the clouds before I became engrossed in the fragrance selection of theDuty-Free Guidemagazine. Ashley, however, was still wrapping her head around last night’s family affair.

‘So, have you heard from either of them since you left?’ she asked.

‘I blocked them in the taxi as soon as I left the house,’ I admitted, still scanning the selection of perfumes on offer.

‘Savage, Zara!’

‘They would have pelted me with abuse, and I wasn’t prepared to let them ruin my holiday buzz.’

‘Maybe give them an explanation? Like, admit it was an honest mistake.’ She was thinking about this too much while I was trying my best to forget it even happened.

I closed the magazine in frustration and turned to my best friend. ‘Ashley, I have no explanation. Like seriously, what would you like me to say?’

‘What about something like … “Guys, I’m sorry, but as you’ve probably guessed I’m a massive slut atm! I’ve not stopped shagging ever since getting my heart broken last year! I now find it difficult, in fact, I find it impossible to commit, or have interest in anyone whatsoever now. So much so, my family background check didn’t occur, and you guys paid the ultimate price. Take care, Zara.”How’s that?’

‘Well, it’s a little lengthy. I mean, a few words would be sufficient.’

She laughed and attempted to rest her head on my shoulder, but her colossal sunhat was still firmly fixed to her head, and it squashed into my face uncomfortably.

‘Really though, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.’ She pushed out her large, freshly filled bottom lip.

‘You can’t make me feel worse than I already do, Ash.’ I stared down at the floor, feeling ashamed as my hangover fear was kicking in.

‘You don’t look bad, Zara. Please forget I said anything. I’m such a Debbie Downer and if anything, you’re in high demand! Maybe I’m just jealous you’re getting all the attention. I swear Dave didn’t even bat an eyelid when I said I was going to Dubai. He looked pleased with the bloody break.’ Ashley shrugged her shoulders and turned her attention elsewhere, spotting people beginning to walk around the plane as the seatbelt sign turned off.

‘Oh, sorry, let me past, Zara. I hate queues. C’mon move, I seriously need to pee.’ She unbuckled her seatbelt and scurried past Raj and me towards the bathroom.

Raj shook his head in amusement as he watched Ashley frustratedly wait in line. He took down his headphones and smiled.

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