Page 30 of What Happens in Dubai

‘Wait.’ Raj stopped dead. He dropped his arms and edged away from the poolside. ‘Is that … no … it can’t be … ha, it bloody well is. Tom! TOM!’ He started roaring. ‘Tom, over here!’

My heart began to pound heavily.It couldn’t be, I thought. My hot sweat suddenly turned cold as my head went dizzy. I felt clammy, sick. This must be a misunderstanding. But when I blinked and tried to refocus my eyes, it was, sure enough: Dr Tom Adams, Sugar Daddy, my bloody ex who had ripped my heart out, shat all over it and threw it back to me. And he was striding towards us.

Shit. Shit!I felt wheezy. He couldn’t see me like this, not here, not overweight and half naked. Not when I was plastered head to toe with factor fifty, and had an alarming case of prickly heat spreading rapidly over my body. Not with absolutely no make-up or lashes on, and certainly NOT when his date looked as if she’d just strolled off a Victoria’s Secret’s runway.Shiiiit.

I started to panic and splashed around the pool in despair, moving backwards and forwards, flapping my arms, feeling entirely trapped by selfie-driven tourists. I had to disappear. In a blind panic, I inhaled an almighty deep breath and plunged under the water, pinching my nose. With my body fully submerged, I could hear my heartbeat pounding into my ears, along with the faint distant chatter from the busy pool. I started to wonder how long the average person could hold their breath underwater for, as right now it was the only escape strategy I could think of. I watched in horror through the blurry water as Raj shook Tom’s hand and kissed his girlfriend on the cheek. Then he began pointing towards the pool, scanning the crowd, searching for me.Why the fuck would you look for me, Raj?I suddenly became aware that the three of them were tilting their heads towards me, Tom slightly crouched to my level before waving and Raj awkwardly rubbing his forehead. It was only then I remembered that I was in a glass fucking infinity pool, clearly visible to the entire beach. And here I was hiding like Shamu in a tiny glass tank. There was no avoiding him. I kicked off the bottom of the tiles and emerged from the water with my dripping wet hair now firmly glued to my face.

‘Oh, Zara, would you look who it is? Can you believe it?’ Raj spoke first, raising his eyebrows at me sympathetically.

I carefully picked the stray hairs from my mouth and pushed my hands back through my slippery locks. My eyes were nipping from the chlorine, and I could feel myself shaking with nerves.

‘What? Oh wow, Tom?’ I attempted a shocked laugh. ‘What are the chances, eh?’ I tried my best to sound convincing, avoiding any eye contact with the couple.

‘Raj, could you pass me my hat, please.’

Raj bent down and handed it to me.At least this will conceal my Amish hairstyle, I thought.

‘Zara, it’s very nice to see you again.’ His posh English accent immediately sent twinges to my fanny. I could smell his familiar scent, the masculine musky smell of him that I once lavished in, but now didn’t belong to me. Tom approached the edge of the pool to embrace me. I hovered gawkily, unsure of how much physical contact we were about to have. His arm reached out and he was coming closer, and I embraced him quickly to relieve the tension. I was hugging him tightly at the waist before realising he was going in for a handshake. Shit.

‘Jesus, you’re soaking.’ He vaulted back, wiping down his shirt. ‘Erm, this is Claudia. Claudia, Zara.’

I smiled at the stunning woman standing beside him.

‘So, why are you out here, Tom? You guys on holiday? Or work?’ Raj caught up with his friend but I couldn’t keep up. I was nodding at times, joining in with random giggles, but the entire time wished I had stayed back at the hotel with Ashley. I felt angry at Raj, who was acting as if the full clinic takeover hadn’t happened. Not to mention the fact the cunt almost broke me, his so-called ‘best friend’.

‘If you’re free tonight, we should all catch up over dinner,’ Tom offered.

I almost gave myself whiplash with the stare I darted towards Raj but he was too pre-occupied with his old friend to notice.

‘One hundred per cent. It would be great to catch up. We’re actually here on work and setting up the products for an aesthetics photoshoot, but it shouldn’t take too long. We could arrange for something after that?’

I gritted my teeth and attempted a grin as I watched Claudia rub her freshly polished fingers down Tom’s sun-kissed arm.

‘Ideal. I’ll text you, mate. Well, I guess I’ll see you all tonight then. Raj, Zara.’

Tom turned his back to walk off, only taking a few steps before he spun back around.

‘And, Zara, nice hat.’ He chuckled. ‘Very … um …’

‘Alicia Keys?’ Raj interrupted kindly.

‘Hmm … I was going for Indiana Jones, but hey.’ He lifted his hand briefly in some half-arsed attempt to wave, then turned back, promenading through the sand with his perfect princess giggling like a hyena behind him.

I remained still. Unable to move.

Raj’s face was wincing for me.

‘I’m so sorry, Zara, if that made you uncomfortable,’ he said.

‘Uncomfortable? You have no idea how I feel right now.’ I could feel my breathing get heavier and quicker as my heartbeat throbbed sickeningly.

‘Why the fuck would you shout him over here? Why would you even break breath to him after what he did to you? Or me, for that matter,’ I barked angrily at Raj.

‘I’ve forgiven him, Zara.’ Raj shrugged his shoulders. ‘He’s been my best friend since uni. He was the best man at my wedding, for god’s sake.’ Raj held his hands up in despair. ‘Like I said, I’m sorry if it made you feel uneasy. I just couldn’t let him walk by without saying hello. We’re all in Dubai!’

‘And what? I wouldn’t give that cunt a nod if we were the last two people left in Dubai. And there’s no fucking way I’m going to dinner with him and Twiggy to sit there and get laughed at all night,’ I said, feeling anger rage through my body.

‘No one would make jokes about you, Zara. Don’t be so childish,’ he spouted back.

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