Page 53 of Another Lucky Number

‘Exactly what I was thinking. You two could probably do with a bit of a break from the prep too.’ I smile at Cat, who looks super relaxed and simply nods in agreement.

Returning to my lotion application, I’m rubbing it into mylegs when two young children run past me with water guns, spraying them at each other, and soaking me in the process.

‘Argh…that’s freezing.’ I jump up and leap out of the way while they continuing their boisterous play battle along the poolside, seemingly oblivious to what they’ve done. ‘Surely a resort like this doesn’t allow water fights round the pool.’

‘What they gonna do?’ says Amber.

‘Um… tell them off?’

I dry myself down and resume applying my sun cream, but within moments, the same children are back, acting out an imaginary duel on the bridge that crosses the narrowest point of the pool – and which unfortunately is right across from me.

I retreat behind my lounger, hoping they’ll move on again. However, they seem to enjoy the added excitement the bridge brings to their game, and after a minute or so, I decide that, as long as they stay there, it’s probably safe to return to my spot.

‘Want me to do your back, honey?’ Cat offers.

‘Yes, please.’ I scooch to the end of my lounger to make things easier for her, and as I hand her the bottle, a powerful jet of water hits me square in the face.

‘Arghhh!What the hell?’

Snatching up my towel, I frustratedly wipe the water from my face just in time to see the two children giggling and pointing in my direction, then darting across the bridge to the other side of the pool.

‘You’d better run!’ I shout after them.

‘Oh gosh, honey, are you OK?’ says Cat. ‘That was… unfortunate.’

‘The wee bastards. Did you see them laughing there? If they do that one more time, I’ll—’

‘You’ll what?’ Amber tips up her sunglasses long enough to shoot me a sceptical look, and I’m about to back chat her when Cat intervenes.

‘Let’s get some sun cream on you before you burn.’ She squeezes lotion onto my back and rubs it in.

‘Thank you. At least someone around here is helpful. Is my mascara running?’ I turn so she can inspect my face and she grimaces.

‘It is, yeah. That was quite a soaking you got. I have a compact mirror in my bag if you want to use it?’

‘Nah, it’s fine. I’ll nip to the ladies once you’re done. Thanks anyway.’

‘No probs. Do you know what time James and his friends are joining us?’

I shake my head. ‘He didn’t say.’

‘Well, that’s your sun cream done, so off you go.’

‘Thanks, Cat.’

Grabbing my beach bag, I hurry along the poolside, watching out for James as I go. Ido notwant to bump into him and his mates while looking like I lost an argument with a garden hose.

When I reach the mirror in the ladies toilets, I gasp on seeing that Cat was being kind. It wouldn’t take too much imagination to think I’d secured the starring role in a new film calledZombie Vacation. Using a wet paper towel, I wipe away the heavy black track marks under my eyes, reapply my eye makeup and pull my partially soaked hair into a (purposefully) messy ponytail.

Once I’m happy that I’m presentable again, I head back to rejoin my friends, and as my lounger comes into view, it looks like someone is on it. Confused, I stop and double check my bearings, but I’m looking at the right spot. I can see Cat and Amber stretched out on their own loungers, but there’s a woman lying face down on mine. And on closer inspection, I can also see that my resort-branded towel and clothes have been discarded on the ground.How rude!

Unsure of what to do, I hover above the woman, hopingshe’ll notice me and voluntarily move out of guilt or embarrassment, but she doesn’t even twitch – meaning I have no choice but to move on or speak up.

‘Um… excuse me?’ I keep my tone as polite as possible. ‘I think you’re on my lounger.’

She doesn’t look up. Doesn’t even seem to notice me.

‘Hello… excuse me, please?’

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