Page 26 of My Kind of Trouble
As seemed to be the case with most of the hospitality spots they had seen, the food was served outside. Small, red plastic chairs that barely raised off the floor were placed around plastic tables. There were no fancy frills, but the strong aromas of smoke and fragrant spices travelled from the kitchens and were enticing enough. Noa felt her legs moving without subconscious thought, as if the alluring smells were dragging her over against her will. They were shepherded over by a short and friendly man who smiled widely at them as he sat them down.
Thea’s head bobbed as she said something to the man that Noa couldn’t understand. Her and Lola had clearly picked up on some basic Thai whilst they’d been travelling, and Noa couldn’t help but think that was impressive as shit. She’d barely been able to pass her GCSE French exam, and here they were having a conversation with a local after only a month there.
Noa’s shock must have been written across her face, because Thea chuckled before explaining, ‘It got boring after a while. A year travelling and visiting all these amazing countries but not being able to talk to the people in them. You find you miss out on some of the best and most authentic places when you’re searching for somewhere that’ll cater to ourEnglishness.’
‘So, you learnt to speak Thai?’ Noa concluded.
Thea beamed, a bright smile on her face that radiated pride. She had such a light bubbliness about her that melted into those around her. She nodded rapidly, pulled up the sleeves of her shirt, and picked up the menu for perusal. Bright flowers and vines painted her brown skin with a few smallquotes tucked amongst them. They were fine lines and intricate. It suited her perfectly.
Noa had never been brave enough to get a tattoo. She second-guessed herself every time she considered it. But looking at Thea’s now, she thought maybe she would want one just like that. Maybe she’d even add it to her ‘30 before 30’ list.
‘We found a three-day intensive course when we arrived in Thailand, so even though we aren’t fluent by any means… it’s enough to get by,’ she added.
Lola pushed against Thea’s elbow.
‘She says “we”, but what she means is “she”. She gets by and I’m just along for the ride, because I suck. And, now, it seems you’re along for it too.’
Noa couldn’t help but smile at that. The way they’d easily let her into their fold like it meant nothing, like they wanted her there as much as she wanted to be.
The man who had welcomed them earlier shuffled back over with smoothies for them all, that Thea had clearly ordered, and offered Noa a warm smile as he pointed at her menu.
So far, all the locals had been so friendly, and it reminded her of how different it was in London. Before she’d left, she’d become a professional at avoiding eye contact on the tube in the mornings, like every other commuter going about their busy days.
After ordering, the girls settled into comfortable conversation. They talked about their travels so far over mango and sticky rice. Thea and Lola had met in Indonesia over six months ago. They were both on a year’s travel sabbatical from their jobs in the UK and had decided to stick together. Hattie, on the other hand, was on a long holiday from where she livedand worked in Sydney. The four of them then discussed their travel plans for Bangkok and beyond.
By the time they finished lunch, Noa felt like she had a good idea of how she was going to spend the next week, at least. They all decided they were going to continue to travel together, and it surprised Noa how easy it had all been so far. Ignoring the minor Alex issue, of course. Lola and Thea still had a couple of months left of their backpacking trips, so their itineraries were flexible, but Hattie’s was coming to an end after Thailand.
Before flying to Thailand, Noa hadn’t thought of, or booked, anything beyond Bangkok and Koh Tao, as she was told it was best to make plans once she arrived. She was beyond glad that she had ignored the voice in her head telling her to plan every second of the trip when she booked it. Knowing she potentially had a small group to go along with made her feel a whole lot better. It helped to break down her perpetual fear of letting go and stepping into the unknown. And it reinforced the idea that good things could come from that, something that she had been trying to work through with her therapist for a very long time. She knew that she was already getting exactly what she’d hoped for from this trip and, maybe, even more. Her previous anxiety quickly morphed into excitement at the prospect of all the adventure that the next week would hold, and Noa felt like there was absolutely nothing that could ruin her mood.
After a whole day of exploring Thailand’s bustling capital city, Noa practically crawled back through the hostel doors. She was exhausted in the best possible way. Today hadbeen exhilarating. Being in a new country, with no schedule but her own, absorbing the change in culture, the scenery, and trying all the incredible food had made her feel alive in a way that she hadn’t in a long time. There was no question in her mind that she had made the right decision in booking this trip, but right now she needed sleep.
She made her way through reception as she thought back on the day. They’d explored a small village community floating on stilts just above a moss green river. It started as a very serene way to start the day, even with Lola’s loud and flamboyant commentary of their surroundings. But when Thea pretended to throw Noa into the river at one point, the two slipped and fell hard together in a heap of laughter. After they’d dusted themselves off, Lola insisted they visit Khao San Road next.
As they’d ambled down the famous street, Noa couldn’t help the smile that took over her face the whole time she was in Lola’s presence. Her bright and bubbly personality was infectious. Unlike the start of the day, when Lola’s caramel curls had been tucked in a bun, they now looked wild and untameable, tumbling out of her bobble and sticking to her face in the heat. Her green eyes were almost glowing, like her character was being reflected on her face and her features. She wore a bright flowery sundress, and Noa couldn’t help but think that she fit right in with the bright, mesmerising colours of the stucco buildings and signs towering over them.
Whilst Noa ogled at the living daydream, Lola had snagged her hand and easily lead them through the tight crowd and commotion of various food vendors until they arrived at a small Pad Thai cart where they proceeded to eat enough to make their stomachs hurt. She was going to put on fifty pounds if she carried on eating like she was, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. The food was glorious. They’d thenvisited the most beautiful temple Noa had ever seen. It really was like a religious experience stepping through it. The beauty met with the quiet that surrounded the place made her mind still in a way it rarely did, and she felt so at peace. Even Lola and Thea, who’d spent most of the day acting as chatty tour guides, were silent in their reverence.
Lola had taken a natural leadership in their group and suggested most of the day’s activities. Noa was filled with gratitude for all she had experienced as a result. Had she been in charge, she thought to herself with a grumble, she would have taken a much slower and laid-back approach. However, as tired as she now was, and as much as her feet ached, Noa felt fulfilled by today’s experiences and was glad that she had met these people, these newfriends, when she had.
Deep in thought on her way back, she hadn’t noticed the looming giant rock planted in the middle of the walkway to her room and almost fell on her ass after knocking straight into it.
Wait. No, it wasn’t a rock. Of course, it wasn’t. It was Alex Fletcher.
She still couldn’t believe he was here and, even though her body almost vibrated with anger at the thought of him and her brother plotting to undermine her ability to be independent, she still couldn’t help but notice just how attractive he was now. She had been considering it since they’d arrived and decided that he had always been good to look at when she allowed herself to look. However, with the relationship between him and her brother, and the fact that he had practically lived at her house growing up, she hadn’t often allowed it. Right now, though, she didn’t know if it was the fact that the disobedient and stubborn part of her wanted to stick it to her brother, or their current proximity as Alex heldher by her wrists to steady her from falling over, but she allowed herself to take him all the way in.
As she stood there ogling him, the phrase ‘aging like fine wine’ came to mind. She looked down at where his hands gripped her, and her gaze travelled up his inked arms. He was wearing a plain black T-shirt that clung to him, hugging his muscles in all the right places. He was a level of toned rarely seen outside of Hollywood movies, but still had some soft edges that reminded her he was human. She didn’t know whether he gained his muscles from hours spent at the gym or from hard work and long hours lifting kegs at The Brew.
Noa had the sudden urge to reach out and feel his pecs, like that would answer the question. The V-cut neckline of his shirt showed off a fair dusting of hair on his chest, and she would have loved to run her nails through it. It was then that she realised what she was doing.
She was checking out Alex Fletcher.
A man that had been her brother’s best friend for most of their lives. A man so off limits that she had been forced to wipe him from her memory after one electric night. Suddenly, Noa worried that he could read her every thought and she could feel her cheeks start to burn.
She had stood there silent and unmoving for almost a minute and, when she looked up to his smirking face, she didn’t know if she wanted to punch him right in it or run away and hide from the embarrassment. Deciding to go with the latter option, she quickly pulled herself from his grip and bolted into her room before he had time to protest.
Chapter 16
Alex
