Page 44 of One Week in Paradise
I look away before I do something stupid, like lean in and kiss him.
‘Most people aren’t as nice as you,’ I say quietly. ‘Especially Lacey. Turns out she’s an acquaintance of Ethan’srealgirlfriend, and she thinks I’m just the worst person in the world.’
‘She should take a look in the mirror.’
I don’t say anything because guilt has begun to gnaw atme. There’s something else I need to tell him, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Because when I do, everything will change. He’ll be on Lacey’s side just like everyone else, and I’m not ready to let go of this tentative friendship we’ve built just yet. I want to hold onto it for as long as I can.
‘Are you hungry?’ he asks suddenly, sensing my apprehension to talk any further about Ethan. ‘Let’s order room service.’
He grabs the phone on his bedside table, and thirty minutes later, we’re sitting up in bed with a tray of food and snacks in front of us.
I can’t get over the sense of comfort that blankets me as we dig into our meal, like this is something we’ve done thousands of times before. I can immediately picture us sitting squashed together in bed back home in London, with a pizza box between us and the latest Netflix sensation running on the TV in front of us.
I realise, with a jolt, that I want that.
We’re splitting our dessert – a ridiculously delicious vanilla layered berry cake – when Cash’s phone vibrates.
He glances at it and immediately picks it up. ‘It’s my mum. Do you mind if I—’
‘No, not at all. Go for it.’ I shift a little to the side so I’m not in frame when Cash answers the call.
‘Hello, my heart,’ Cash’s mum’s voice crackles out through the speakers. ‘How are things? Are you wearing sun cream every day and hydrating properly?’
‘Hey, Mum,’ Cash says, the tips of his ears turning pink. ‘Everything’s fine. Yes, every day. Yes, plenty of water.’ He gives me a subtle eye roll, and I have to stuff a piece of cake into my mouth to smother my laugh. ‘How’re you?’
I can’t help but glance over at the screen. Cash’s mum is an adorable-looking woman with a head of long salt-and-pepper-flecked hair and kind green eyes. I can see so much of her in Cash’s face.
‘… Bailey?’
The use of my name snaps me back to attention.
Cash clears his throat. ‘She’s here with me right now. We’re having a room service night.’ He tilts his phone towards me, and I have half a second to school my expression into something that doesn’t scream pure terror.
‘Hello, sweet Bailey,’ Cash’s mum says. Her ruby lips are stretched into a wide smile. ‘Still so beautiful. All that sun is doing you well, darling.’
‘Hi, Mrs Reid,’ I say with a nervous laugh. I don’t think I’ve ever directly spoken to her before, but I remember her face from all the times she picked Cash up from our home growing up or dropped Dane off after a day at theirs. ‘It’s so lovely to see you.’
‘Are you having a good time?’ she asks. ‘I hope my son has been treating you well on your trip.’
‘He’s been the perfect gentleman,’ I say truthfully. ‘We had a dance class last night.’
‘Adance class?’ Her eyes light up. ‘You know, dancing is the best way to learn everything you need to know about a man? Does he know how to lead but also know how to let you shine? All very important things to know about a man, my dear.’
My lips twitch, threatening to pull into a smile. ‘I’ll keep that in mind.’
‘I’m really enjoying all the photos Caspian has been sending me,’ she says. ‘You both look like you’re having a wonderful time.’
Photos?
‘We are,’ I say. ‘The resort is stunning, and the company isn’t too bad either.’
‘I’ll let you two get back to your evening now. Give my love to Dane when you get the chance, and tell your parents I said hello. AndCaspian,’ she says suddenly. He turns the phone back to himself. ‘Remember what I told you.’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ he mumbles. His face is so red. It looks like he’s been out in the sun all day. ‘I will. Talk to you later, Mum. Bye, love you.’
They say their farewells, and he ends the call. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘It’s fine,’ I say. I scoot a little closer to him in the bed until our arms brush against each other. ‘What did she tell you?’
