Page 5 of One Week in Paradise
‘I just got an invite email from a brand,’ I tell her. My heart is racing. ‘They want to fly me out to Jamaica to their resort.’
Amber’s screech is deafening. ‘Bailey! What did I tell you? Jamaica? This is amazing.’
‘Don’t get too excited,’ I interrupt her imminent rant about what I’ll need to pack. ‘I’m not going.’
Amber’s smile drops from her face. ‘What the fuck? Why not?’
‘Well, it’s more like I can’t go,’ I say. ‘It’s acouples resort.’ I read her the email and shrug. ‘See? They mustn’t have got the memo about me and Ethan.’
They must not have seen The Video.
I feel a sting in my chest as I think about Ethan. I’ve done such a good job of pushing him out of my mind up until now. I let out a dry laugh. It figures that the first opportunity I get post-break-up would rely completely on us being a couple.
‘Oh, babe,’ Amber says softly. ‘I’m sorry. But look at it like this. If this brand wants you, so many more will. This is why you need to start posting again.’
She’s right. I know she is, but I can’t bring myself to post just yet. My stomach turns in knots as I imagine the flood of hateful comments that will likely come in the second I post anything.
‘You need to move forward,’ Amber says firmly. ‘Show them that you’ve got nothing to hide.’
I swallow. Amber knows almost everything there is to know about me. But she doesn’t know this.
I do have something to hide.
Chapter Three
Dinner is an incredibly awkward affair because, on Mum’s insistence, Cash is still here. He’s seated directly opposite me, and aside from a small grimace when I first entered the room, he’s paid me no attention whatsoever.
To be honest, that suits me just fine. I can’t stop thinking about the email and just how unfair life is. All I want to do is run back up to my room, crawl into a ball, and cry. But Dad insisted I come down and join them for dinner, so here I am.
I stab at my spaghetti, scratching the plate slightly with my fork. I drown out the sound of conversation around the table, my mind swirling with thoughts of Ethan and what he’s doing right now. Does he miss me? Probably not.
The thoughts unsettle me slightly. I don’twantto think about him, but they keep pushing to the forefront of my mind without permission. After everything Ethan’s put me through, why do I even miss him?
‘… sure you could find something for her. What do you think, Bailey?’
I snap back to reality and realise that everyone is staring at me. Even Cash. I catch his gaze for half a second before he glances away, his lips dipping slightly into a frown.
‘Did you hear me, Bailey?’ Dad asks.
‘No, sorry,’ I say. ‘I must’ve zoned out. What’re we talking about?’
‘You,’ says Dad sharply. ‘And Dane. He may be able to get you a job.’
I grip my fork tightly. ‘Dad, I already told you. I have a job.’
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Mum pretending to be interested in a random spot on the ceiling to avoid getting involved.Thanks for the support, Mum.
‘And I’ve already told you, you need to get a job that actually pays you,’ he says. ‘When was the last time you earned any money from this Instagram nonsense?’
Nonsense? I squeeze my fork even tighter. The metal is going to leave a groove in the palm of my hand if I don’t stop soon.
‘Dad,’ Dane says softly. ‘We don’t need to do this now. Me and Bailey can talk about work later.’
‘No, we can’t,’ I say through gritted teeth. ‘Because I don’t needyouto give me a job.’
I know my anger is misplaced. That Dane has probably been blindsided by Dad just as much as I have. But I don’t care.
‘Things have been difficult recently,’ I say slowly. ‘Yes, that’s true. But I’m fine. I don’t need anyone’s pity.’
