Page 58 of The Suite Life
But as I glance at Donnie, I catch some peculiar shifts in his mannerisms. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say there’s a hint of jealousy in his eyes.
‘He could be the answer to my wedding date problem,’ I remind him softly, hoping to ease any tension I might have unintentionally created.
Donnie opens his mouth, as if he’s about to say something, but nothing comes out. Before he gets a chance to say anything, the spa employee reappears and, oh my God, she must have heard my one wish, while she was delivering our drinks.
She presents us with the biggest plate of nachos I have ever seen – a genuine mountain. Layers of crispy tortilla chips, generously coated in gooey melted cheese, adorned with jalapeños, tomatoes, salsa, guacamole – it even has the pineapple. I want to plunge my face into them and scoff them down.
You’ve got to hand it to them; they are seriously on the ball with this stuff. If I were actually G.G. Marsden, I would be well and truly schmoozed.
Donnie and I dive into the nachos, our crunching briefly silencing any lingering tension. We don’t speak – but that could just be because we’re hoovering the food, or maybe it’s something else. Whatever is going on, I can’t quite put my finger on it. I guess I’ll have to try to work it out.
28
I smile at the view as I watch the sun begin to set from my bedroom window. Bursts of orange and bright pink interrupt the blue sky, slowly taking it over as the evening draws in.
I’ve done something similar myself, swapping my yellow sundress for a navy-blue wrap dress ahead of my dinner date with Jeff tonight. I’ve washed my hair and applied date-levels of make-up, finishing everything off with silver jewellery and a generous spritz of perfume. I’m going for elegant and polished, but hoping that it doesn’t look like I’m trying too hard at the same time.
I switch from admiring the sunset to checking myself out in the full-length bedroom mirror, doing one last sweep, making sure that I am the best version of myself that I can possibly be – whatever that is. I don’t know, I guess I’m nervous, not just because this is a date, and I’m not ideal at those, but because Jeff might be my best shot at a date for this wedding.
Just as I’m about to grab my clutch, I hear a knock at the door. I head downstairs and open it to see Lucy standing there, her face like a tropical storm.
‘So you are still here then,’ Lucy says sarcastically, smiling just enough to take the edge off.
‘Still here,’ I reply. ‘As though I’d go anywhere else right now.’
‘Yes, because you’re not acting out of character at all,’ she replies. ‘Are you going to invite me in?’
I laugh, stepping to one side so that she can come in.
‘What’s up, Lucy?’ I cut to the chase. ‘You’re being weird.’
‘I’m being weird?’ she replies. ‘Gigi, we’re on holiday together, and we’re barely seeing you. Catching a glimpse of you is like spotting a rare Hawaiian bird.’
I laugh.
‘Sorry, I’ve just been busy, making the most of the resort and stuff – this is my one holiday this year,’ I remind her.
‘And my wedding,’ she points out.
Fair enough.
‘You’re right, sorry, I’ve just been getting a bit carried away,’ I tell her. ‘Let’s make some plans to do some things together.’
‘Are you joining us for dinner tonight?’ she asks, looking my outfit up and down.
‘I’m busy tonight,’ I tell her, practically wincing, because I’m only proving her point.
‘Busy?’ Lucy scoffs.
‘I’m seeing a friend,’ I reply.
‘We’re on holiday, Gigi, and we’ve been here a matter of days,’ she says in disbelief. ‘How do you have friends here already?’
‘I make friends fast,’ I say with a smile and a shrug.
‘No, you don’t,’ she replies.
You can always count on your sister for a dose of reality.
