Page 30 of Once Bitten, Twice Fried
Julie nodded.
“We should head back to the others. They’re probably having too much fun, but I don’t want to risk them sending a search party for us.” Zoe started walking again. “Are you coming?” She gave Julie a smile.
Julie slowly followed behind. Her feet were sinking into the sand with every step she took. She didn’t want to lose Zoe ever again. She didn’t want to break her heart either. And she hadno idea how she would pull that off. Her old feelings for Zoe were coming back in full force, like the dark waves relentlessly rushing onto the shore behind them.
Chapter 13
Zoe stood in the kitchen of the silent house, gulping down a glass of water. She had stopped drinking much earlier than all the other hens last night, but could still feel that she had partied a bit too much. She glanced over the living room area - the whole first floor of the house was a wooden and white painted open space - and saw a lump on the couch. Zoe squinted and realised that it was Leila, fast asleep on the sofa. She hadn’t even made it to her room last night. Zoe opened the glass door and went on the terrace at the back of the house. She sat in one of the chairs, thankful that she was wearing a warm sweater this morning. The North Sea could be so cold in the mornings.
Zoe yawned. She hadn’t slept a lot last night, not just because they had partied until the early hours of the morning. Julie’s confession had kept her up long after everybody else went to bed. She had never dared imagine that Julie had had a crush on her. Most people who did treated Zoe differently, even Tom. They would try to impress her, woo her, make her feel unique. Julie had never done any of these things. She had always just been Julie. She would patiently listen to Zoe try to decipher a news article in her broken French then decide that she wanted ice cream even if it was the middle of January. She would make Zoe laugh, without fail. Zoe had always wondered why Julie was single back then. She’d seemed like such a catch. Except for her punctuality. But Julie hadn’t seemed interested in anyone. Sheand Zoe would spend almost all of their waking time together. Yasmine had joked a few times that she should have become flatmates with Julie instead of her. In hindsight, maybe that was a sign that Julie had had feelings for her. That and the kissing…
Did Julie have someone these days? She hadn’t even asked her. Zoe played with her thumb around the rim of her glass of water. Hungry seagulls were shouting in the distance. It seemed so strange to her that Britain was right across this huge pond. The one time they’d gone there in their school days, Julie had pretended that she could see the cliffs of Dover and pointed them out to Zoe. She’d fallen for it. But that was in the past now. Just like Julie’s feelings for her. Zoe couldn’t help but think about what could’ve been when she’d gone to bed last night. It was silly, she knew it. She was about to get married to Tom. But her mind just wouldn’t shut down and she ended up longing for Julie’s warm body to carelessly brush against hers, like all the times they had shared a bed after parties when they were students. Why hadn’t she let Nicki come on this trip? She could’ve used her advice right now. She had no idea what to do with herself.
If Julie had someone… What did she look like? Zoe tried to picture this mystery woman. She’d have to be very pretty, of course. Driven or laid back? Julie was very laid back so she could be with either. Julie would make her laugh every day. Zoe wasn’t so sure that picturing all of this was a smart idea.
The glass door slid open suddenly, and Julie stood in the doorway, looking hesitant.
“Oh. Hey.”
“Hey.” Zoe tilted her head, inviting Julie to join her. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah. Like a baby.” Julie ran her hand through her hair as she stepped onto the terrace. “A drunk baby. And you?”
“Same.” Zoe smiled. Julie didn’t need to know the truth.
“That’s great.” Julie shuffled some sand off the terrace with her shoe. She walked towards the wooden railing and leaned on it. Zoe looked at her. The morning sun glinted off of Julie’s tousled curls. There really was no way she was single, Zoe thought. “It’s nice that we talked last night.” As soon as the words were out, Zoe wished she could take them back. She didn’t want to make things awkward all over again. Julie turned around and blinked at Zoe.
“It is. I’m glad we’re friends again.”
Zoe nodded awkwardly. The silence between them was filled by the sound of the waves.
“So what are your plans for later?” Zoe was too curious. She had to know if Julie was going home to someone or not.
“Hey, you two.” Yasmine walked out on the terrace, drawing Julie’s attention away from Zoe’s question. “How are you so awake so early?”
“I was a wuss and stopped drinking after we came home from the club.” Julie grinned. “How’s your head, soon-to-be-bride girl?”
“Terrible. I would have slept in more if those seagulls hadn’t decided to sing a concerto next to my bedroom.” Yasmine pulled on her face with her hands. “How are you feeling Zoe? Did you also play it safe like grandma over there?” She nodded at Julie.
“I did.” She lifted her hands up. “I had fun though. Thank you for this very good hen do.”
Yasmine smiled. “Thanks all of you for this hen do! I had an amazing time.” She gently elbowed Zoe. “Next one’s yours.”
Zoe squirmed. She really didn’t want to think about her wedding at the moment. “Sure. It will be great.” She glanced at Julie who was looking at her with wide eyes.
“Do you have any idea what you want to do already?” Yasmine kept pushing.
“Not yet. I’m taking things slow. I was quite busy with the latest season of my show.”
“Oh I love your show. I try to catch it on British TV or online whenever I get the chance. Do you watch it, Julie?”
“I don’t want to answer this question.”
“You don’t watch my show?” Zoe was slightly offended.
“I’m sorry!” Julie looked panicked. “In my defence I don’t watch anyone’s show! I don’t have a TV! It’s not against you, Zoe!”
“Sure.” Zoe smirked at her. Now that she knew that Julie had avoided her all this time due to a crush, Zoe wondered if that extended to not seeing her on television. The idea felt somehow exciting.
