An Island Promise

Chapter 1

1

JULY 2013, TEN YEARS AGO

10 p.m. – Belle

‘To friendship, fun, success and good times!’ Belle shouted over the thumping electronic beat from Café Mambo’s DJ booth. She slapped her hand palm down on the table that was sticky with spilt gin and grinned at her friends. Laurie pressed her hand on top then Gem did the same, her numerous rings glinting in the neon pink light. They threw their hands in the air with a whoop, picked up their drinks and downed them.

‘And to returning in ten years’ time!’ Laurie slammed her glass on the table.

Gem grimaced. ‘Bloody hell, we’re going to be flipping ancient by then!’

Laurie playfully whacked her arm. ‘Thirty-one is not ancient.’

‘Nope, but I want to be twenty-one forever.’ Gem sighed. ‘This week has been the best.’

Belle reached across the table and grasped her friends’ hands. ‘And it’s only going to get better, I promise. Ibiza is just the beginning.’

It really did feel like the start of the rest of their lives, with so much possibility in their futures. Best friends since they’d met at secondary school when they were eleven, this was their long-promised holiday together celebrating the end of an era, with each of them having recently graduated: Belle with Business Management and Marketing from Sheffield Hallam, Laurie with English Literature from Loughborough, and Gem with Art and Design from Bath Spa University.

At the end of a memorable week which had included an unforgettable booze cruise from San Antonio and an epic pool party at Ocean Beach, it had been Gem’s idea to treat themselves to an evening at the iconic Café Mambo where they could watch the famous west coast sunset while celebrating their last night in Ibiza. Gem’s idea to book a table had been a good one, made even better when their waiter brought over their food and replenished their drinks, his bulging biceps as appealing as the plates of croquettes, calamari, patatas bravas and the loaded nachos he placed in front of them.

‘Maybe after we’ve eaten we should go somewhere a little less busy?’ Laurie gestured across the packed terrace to where the path in front of the DJ booth heaved with people.

‘Are you fucking kidding me?’ Gem practically recoiled. ‘It’s our last night and Eric Prydz is playing. We have lucked out big time.’

‘Gem’s right,’ Belle agreed, ‘although I do still want to go to the club later.’

‘Ha yes,’ Gem snorted. ‘As long as you get to see a certain someone of the tall, ripped, epically handsome Spanish variety…’

All Belle really cared about was getting to see Diego one last time. She considered Laurie to be the prettiest with her long sleek black hair and beautiful doll-like half-Italian, half-Japanese features, while Gem was the most outgoing and eye- catching, but Belle had been the one to pull the ridiculously sexy club promoter. Although to be fair, Laurie and Gem both had boyfriends back home; not that it had stopped Gem getting up close and personal with a handful of guys. But Diego… Belle’s insides somersaulted at the memory of the two toe-curlingly good nights she’d spent with him.

To Belle’s left was a sea of tanned faces, people eating, drinking and fanning themselves in the oppressive heat, while beyond them others danced to the music’s strong beat, the familiar Balearic tunes capturing Belle’s attention. To the right, people spilled onto the narrow stretch of rocky beach, and San Antonio’s curving seafront lit up the night with its multitude of bars, hotels and cafés. Now the blood-red sun had set, the sea was violet-black, calm and placid. Half a dozen boats were anchored out in the bay silhouetted against the silvery night sky with beacons of light topping their masts.

Laurie picked up one of the chicken and jalape?o croquettes. ‘Talking about coming back here, what do you think you’ll be doing in ten years’ time?’

Gem wrinkled her nose. ‘It’s boring predicting where I’ll be because I know what I want. What would be more interesting is to predict where we see each other a decade on. Belle will definitely still be pulling hot Spanish guys,’ she said with a cheeky grin, ‘if the last week is anything to go by!’

‘I can absolutely live with that.’ Belle sipped her vodka, pomegranate and lime cocktail. She knew her words were full of bluster because she couldn’t imagine being with anyone who could match Diego. He was constantly in her thoughts, and the intense all-consuming feeling when she’d been with him was more than just about sex, she was sure. Over the last few days the thought of not leaving had flashed through her head. Like that could be a possibility. The strength of her feelings scared her, coming out of nowhere and crashing into her heart.

‘What about me?’ Laurie asked as she bit into the croquette.

‘You’ – Gem waved a finger in her direction – ‘are so going to be married with at least three kids in ten years.’

Belle shrugged in agreement as the beat of the music switched up a notch and a cry went up from the crowd gathered round the DJ booth. ‘You’ve already got the man – I mean, you’re halfway there.’

Laurie pursed her lips, momentarily looking put-out before grinning. ‘I thought I wanted to focus on my career after uni but all I can think about is starting a life with Ade. Like a proper life, not crashing at each other’s or putting up with his housemates smoking weed in the living room.’

‘Sounds all right to me.’ Gem raised her eyebrows.

Belle cupped her hands round her glass and leaned closer. ‘You’re going to move in together?’

There was an excited gleam in Laurie’s eyes. Talking about the guy she’d fallen in love with during her first year at university was obviously filling her with joy. ‘We just need to decide where.’

‘You do realise you can have both,’ Gem said forcefully. ‘A career and a family. You don’t have to choose one over the other. We’re the generation that can totally have it all. Establish your career for a few years, have the wedding of your dreams then start a family. You can have everything you want – if it’s what you want?’

‘Since meeting Ade, absolutely. I was always so focused on what I wanted to do career-wise and I still am, it’s just he’s changed my whole outlook. I can’t imagine my life without him. And oh my God I never understood anyone who said they were broody, but since being with Ade I get it!’

‘Ah, true love.’ Gem pretended to stick her fingers down her throat, dramatically gagged then laughed. ‘Go on then, what about me? What will I be doing in ten years?’

‘Running your own business,’ Belle said without hesitation as she scooped up a nacho topped with cheese and guacamole.

Laurie raised her glass of gin and tonic. ‘Exactly what I was going to say.’

Belle wiped the guacamole from her lip and nodded. ‘You’ll have shitloads of money, a seafront apartment somewhere swanky and will travel all the time.’

‘So I’m definitely escaping our shit-boring town where bugger-all happens?’

‘Absolutely!’ Belle said with passion. ‘You could always move to London with me.’

‘Maybe, after I’ve been travelling. I fancy living in Paris or Barcelona. God, anywhere but bloody Norfolk. I need to get out.’

‘You’ll have a string of guys after you in the process,’ Laurie chipped in.

Gem frowned. ‘You don’t see me with Dan?’

Belle choked back a snort and censored her reply. ‘You’re going travelling without him, so really the question is do you realistically see yourself with him?’

A sly smile snuck across Gem’s face. ‘Nah, course not. At least not long term. I just like to keep my options open.’

Neither Belle nor Laurie commented further. Belle knew Gem’s relationship with Dan was doomed, if the last week in Ibiza was anything to go by. She may not have fully sampled the local totty, but she’d kissed enough of them. Nope, Dan certainly hadn’t been on her mind and Belle was hard-pressed to see how they could possibly have a future, not when she was taking six months out to go travelling with a friend from university who also loved to party. Belle knew exactly what she’d be getting up to without them to keep an eye on her.

‘Seriously though,’ Belle said as she gazed across the terrace to where people were dancing with their hands in the air in front of the electric-blue Café Mambo sign. ‘Apart from continuing to pull hot Spanish guys, where do you really see me?’

‘Well, you already have a dream job lined up in London,’ Laurie said. ‘So that’s a fabulous start. I see you meeting someone, falling in love and getting married. You’ll have a dream man, dream house, dream kids and dream life. You’re going to have it all just like Gem suggested for me.’ She raised her glass and clinked it against Belle’s. ‘And Gem will have it all too, with or without Dan!’

‘Ditto to that.’ Gem’s glass joined theirs in a drunken clunk. ‘And we make a promise now to have a reunion holiday here in ten years to celebrate living our best lives!’

Belle downed the remainder of her vodka cocktail. Yes, she had a job lined up, the move to London sorted and a clear path to the career and life she wanted, yet she felt certain she’d be leaving her heart behind. Unless of course her infatuation with Diego was just that and once she was home starting her new job all thoughts and feelings for him would drift away. Of course they will , she reasoned. Diego was a holiday fling, nothing more. It couldn’t possibly be true love. Could it?

2 a.m. – Laurie

Laurie retched. Oh God oh God oh God oh God did she feel crap. It was as if she was floating in a weird kind of distorted fishbowl, other people’s movement large and in slow motion.

She was definitely sitting on a stool, her legs dangling, her arms sprawled on the cold metal of the polished bar. She remembered leaving Café Mambo and she’d felt okay, happy drunk rather than whatever the hell this was. They’d stopped at some Irish bar on the way to the club, but after that… She lifted her head again and her stomach muscles constricted as a wave of nausea gripped her.

Where were Belle and Gem? She wanted to search for them but the slightest movement sent her head spinning and sick racing up her throat. The lights behind the bar were too bright yet fuzzy around the edges, the barman a sickening blur as he busied about. People jostled her, elbows jabbing into her arms, her sides.

Her throat was sore from having had a conversation with someone where they’d had to shout to be heard over the intensity of the music. He’d seemed a nice guy who hadn’t been intent on trying to snog her or anything like that. He’d bought her a drink, said he was on holiday with friends. She’d said something about Ade. They’d definitely had another shot or two and that was where her memory failed.

An arm slid across her shoulders. Laurie tensed. She was out of it but not enough to realise how easily she could be taken advantage of.

‘You okay?’

A voice, warm and familiar in her ear, instantly calmed her racing heart. Belle.

‘I feel sick.’

‘I’m not surprised.’ Laughter wrapped around Belle’s words. ‘Do you think you can stand?’

Laurie groaned. ‘Not sure. Was talking to some guy. You think he spiked my drink?’

‘Nope.’ Belle picked up an empty shot glass and sniffed it. ‘Pretty certain you snorting vodka did this. I’ve been keeping an eye on you.’

Laurie retched again. ‘Gonna be sick.’

‘Oh shit.’ Belle’s hold on her shoulders loosened momentarily, then her grip tightened as she helped her off the stool.

Laurie’s legs felt like a combination of shaky jelly and heavy concrete as Belle supported her. Everything spun, a sickening swirl of flashing lights, heaving bodies and laughing Joker-like faces. She might as well have been staggering across the deck of a ship in a storm, her stomach was lurching that much. It took a huge effort to stop herself from vomiting in the middle of the club as the waft of sweat and sickly perfume assaulted her. Belle’s fingers dug into her skin as she shoved open a door. Laurie’s relief when they entered the relative quiet of the toilets was immense as Belle manoeuvred her into an empty cubicle.

Laurie dropped to her knees, slamming hard onto the tiled floor, the fall dulled by the excess alcohol. Belle swept her hair away from her face and into a ponytail. Crouching over the toilet, she emptied the contents of her stomach until all she brought up was bitter bile. Never had she felt this bad, this sick, this drunk, this out of control. She didn’t like it one bit.

2.30 a.m. – Gem

‘Hey, you here on your own?’ a deep voice shouted close to her ear. ‘Can I buy you a drink?’

Gem looked up from her phone into a smiling but drunken face. A Brit abroad. Probably a bit younger than her if the angry spots on his face were anything to go by. He had a nice-shaped face otherwise and he’d probably grow into his good looks, a guy who’d definitely improve with age.

‘I’m good thanks. Waiting for my friends.’

The guy smirked, leaned his arms on the table next to her then waved to someone. Three more guys joined them, looming as they crowded round, forcing Gem to press close against spotty guy.

‘Hey, this table’s taken.’

‘We’ll wait with you,’ the spotty guy said smoothly. ‘Just till your friends return.’

Gem’s drunken fuzziness switched to acute clarity and the realisation that she was on her own and surrounded by drunk strangers. Drunk, unpredictable and unwelcome.

Bloody Belle and Laurie. Where the hell were they? Belle had gone to get Laurie from the bar, said she wouldn’t be long; she’d even left her phone on the table. Gem had lost sight of them when a different guy had tried to chat her up. She’d played along for a bit then sent him on his way. Since then she’d lost track of time, but they’d been gone flipping ages.

These guys were more insistent. Whether they were interested in her or having somewhere to put their drinks she wasn’t sure, but despite her drunkenness every part of her was on high alert. Spotty guy’s body was pressed tight against hers and his friends were loud and crude joking together. She absolutely didn’t want to stay hemmed in like this one second longer.

She scooped up Belle’s phone and her own. ‘Going to find my friends.’ She squeezed past spotty guy, her heart hammering as he grabbed her bum, his laughter making her want to punch him. She pushed him away and made a beeline for the bar, but neither Belle nor Laurie were there. Silver lights cut across the dancefloor. It was packed with people and it would be next to impossible to find her friends if they were dancing. Catching sight of spotty guy heading her way, she set off in a panic towards the exit.

As she stumbled outside, the slightly fresher hit of air after the bone-shaking music inside the club snatched her breath away. She swayed, steadying herself on the wall of the car park as she tried to get her bearings. Even though Belle didn’t have her phone, why the hell couldn’t they have rung on Laurie’s? Gem clicked her name and called, her heart sinking when it went straight to answerphone.

Then she saw them, the group of guys from the club, heading towards her, big and intimidating. Pushy pissed-up Brits. Without thinking, she staggered in the opposite direction, realising too late that she needed to head back towards the club to notify security, not away from other people.

‘Hey, darling,’ drawled a thickset man with tight trousers and oversized shoulders that made him look like he was on steroids. ‘Can’t find your friends? We’ll look after you, won’t we, lads?’

They sniggered. Gem’s heart pounded. Her confidence in the way she looked showing off her curves in a tight, lowcut dress was usually a strength; right now it was a potentially catastrophic weakness. She was drunk and even in her sparkly sneakers she had zero chance of outrunning them.

Spotty guy hooked his arm around her waist, pulling her tight against him, wafting beer breath and an overpowering aftershave in her direction.

‘Gem?’

Her head whipped round. She didn’t remember telling them her name. Her heart thudded even more as ‘Gem’ was repeated in a deep, unfamiliar voice. With a Spanish accent. Beyond the circle of pissed-up Brits, she locked eyes with Diego. He glanced between her and the group of guys then strode over.

‘Are you okay?’ The concern filtering through his words matched the worry on his face. Spotty guy’s arm tightened on her waist as his fingers dug into her hip. She was trembling so much her ability to speak deserted her. Sizing up to spotty guy, Diego shouldered into him. ‘She’s with me.’

Diego took Gem’s hand and swept her away. She’d never felt more grateful to anyone for being there right when she needed them. Diego only stopped when they reached the road that ran alongside the main beach in San Antonio. Still holding his hand, Gem looked up at her Spanish saviour.

‘Thank you,’ she managed to utter. She understood the danger she’d been in, the recklessness of too much to drink, of losing the others and ending up on her own.

‘Where’s Belle?’ Diego frowned down at her as he let go of her hand. ‘And your other friend?’

‘Belle went to check on Laurie.’ Gem waved her hand in the direction of the club. ‘I lost sight of them. Got freaked out by those guys. Stupidly thought it’d be a good idea to leave. They followed me.’

‘It’s okay now,’ Diego said, his voice suddenly softer. It was only when he wiped away a tear from her cheek that she realised she was crying. ‘We call Belle, yes, and find them?’

Gem held up Belle’s phone. ‘She left it and Laurie’s is going straight to answerphone.’

Diego frowned. ‘You think they come outside?’

‘I don’t know where they’ve gone.’ Gem shrugged. ‘I know Belle wanted to see you…’ She took a deep breath. ‘We can go back in and find them.’

Diego shook his head. ‘They won’t let you back in, not without buying another ticket.’

‘Shit.’ Gem cursed her stupidity, although the thought that spotty guy and his friends’ night had been ruined as well was rather satisfying. ‘Maybe we should walk a little. Could do with clearing my head.’ She needed to breathe and calm herself down.

Diego momentarily hesitated before leading the way across the road and onto the path next to the palm tree-lined beach.

Gem hadn’t really talked to Diego. She was pretty certain Belle hadn’t done much talking with him either beyond the evening they’d first met. Gem and Laurie had put a ‘next round of drinks on you’ bet on how quickly Belle would end up kissing him. Gem had won. She’d also predicted that Belle would go home with him. She’d been right about that too. Not that she blamed her; up close, she could see how attractive he was, combined with a hell of a sexy accent. He smelled damn good too.

Even away from the lights, heat and pulsing beat of the club, her head still spun. Being outside had helped despite her drunkenness. Only Diego was the constant as they walked together, their arms occasionally brushing each other’s as people passed by too close. Was he doing all the talking or was she? She felt not quite herself, not fully present, floating on a cloud of alcohol. It was their last night on Ibiza. Even with a late flight the next day, drinking to excess probably hadn’t been the smartest move, but hey, she was only young once. Real life was calling: travelling for a few months before making career decisions and deciding where to live, the start of her grown-up life. She was determined to no longer be a poor student; she had dreams and an ambition to turn her Art and Design degree into a career in interior design. She wanted exactly what Belle and Laurie had predicted: to be her own boss, to smash at work and life, to snag her dream man. To have it all.

They made it all the way to the end of the tree-lined promenade next to the marina when Diego stopped.

‘I can walk you back to your hotel?’ he suggested. ‘Maybe they’ve gone there?’

Gem gazed at the lines of white boats glowing bright against the inky water and the entrancing lights pooling from the hotels and bars across the road. Belle hadn’t come back; Gem assumed she and Laurie were together, either still at the club or back at their hotel oblivious to her trying to call. Belle was missing her chance of one last night with Diego, while Gem didn’t want to sleep. She didn’t want to say goodbye to the freedom and hedonism of Ibiza.

‘I’m not ready for my last night to end. I want to keep partying.’ She didn’t quite know where this idea had come from. Was it because she’d had a fright and Diego had been her knight in shining armour? Or was it because she was annoyed with herself for leaving the club, and a little miffed at Belle and Laurie for disappearing, whether intentional or not? ‘Take me somewhere.’

8.20 a.m. – Gem

Gem had been awake for close to twenty-four hours, had drunk enough alcohol to open her own bar and would probably be over the limit for the next three days, and yet her ability to sleep was non-existent. She rolled onto her back. The whole night was a blur, fragmented moments with blank bits in between: Laurie looking sheet-white at the bar; Belle going to check on her, then losing them both; how vulnerable she’d felt with spotty guy and his friends before Diego had saved her.

Diego.

The dark room swirled as Gem fought back bile. She hadn’t been ready for the night to end and Diego had outdone himself, taking her to Pacha, the iconic super club that would have been out of her price range if Diego’s mate hadn’t worked there and got them in. Swept up in the euphoria of the night, she hadn’t cared where the others were while she partied into the early hours surrounded by beautiful people, Diego by her side. They’d danced together in the main club and talked about their hopes, dreams and ambitions on the rooftop terrace. Hands down it was the best night of the holiday, probably her whole fucking life, and yet the enjoyment had been tainted by the realisation that her friends had missed out.

She hadn’t remembered leaving and had no idea of the time, just a vague recollection of being in a taxi zooming through dark streets before they’d been dropped off at an apartment block she thought was back in San Antonio. After that, there were only wisps of memories. Giggling with Diego as they’d stumbled into a room, the lamplight making her squint and head pound. Diego pouring drinks while she’d escaped to the bathroom. She’d stared at herself in the mirror, sleepy and drunken, her blonde hair tangled, a smudge of mascara beneath her eyes, her lipstick kissed off, but by who was anyone’s guess. Then she’d noticed the missed calls, a voicemail plus a message from Laurie. No, from Belle on Laurie’s phone because Gem still had hers. She hadn’t listened to the voicemail, read the message properly or bothered to reply.

She’d stumbled back into Diego’s compact room. The brief thought that drinking more was a bad idea was immediately dispersed as he’d handed her a tequila and she’d downed it.

Then the thank-yous had tumbled from her, for him giving her the best night of her life, for him saving her. He poured a second shot and her heart raced as they downed them too. Dawn had already broken, their Ibiza holiday would soon be over and in just a few hours she’d be heading home. Only temporarily, she’d told herself. She had plans, and by the end of August she’d be travelling again.

Gem had locked eyes with Diego; his were deep brown, framed by long lashes. Hot breath on her neck. A tingle as his hands settled on her hips. The brush of his lips against hers. Or was it her lips against his? Was it their first kiss or had that already happened?

He’d manoeuvred her onto his bed, and she’d wanted it. Wanted him. She’d lost herself to his kisses and caresses. Pushing all thoughts that sleeping with him was wrong to the back of her mind, she’d said yes to everything…

Gem turned her head and tried to focus on Diego, the rise and fall of his chest with only the white sheet in the dim light covering his nakedness. She wanted to sleep, desperate to be rid of the nausea. A headache forewarned of the intensity of the hangover that was brewing. Although that was the least of her worries.

Gem tucked her arms around the pillow. It smelt of perfume and smoke. Bile climbed her throat. She shut her eyes tightly, banishing the image of Diego naked next to her. The darkness made her head feel as if it was revolving round and round, and wouldn’t stop.

She should have thanked him for saving her from the unwanted attention of those pissed-up guys and left it at that. When he’d suggested he walk her back to the hotel to see if Belle and Laurie were there, she should have agreed. Her eyes fluttered open again and the swirling eased a touch. Diego’s handsome face was outlined by the sunlight slipping through the gap in the blinds. Gem breathed deeply as she swiped away a tear. She shouldn’t be the one lying next to him flushed from the best sex of her entire life. She gulped back a sob.

Belle could never find out.