Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
WILL
Day Three
‘Let’s go on a cruise.’ Sam places the latte on the table. He’s somehow shaped a Pikachu out of foam. It’s early morning, the sun only now rising. The coffee shop is yet to open, Sam busily prepping all morning.
‘A cruise?’ I ask, distracted by the cute little electric mouse.
‘They run daily. All-day cruise. Three separate islands.’
‘What about the shop?’ What about my new-found career as a wedding planner?
He shakes his head, as if it doesn’t matter.
‘Mum is around.’
‘Won’t she mind?’
‘No way.’ Sam laughs it off. ‘She’ll be happy I’m going out and doing something. Besides, might be a good way for us to act like a couple. Really get into it.’
He’s on board with this. As I think about it, I snap a photo of the latte. Foam Pikachu can’t get away without a picture.
‘How did you do this?’ I hold my phone at an angle to achieve the perfect shot.
‘Magic.’
He leaves me in the heart of the coffee shop.
Last night with Ollie has left me in a murky haze. A restless night followed. It’s why I clutch my Pikachu latte, as if the charge will keep me going. Can I be friends with Ollie? As his friend, should I say yes to his wedding prep?
Despite my attempts to get Ollie to further open up, I got nothing in return. He preferred instead to talk about mundane things, like his job.
And Alec.
Almost like he wanted to pick a fight. A competition for who has the best partner.
He won that one.
Because mine is fake, currently on the phone to his mum and bribing her with cake to cover his shift.
The night with Ollie wasn’t like I’d imagined it would be.
I used to spend countless nights picturing what I’d say if I ever saw Ollie again in person.
I’d tell him my feelings, and he would listen and understand.
I’ve spent much of my time rehearsing conversations that would never happen.
It all evaded me last night with him right there.
The need for closure is larger than ever.
And now, I could be potentially helping him organise his wedding to another man.
‘Darling,’ I say, keeping my voice sweet.
Sam, who’s just finished his phone call, looks around the empty coffee house. ‘Me?’
‘Lover boy,’ I swoon.
Sam strolls over, laughing. ‘Is that what we call each other now?’
‘We have to try out some pet names.’ I sit a little taller, meaning business. ‘Make it convincing.’
Sam places a finger to his lips, lost in thought. ‘Sugar lips.’
‘No.’
‘No,’ Sam agrees.
‘English muffin,’ I say, ‘what if we went on a double date?’
Sam folds his arms, confused.
‘With Ollie.’ I’m sure it doesn’t need clarification. ‘And Alec.’
‘You want to double-date with them?’
‘I thought of it last night,’ I explain. ‘After Ollie asked me to help with his wedding.’
Sam sits across from me, leaning back, his knees touching mine.
I don’t move away.
Neither does Sam.
The touch is like a fizzing static, waiting to be unleashed. I glance at Pikachu.
‘That’s big.’
‘I know.’
‘What did you say?’
My fingers splay out around the mug. ‘He said I could think about it.’
‘And have you?’
‘I’d like to be casual and say I haven’t thought about it at all, but it’s all that’s been on my mind since.
’ I glance at Sam, trying to read his expression, but he gives nothing away.
‘He said about us being friends. But he also said he’s missed me.
And I thought, we’re in this now, aren’t we?
What if we offered to double-date, and then I can tell him what I’m thinking when it comes to helping him with his wedding? ’
Sam’s hands are clasped together, his thumbs rolling over one another. It’s oddly mesmerising. ‘Okay.’
‘You’ll do it?’
‘I’ll do it,’ he says. ‘That’s what fake boyfriends are for.’
‘I’m glad you agree.’
‘Do you want to help him?’
I blow air into my cheeks, sitting back in my seat. ‘Truth is, I don’t know.’
‘Think about it.’
‘Yeah, I’ll think about it.’
‘And I’ll be right here with you.’
There’s a twinkle in his eye.
Can I see myself picking flower arrangements and attending suit fittings and God knows what else for my ex who I definitely shouldn’t have feelings for?
Sam stretches, his T-shirt riding up, revealing a trail of hair that disappears beneath Calvin Klein boxers. My eyes linger too long, only snatching away when he laughs.
‘Like that?’
‘I… What?’
He touches the soft hair, eyes on me.
‘My treasure trail,’ Sam says.
‘Oh, was I looking?’
‘You tell me.’
‘Take it as a compliment.’
To my disappointment, Sam leans forward, the hair vanishing underneath his T-shirt.
‘You wanna see where it disappears to?’
My heart flips, eyes popping, and I’m lost for words, until Sam’s laughter brings me back to reality.
‘You should see your face.’
‘Am I blushing?’ I tap my cheeks for good measure.
‘Like Pikachu.’ He shifts in his seat, his legs no longer touching mine. Resisting the urge to slide forward just a little to find him again, I instead drink my latte, my eyes on the floor.
‘Text him.’ Sam breaks the silence. ‘We can have the double date here. I’ll cook.’
‘Sam, we can’t have it here,’ I gasp. ‘He can’t know that you live here.’
‘Oh, right, yeah.’
‘But…’ A thought. ‘What if we say we know the owners here? Or, like, we booked it?’
‘Okay.’ Sam’s brow furrows. ‘And I’ll still cook?’
‘Yes.’ I’ve never been so certain of anything. ‘I will not turn that down.’
‘You might regret that. I’m an awful cook.’
‘Maybe you can give Alec food poisoning.’
Did I say that?
Sam gasps for dramatic effect.
‘I don’t mean that, obviously.’
‘You do.’
‘No, I don’t,’ I protest. ‘No, if we’re going to give him food poisoning, we should do that the night before his wedding.’
Sam raises his eyebrows, perfect creases on his forehead. ‘When did you become the villain?’
‘It’s Greece,’ I say. ‘It has that influence on me.’
I sip the latte. Pikachu has long since faded, but at least I have the photo for memories. An addition to the one Sam and I took at the Parthenon, which I was looking at last night, and early this morning. I also thought of the way he’s looking at me in that Polaroid.
‘How will we break up?’ I ask, putting my latte on the table. ‘Will you break my heart, or I break yours?’
‘Who says we have to break up?’ Sam asks.
‘Don’t be silly, Sam, we can’t fake-date after their wedding,’ I say. ‘You’re there so I don’t look like a loner. Now, who breaks up with who? Whom?’
Sam strokes his chin, a mocking of an introspective thinker.
‘You break mine.’
‘Wow, okay.’
Sam winks. ‘You’re the villain, remember?’
God, that was sexy.
‘Maybe this is the first time we’ve been away together,’ I say. ‘And we’ve realised we can’t holiday together, and we hate each other.’
Sam leans both his arms on the table, biceps curling, legs spreading out. It’s such a simple stance, but why does it make my stomach knot?
‘I like that, but as part of your villain edit, how about you decide you don’t like me?’ he asks. ‘I don’t have a problem being away with you, but you find me messy, disorganised, and can’t put up with it.’
‘Yes, the thought of living with you is like a nightmare.’
Sam taps the table. ‘Sorted.’
‘Sorry to break up with you like this.’
‘All in due time,’ Sam says. ‘We have to play it longer first.’
He’s enjoying this too much, and it’s infectious. He’s got me giggling as he gets up to water the plants.
‘Hope you’ve packed your swimwear,’ Sam says, as he carefully waters a snake plant.
‘I can get it.’
‘Great. Mum will be here in no time, and then we’ll go.’
It’s not until I’ve gone back to the hotel that I realise the only swimwear I’ve got is the type I intended to use to impress a man. A bold red Speedo trunk, tight and revealing.
A good idea at the time. Something to remind Ollie of what he’s been missing.
After today’s boat trip, I think Sam is going to know me a lot better.