Chapter Nine #2
“What about you? You could probably afford to cruise anywhere, right? Why here? And why not your very own private yacht?” He pauses for a second and I wonder if he’s going to call me up on changing the conversation away from me.
“I’ve been to most places. I’m well-travelled but rarely for fun.
I’m hoping this will be the first of many solo travelling experiences.
I like seeing places in detail. The smaller moments, you know?
The life of a place. Fascinates me how different cultures span cities, towns, even streets.
I love all that. Hence why I have my camera. So, I can capture it.
“Plus, I didn’t grow up with money. I can’t bear the thought of taking a yacht all by myself, it’s too pompous.
Boring too. I like being around people, I enjoy soaking in the buzz.
” He smiles at me. “You know, you missed out the other night. Edith, that elderly lady, she was a hoot. Those experiences are exactly what I signed up for. Two weeks of being treated as a normal person, enjoying things as they come.”
I blanch – this conversation is leading to that evening. “Yeah, that makes sense.” I look down at my hands. “You know, about the other night… I was feeling…” I don’t know how to finish that sentence.
“You don’t have to explain yourself. I get it.
Trust me.” He quickly steers us back to the original question.
I chew on my lips, trying to brush the moment away.
“Anyway, the Med seemed like the easiest location to persuade them I could do this alone. It’s easy to come get me when I inevitably fuck up and need rescuing. ”
“I don’t know why they didn’t trust you?” I mock.
He fights that grin. “Considering I’m so responsible and time-conscious?”
“And you’d never put your safety into the hands of strangers.”
He smirks. “Would I ever? You know what? I don’t care. I feel alive for the first time in a long time. And I’m settling in for a painfully uncomfortable night on a tiled floor.”
“I gave you a blanket,” I point out.
“Yep. Because you’re so kind and generous.”
I shrug. “It’s character building,” I say. And because I can’t help seeing him trying so hard not to smile, I add, “Which you clearly need.”
“Clearly, and on that note,” he says. “I probably should know more about you. Any characteristics I ought to know about? Any criminal records?”
I look away, licking my lips.
Gus nearly chokes on the pizza he’s chewing. “Oh my God,” he mumbles, eyes wide. “What did you do? Am I in danger?”
“No. It was just a D and D.”
“Dungeons and Dragons?”
I make a face. What is wrong with this guy? “No… what? Drunk and disorderly. I don’t like to talk about it.”
Something about this news delights him. “What did you do?”
“Not telling you. All I’ll say is it involved a Subway and a seagull.”
I can see him calculating the possibilities. “I have so many questions.”
“Keep them to yourself. I grew up in Brighton. Seagulls feature in nearly all my stories.”
“I like Brighton. You still live there?”
“I do.”
“Do you like it?”
“I enjoy the energy of the city. It’s been my home since I was a kid. I don’t know if I could see myself anywhere else. What about you? Where are you based?”
He twists his lips. “I’m from the Cotswolds.
But I don’t feel like I have a home anymore.
I’ve been here there and everywhere for so long now.
More recently I was staying in the townhouse in London that my band and I bought years ago as a base for when we were in the studio. It was kind of lonely to be honest.”
“The band weren’t there?”
He frowns. “No.”
He goes back to picking at his slice after this, so I seize the moment to phone the cruise company.
I give up after the sixth ring when they don’t answer and try the insurance company instead.
After sitting on hold, listening to the elevator music for twenty minutes, they pick up, only to quickly inform me that I didn’t pay the additional surcharge to cover abandonments.
Excellent.
We’re truly on our own.
We talk until Gus decides an evening walk will do us good.
We amble the streets of Split with full bellies and a relaxed feeling in our bones, knowing we’re going to make it to the port in time to catch the cruise again tomorrow.
If anything, it’s a moment of clarity that I wouldn’t have seen the city like this at all if I’d made it back to the ship in time.
I’m completely at ease as we walk the cobbled alleyways, listening to the bustling, busy restaurants, with tables lining the walls outside. I allow myself to soak it in.
Gus takes a few pictures, and I pretend not to notice when he snaps a few of me.
On the way back to the BnB, I pop into a small store to stock up on things we need, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, a pack of clean underwear, deodorant and a hairbrush.
I’m thrilled to discover my phone wallet app works here.
The shop also sells cheap t-shirts, and I gasp dramatically when I find a black one with Just4Summer branding on the front.
Four young faces grin enthusiastically, like all their wildest dreams have come true before they’re even older enough to graduate from school.
I hold it up against me, spinning to show Gus. “It’s five euros. What a rip off!”
“Hey, now. I feel like we’re pushing our luck if you wear that. Especially with my face on the front.”
I snort, grabbing an XL so I can wear it like a nightie. “You barely even look like this now. When was this taken? In nursery? Surely, that will make us less suspect. Who walks around in a t-shirt with the face of their companion on it? That’s insane.”
“You’re actually buying it?”
“I’m going to wear it to bed,” I say, thinking nothing of it.
But after I’ve paid at the till and turned back, he’s stood outside the shop again with a cautious look on his face. I pause. “Oh shit. Was that insensitive?”
“Was what insensitive?”
“Me. Buying that t-shirt.”
“No, Sara. That’s…” He licks his lips and forces a smile. “You’re fine.”