Chapter 5 #2
Because the truth was, I’d been hyper-aware of Tommy’s presence since we boarded. He was the human equivalent of an eclipse – likely to cause long-term damage if I so much as glanced at it. Or rather, him.
At least I was wearing my own clothes again. In my bikini and a coverup I felt far less exposed than I had during the Solari photoshoot – and, by extension, less susceptible to an emotional stumble.
As the gargantuan silence stretched between us, I stared out at the cove where Trudy and Dale were making a valiant attempt at paddleboarding. Dale was doing okay, but Trudy had plonked her arse on the board, legs dangling, and was going around in circles.
Tommy had done his best to instruct them from the boat, but when it comes to paddleboarding, putting instructions into practice is something you have to figure out yourself.
‘Seems like they got some good photographs,’ Tommy said eventually.
Sticking to small talk, I see. It was a safe option, but even Elsa would have been preferable company to Tommy. Being alone with him was straining my resolve. Bugger off, Tommy! I willed him silently. Annoyingly, he stayed put.
‘Mmm,’ I murmured in reply.
‘And that teeny aqua bikini…’
I swivelled my head towards him. ‘Don’t you dare flirt with me,’ I snapped.
He lifted both his hands. ‘Not flirting, merely an observation.’
Yeah, right.
I held his gaze a moment longer and his dark-brown eyes bored into mine. Yep – exactly like an eclipse.
I looked away just in time to catch Dale coaching Trudy. She nodded a few times, planted her feet, then slowly straightened.
‘I’m doing it, I’m doing it!’ she shouted, laughter in her voice.
‘You’re doing it, babe,’ Dale called out proudly.
‘Woohoo!’ she bellowed, and I laughed, caught up in the joy of the moment.
I’d encountered happy couples before, two people in love who had gone the distance. For all intents and purposes, my parents fit into that category. They’re less overtly affectionate than Dale and Trudy were, but they adore each other.
Which is why, whenever the topic of marriage comes up during family occasions, Claude and I band together.
Mum, in particular, cannot fathom how both of her daughters ended up divorced.
Apparently, that isn’t how we were raised.
And, as I’ve committed that ‘sin’ thrice, I’m on the receiving end of three times the disappointment.
But I digress.
As I watched Dale and Trudy paddle around that stunning cove – its backdrop a sheer, limestone cliff face, and the water a shade of aquamarine I’d never seen before – I felt a pang of wistful longing.
Because I’d had that once. With the man at my side.
Until I didn’t.
‘Looks like they’re heading back,’ Tommy said, gesturing towards the dinghy, which Niki was steering towards us. She and Minh had taken it to shore to get some shots of the sailboat in the cove.
When they got closer, Niki called out, ‘Hey, Ally, can we get some pics of you standing on the bow?’
‘Sure,’ I replied, relieved to have a distraction. Reminiscing about what I once had was putting a dampener on the day.
‘Back to work,’ I said to Tommy, excusing myself.
There was a soft laugh at my back and I rounded on him.
‘Are you mocking me?’
‘Absolutely not,’ he said, hands raised. ‘But it’s hardly a grind, is it?’
‘Probably doesn’t seem like it to you, but I’ll have you know I’m very busy and important.’
Oops, I’d instinctually reverted to one of our in-jokes.
He smirked, that corner of his mouth hitching – this time for me. ‘Okay, Bridget.’
The years since we’d divorced fell away as our eyes met. It was all very well lusting after Tommy – well, it wasn’t, but you know what I mean – but there was no ignoring the impact of this well-practised routine.
These were actual feelings bubbling to the surface. My heart was thumping, my breath became shallow, and those stitches in my heart were no longer straining, they were starting to burst.
I couldn’t say whether it was perfect or imperfect timing, but Elsa appeared on deck, seemingly impatient to have a word with Tommy.
I took the opportunity to escape, leaving them to yet another whispered conversation, then carefully made my way to the bow, keeping one hand on the boat like Tommy had told us.
I was tempted to glance back to see if he was watching, but I didn’t want to risk being caught. Despite the thoughts and emotions whipping through me, I was still aiming for an air of casual nonchalance.
Oh, hey, fancy running into you on this private island that I was invited to last minute and hadn’t even heard of until five days ago! What a fucking coincidence!
I had a better chance of winning the British Lottery.
I got to the bow pulpit and parked my arse on it, my hands resting on the railing. I inhaled deeply and plastered on a fake smile.
‘How’s this?’ I asked loudly.
‘Yeah, that’s great,’ Niki replied.
Following her directions, I kept one eye on Tommy and Elsa.
Tommy glanced over, seeming unfazed, and that’s when it hit me.
Maybe this wasn’t as difficult for him as it was for me.
Maybe to Tommy, the past was in the past and his ex-wife showing up – as he’d said last night – was simply a complication.
‘Hey, Tom,’ Niki shouted from the dinghy. ‘Sorry to interrupt but…’
I watched closely as Elsa said something else to Tommy, then went back below deck. Perhaps she was a part-time vampire who could only tolerate five minutes of sunshine at a time.
‘How can I help?’ Tommy asked Niki.
‘Just thinking… can we get some pics of you and Ally?’
‘What?’ I blurted, panic rising. My eyes darted between her and Tommy. As if it wasn’t hard enough just being on this bloody boat, now she wanted us to pose together?
‘Er…’ said Tommy, scratching the back of his neck. Wait, was he seriously considering saying yes? ‘It might not be the best idea. Mr Cushing really wants the focus on our special guest here,’ he said, gesturing towards me.
I was part relieved, part peeved. Why did he have to say our special guest with such obvious disdain? It wasn’t my fault we were in this bizarre situation.
‘I can play with the depth of field,’ said Minh confidently. ‘You won’t be in focus – only Ally will be.’
No, no, no, no, no. Until then, I’d quite liked Minh. Now I wished that the dinghy would capsize, pitching him and all his camera equipment into the sea.
Tommy considered this and agreed, making his way to the bow, sure-footed and patently not holding on – not even once.
‘I thought you said to always have one hand on the boat,’ I chided as he approached. Yes, I was taking out my frustration on him, but so what? He deserved at least some of it.
He shrugged, seemingly unbothered, which was even more infuriating. ‘Not for experienced skippers.’
I rolled my eyes. Not that he could tell – I was wearing sunglasses – but it made me feel better. At least enough to get me through the next couple of hours.
Niki cut the motor on the dinghy and Minh lifted his camera as they bobbed nearby.
She directed us through a series of shots – me standing by the railing with Tommy in the background, Tommy pretending to hoist the anchor while I looked on… Dull as dishwater if you asked me, but I played nice, following Niki’s directions to the letter, wearing that fake smile the whole time.
I was a pro.
When Niki gave the thumbs up, relief coursed through me, and I tried to side-step Tommy so I could get to the stern. Dale and Trudy had returned with the paddleboards, and it was my turn.
But he blocked my path.
‘Excuse me,’ I said firmly.
‘Ally, we need to talk. Alone.’
‘Seriously? How many times have we been alone today and now you want to talk?’
‘No, I meant later – tonight. It’s important, Ally.’
‘Whatever, Tom,’ I said, roughly pushing past him.
But I didn’t want to talk to Tommy – not then and not later tonight. I just wanted to do a good job for Julian, then get off that bloody island!