Chapter 38
I know that food will make me feel better eventually if I can just push through the ‘dear God, I can still taste the booze, make it stop’ feeling that’s lingering. The older I get, the longer my body chooses to punish me for the audacity of trying to have a nice time.
As I stick my fork into a lukewarm pancake, an email from Alex appears in my inbox. Shit. I did email him. It wasn’t part of a drunken fever dream.
To: Sophie Smalls
RE: Hello!
Hi,
Once I had deciphered that message it started to make sense. Mostly. I was just saying to my neighbour the other day that there was a distinct lack of stairs around here. Now I know why.
This might not be what I had in mind when I wrote the article. But it is a million times better. Let me know how that hangover works out for you.
Alex
‘Sophie! Another beautiful day!’
My head snaps up in surprise. It hurts.
Ellis, looking remarkably fresh, pulls out the chair in front of me. Inside, I scowl. How can he be so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when I resemble those bodies we saw yesterday in Pompeii? I hear a plate crash at the hot food station. Someone cheers.
‘Please don’t shout,’ I say quietly, trying not to rest my head on the table. ‘Mai tais are both my best friend and my enemy. They also make me ravenous and nauseous at the same time. Quite the feat.’
‘You’re not in the mood for dancing then?’
My mind races back to last night. Suggesting Ellis might push me overboard, that he might enjoy prison before asking him if he hangs upside-down pineapples on his cabin door. That probably wasn’t my finest hour. I’m embarrassed but attempt to laugh it off.
‘You should try one of the other restaurants for breakfast,’ he suggests, buttering some toast. ‘I had some outstanding French toast and eggs Benedict the other day. Worth waiting a little longer for.’
I look at the mishmash of food on my table. ‘Yeah, but do they serve little boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and lukewarm sausages? Can you refill your coffee seventeen times without the waiter sighing at you in exasperation?’
He pushes his own box of cereal across the table. ‘Nope. That’s exactly why I’m here. So, what are your plans today?’
‘Ship day,’ I reply. ‘After I go back to bed. I’m not sure I could manage another excursion after walking the entire length of Italy yesterday. Plus, I’m busy trying to eat my way out of this hangover.’
He laughs. ‘Maybe saving your energy is the sensible approach. But you could absolutely ignore that and come with me to Pisa today.’
‘We’re not anywhere near Pisa,’ I inform him. ‘And I’m not even sure that’s a real place.’
‘It is and we are. We’re docked in Piombino port as we speak.’
‘Piombino? Now you’re just making up names. Anyway, I haven’t booked anything, which—’
‘Doesn’t matter. We’ll get the train. It’ll be an adventure.’
I put down my fork and make a groaning sound. ‘Ellis, I’m exhausted. I’m grumpy. I’m not sure I could even walk further than my room. You would have to tie a rope around my waist and drag me, Wild West style.’
He grins. ‘I could do that, but you’ll be fine. It’s a beautiful city, well worth the additional blisters and crippling muscle fatigue. Trust me. What do you say?’
Alex Steward’s voice creeps into my head.
Say yes.
I’ve never heard his voice in real life but in my mind he sounds exactly like Christopher Walken.
‘Can I at least finish my breakfast first?’ I ask. ‘Pound some water. Maybe change into something less dowdy?’
‘Of course, although what you’re wearing is fine.’
Liar. I glance down at my old sundress. In my defence, when I packed it, I didn’t realise just how worn-looking it was. It was thrown into my suitcase on a whim. I’m only wearing this because everyone is half asleep at breakfast and I had every intention of disappearing back to my room unnoticed.
‘I look like a bag lady. You don’t have to flatter me, I’ll come. But if I throw up, you’re in charge of holding back my hair.’
‘Deal. Good decision. About an hour then? I’ll meet you in the atrium.’
He downs his coffee and zips away. I eat his second piece of untouched toast. I’m going to need all the energy I can get.