Chapter 8
NOAH
So, Ali slept with her match.
I wasn’t judging. It was her body; she could do whatever the hell she wanted. It was just that…
It didn’t matter.
He’d better not disrespect her, or he’d have me to answer to.
I returned to finish breakfast with Kayleigh. Despite her cheerful conversation and the good food, there was a strange tightness in my chest. I pushed the feeling away and focused on the fact that today we’d be going to our first activity.
Kayleigh and I headed to the infinity pool where the briefing was being held.
Ali was already seated so I gave her a little wave. She’d changed into a low-cut white-and-blue striped dress and when I caught my eyes drifting to her chest, I quickly looked away.
What the hell was wrong with me?
Ever since I’d arrived in Santorini my brain had been doing crazy things. Must be the heat. Whatever the reason, it was no excuse.
‘Shall we sit here?’ I pointed to a daybed several metres away from Ali.
‘Great!’ Kayleigh said.
Once we were comfortable, I glanced at my watch. It’d just gone ten and Ali’s date wasn’t here. She wouldn’t like that. Ali was a stickler for punctuality. Then again, maybe he’d given her so many orgasms during their late night together that she didn’t mind.
After dinner, Kayleigh had invited me to her room, but I’d politely declined, saying that I’d had a long day and needed to rest.
I’d messaged Ali to check she was okay, some stupid part of me still thinking that maybe she’d gone back to her room alone and we could chat on the phone until late into the night like we used to.
But of course, she’d messaged to say she was with Adonis (still couldn’t believe that was his actual name), which was totally understandable.
We were here to spend time with our matches, not each other.
‘Hello, good morning.’ Petros greeted us.
‘Welcome once again to the Love Hotel, Santorini! During this morning’s briefing I will explain the plan for this week.
Each day you will go on an excursion to a beautiful location to help you spend time getting to know your match.
Whilst you are there, we would like you to take photographs together.
Then at the end of the day, we would like you to do three simple tasks: one, write down something you have learnt about your match; two, make a note of something you like about your match; and three, choose one song which either sums up how you feel about them or the day you spent with them. ’
‘Don’t we have to choose five songs?’ Ali asked.
‘Normally, yes,’ Petros replied. ‘When guests attend for the full two-week Love Hotel programme, the Love Tasks are more comprehensive. But because this is a different package and you are here for a shorter period of time, the tasks have been amended.’
‘Makes sense.’ Ali nodded, before looking behind her, then scanning the area, no doubt looking for Adonis the Arsehole.
Anger bubbled in my chest when I saw that there was still no sign of him. I couldn’t believe that dickhead had left her alone.
Fifteen minutes later, just as Petros had finished telling us that a coach would be in reception in half an hour to take us to our first destination and ended the briefing, Adonis casually rocked up, strolling towards Ali like he hadn’t turned up twenty minutes late.
He had his hand behind his back and I wondered why until he whipped out a single pink flower.
‘I am so sorry I did not get here sooner, my darling,’ I heard him say, before sitting next to Ali.
‘I went for a walk to try and find a flower that matched your beauty, but it was impossible. This was the closest I could find. Of course it cannot compare to how exquisite you are, but I tried my best.’
Was he for real?
Vomit caught in my throat.
Ali wasn’t gonna fall for that cheesy bullshit, was she?
But when I looked, she was beaming. Ali took the flower, which honestly looked like one he’d picked from the hotel entrance, then held it close to her chest.
‘Thank you!’ she gushed. ‘That’s so sweet. I better put it in water before we go.’
‘Awww. That’s so nice of him!’ Kayleigh grinned. Not her as well? I resisted the temptation to shake my head with disappointment. ‘Looks like your friend is really into her match.’
‘Yeah.’ I ground my jaw, still not believing how gullible she’d been. Ali was a strong, intelligent and confident woman, but when it came to men, she just rolled over and let them treat her like shit. It was painful to watch. She deserved so much more.
‘How long have you two known each other?’ Kayleigh asked.
‘Since we were four, so twenty-six years,’ I said. ‘Our mums were already friends because they played on the same netball team. But it was when we started going to primary school together that we started hanging out more, going to each other’s houses and stuff.’
‘Wow. That’s a long time. And you two never…?’
‘Never what?’ I frowned.
‘Y’know… hooked up,’ Kayleigh said, like it was obvious.
‘No!’ I balked. ‘Never. She’s like a sister to me.’
Why did people always ask that, like it was impossible to be friends with a person of the opposite sex without wanting to jump into their knickers?
So narrow-minded.
‘Oh, right, fair enough.’ Kayleigh shrugged. ‘I’d love to meet her.’
‘Sure,’ I said and led her over to Alicia.
‘Hi!’ Ali said when she saw us. ‘Look at this beautiful flower Adonis picked for me!’ she gushed.
‘Very nice,’ I said. ‘This is Kayleigh. Kayleigh, meet my best friend Alicia and her… it’s Adonis, right?’
‘That is correct. It is a pleasure to meet you. I did not realise that Alicia’s best friend was here.’
My stomach tightened. She hadn’t even mentioned me. That stung.
‘I thought I mentioned it last night? When we first met?’ Ali frowned. ‘Maybe I forgot. My mistake.’ She winced. ‘This is Noah. We’ve been besties since we were four.’
‘Interesting,’ Adonis added. ‘And the two of you have never…?’
Not him too.
‘With Noah?’ Ali said. ‘God, no! We’re like… Noah’s like a brother! We could never… but we’ve both been unlucky in love. That’s why we’re here.’
Although I’d literally just given the same explanation to Kayleigh when she’d asked if Ali and I were ever more than just friends, I had to admit that listening to how strongly Ali dismissed the idea of us ever being more, cut like a knife.
Not that it was something that I hadn’t heard her say before.
Anyway, it was fine. We were definitely better off as friends.
One hundred per cent.
‘Your days of bad luck with love are over, gorgeous.’ Adonis snaked his arm around Ali.
‘You two are adorable!’ Kayleigh said. ‘Such a cute couple.’
‘Thanks!’ Ali said. ‘You two are lovely too. Kayleigh, you’re absolutely stunning! Noah was telling me earlier that he’s a very lucky man.’
I was?
My brows furrowed, before I quickly readjusted my expression.
‘Awww.’ A huge grin spread across Kayleigh’s face. ‘That’s so sweet. I’m lucky too. I mean, have you seen this guy? There’s no way I’d be able to stay friends with him for decades without wanting to jump his bones.’ She giggled.
‘Ha!’ Ali laughed. I expected her to elaborate on all of the many reasons I wasn’t her type but instead she said nothing.
The silence stretched for several beats.
God, this was awkward.
‘We should go,’ I said. ‘The coach is leaving soon.’
‘Yeah. Good idea,’ Ali said. ‘I’ll meet you there, Adonis. I need to put this gorgeous flower in water.’
‘I will be waiting for you, beautiful.’ He grinned and I swear I nearly gagged again. Were women really into this cheesy shit?
Kayleigh and I walked to the coach and when we both caught sight of it, our jaws dropped.
The word ‘coach’ didn’t do it justice. It had a shiny black exterior and tinted windows.
Inside was just as impressive thanks to the wooden flooring and fancy reclining cream leather seats with lots of legroom.
It looked like the kind of luxury vehicle that a celebrity would hire for a high-end road trip.
Adonis followed shortly afterwards and sat a few rows behind us. When Ali got on, I turned to point her in the direction of Adonis who was sitting in the aisle seat. He’d definitely need to give that up for Ali.
Whilst most people loved a window seat for views, Ali needed the aisle seat. It was imperative. Especially if we were travelling anywhere with mountains or a steep drop.
‘Oh,’ she said to Adonis. ‘Is it okay if I take the aisle seat?’
‘I thought you would like the window seat. It is better, no? It is your first time in Santorini so you will want to see the views.’
‘Yeah… I just prefer the aisle. I get a bit, er jittery when I’m too close to the window.’
‘I am sure you will be fine at the window, beautiful,’ Adonis insisted. ‘The aisle seat is more comfortable for me. I can stretch my legs and feel free.’
I ground my jaw.
Why the fuck wasn’t he listening to her?
Ali had clearly said she needed the aisle seat and instead of being a gentleman and giving it to her, he was thinking about what was better for him.
And it wasn’t like this was a standard coach with limited legroom. It was spacious. Even a giraffe would have enough space to stretch out.
I was tempted to offer her my aisle seat, but that wouldn’t be fair on Kayleigh.
Maybe there was another row she could sit on. When I turned to check, all of the seats were full.
The journey to Fira, the town we’d be visiting first, shouldn’t be too far away, so hopefully Ali would be okay.
Her expression said otherwise though. As she reluctantly sat at the window seat, I saw the look of dread on her face.
Fucking Adonis.
‘You okay?’ Kayleigh asked.
‘Yeah. No.’ I scrubbed my jaw. ‘It’s just I know how much travelling in the window seat can freak Alicia out. She… let’s just say she had a bad experience.’
‘Oh no! You should totally give her yours,’ Kayleigh said.
‘No.’ I shook my head. ‘I’m sitting with you.’
‘It’s no big deal. We have the whole day and night to spend together. You two should catch up. I’ll sit with Adonis.’
‘You sure?’ I frowned.
‘Totally. He wants the aisle seat and I don’t mind where I sit. If it’ll help Alicia out, it’s all good. No point her suffering when we can swap so easily.’
‘That’s really kind of you,’ I said. ‘But only if you’re absolutely sure. I don’t want you to feel like I’m neglecting you. It’s just—’
‘I get it. You’re like a protective brother. I’d be the same with one of my siblings. Honestly, it’s cool! Come on. Jump up! I’ll get Alicia and let her know we’re swapping seats.’
At least someone was a decent person. Unlike a certain other guy.
Yep. I barely knew Adonis, but it was official. I didn’t like him.
At all.