Chapter 8
EIGHT
“Hi, Mum.”
Sam hadn’t called home since arriving in Spain, and guilt finally caught up with him. Two weeks into his Spanish adventure, he knew he should probably share some of it. Of course he texted every day but his mother was old-school when it came to communications.
“Oh, Sam, it’s wonderful to hear your voice. How is it all going?”
“It’s good. I’m having a great time. I can’t believe how hot it is.”
His room still resembled a furnace.
“You’ve been gone ages. Are you eating properly? Are you getting on with everyone? What is the aquarium like?”
Sam thought about his roommates. Astrid and Maria were taking their mission to find Spanish lovers very seriously, and a steady stream of candidates had already found their way to the apartment.
After that first night out, Sam had decided to keep his distance. He hadn’t appreciated being abandoned the moment something more exciting appeared, and he had said as much the following day. Maria had seemed genuinely apologetic, while Astrid had waved his complaints away.
Genevieve and Paul mostly worked nights, so Sam rarely saw them. That left Wolfgang, who seemed to occupy more and more of Sam’s head with each passing day.
“Yeah, everyone is great,” Sam replied. “We’ve been getting out on the sea. We’re looking for rare squid.”
“Squid? Doesn’t sound very exciting.”
“Yes, I know, but I’m having fun.”
“Is your room nice?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say nice.”
“Send me a picture.”
Sam had absolutely no intention of doing that. His mother would go berserk. He tapped the leaflet he had picked up from a local shop the night before—a flyer advertising a flea market across town. He needed to buy a few things for his room. It desperately needed brightening up.
“I’ll send you one later. Listen, I’d better go. I just wanted to say hi.”
“You go and have some fun. All work and no play and all that. I love you, Sam.”
“I love you too, Mum.”
By now, Sam and Wolfgang had settled into a comfortable rhythm.
Wolfgang had thrown himself into studying, and Sam did his best to keep up.
They also had less glamorous duties, like cleaning the exhibits.
Their lunchtime discussions about the day’s work had become something Sam increasingly looked forward to.
Perhaps too much.
More than once, Sam had caught himself daydreaming about Wolfgang while supposedly scrubbing squid tanks. Miguel had already told him off twice for taking too long. He was fiercely protective of his squid.
Sam leapt out of bed and headed downstairs to make coffee. Maria had cleaned the kitchen the previous day. And still the countertop felt sticky. Not to mention the stains on the cutlery that would not shift.
Note to self: buy kitchen supplies at the market.
He dreaded to think who had lived there before them. Whoever it was clearly hadn’t believed in detergent. Only Maria and Sam seemed remotely bothered by the mess. Mind you, Sam had noticed Wolfgang buying takeaway coffee from the café across the road almost every morning.
Maria emerged from her room with a handsome man trailing behind her. After kissing him goodbye, she wandered into the kitchen.
“Morning.”
She appeared exhausted.
“Another late one?”
Maria nodded. “Astrid wanted to go clubbing. You should come with us next time. It was great.”
“Maybe. We should get Wolfgang to come too.”
Maria stole a sip from Sam’s coffee. “You two are getting mighty close. I was sure you’d bag Ruben. Perhaps you’ll wake up with Wolfgang instead. Lucky boy.”
On one hand, Sam didn’t have much choice but to get along with Wolfgang.
On the other, he genuinely enjoyed his company.
They had gone on walks together and even taken the open-top tourist bus around the city.
Wolfgang seemed determined to learn everything about Valencia, while Sam had mostly focused on getting a decent tan on the top deck.
The front door opened, and an effortlessly attractive Wolfgang poked his head into the kitchen.
How did he manage to look that good first thing in the morning?
“Put your trainers on and meet me downstairs in twenty minutes,” Wolfgang said. “We’re going for a run.”
“Have mercy on me.”
“You said I had to drag you out because you haven’t exercised since we arrived.”
I’m an idiot.
Sam turned to Maria. “Coming?”
“You sure?” she asked.
Astrid appeared behind Wolfgang and pushed into the kitchen.
“Sorry, Wolfie, we can’t. We’re going to the beach, remember? Pablo said he’d get us free sunbeds.”
Disappointment flashed briefly across Maria’s face.
“Oh yes, of course. Maybe next time,” Wolfgang said politely. His expression cooled as he stared at Astrid. “Please don’t call me Wolfie again.”
When Sam finally stumbled downstairs, Wolfgang was already warming up on the pavement. He looked incredible in his Lycra running outfit and appeared completely oblivious to the admiring glances he received from passers-by of every gender.
“Aren’t you going to stretch too?” Wolfgang asked.
He smirked when he noticed Sam staring, though he didn’t seem bothered by it. Sam quickly attempted a few half-hearted stretches.
“This is cruelty, you know,” Sam grumbled. “If I can’t make it to the flea market later, I’m blaming you.”
Wolfgang clapped him on the shoulder. “If you survive a run to the aquarium, I’ll come with you to the market in case you collapse.”
The prospect of following Wolfgang’s toned backside around Valencia—and later convincing him to carry the shopping bags—immediately improved Sam’s mood.
“You’re on. Lead the way.”
They set off towards the park. Sam had been right: the view alone almost made the run worthwhile. Wolfgang’s body was annoyingly perfect, making Sam painfully aware of his own lack of definition.
Must lay off the booze and pastries.
As they ran through the park, the shade from the trees brought some relief from the heat. Once Sam settled into the rhythm, he realised he was actually enjoying himself. Before long, they reached the underpass.
“Let’s take five,” Wolfgang panted.
Sam collapsed onto the grass verge, desperately trying to recover his breath. Wolfgang, meanwhile, appeared as if he had merely taken a gentle stroll. He stretched his legs beside Sam with the seriousness of a man who considered stretching a sacred ritual.
“I bet you already feel better,” Wolfgang said. “I’m surprised you didn’t go to the beach with the girls.”
Sam had been wondering the same thing. Ice creams and people-watching certainly sounded preferable to near death by cardio.
“I keep meaning to go,” he admitted, “I got the impression today was girls only. Maria would have come with us if she’d had the choice.”
“She is an adult. She can make her own decisions.”
Sam made a face. “Astrid doesn’t really accept no for an answer.”
“She has barely spoken to me. I think she sees me as a waste of time.”
Sitting up and taking a sip of water, Sam caught Wolfgang staring at him. As usual, Wolfgang’s expression gave nothing away.
“She definitely sees me as a waste of time,” Sam said. “And honestly, she’s probably right.”
Wolfgang shrugged. “She flirted with me during the first week. Nothing serious. She isn’t my type.”
That caught Sam’s attention.
They had spent hours talking about squid, marine biology and their hometowns, yet somehow they had avoided discussing anything remotely personal.
“What is your type?”
Wolfgang immediately stood and scanned the path ahead. “We shouldn’t stop for too long. Come on. Otherwise you’ll miss all the bargains.”
Then he took off down the path at alarming speed, forcing Sam to sprint after him.
The bleak car park outside the office block had transformed into a colourful bazaar. Stalls crowded every inch of tarmac, while locals bargained noisily with vendors. The atmosphere buzzed with life, and Sam immediately felt energised.
“I became obsessed with these places after a family holiday in Marrakech,” Sam informed Wolfgang. “That’s where I perfected the art of haggling.”
Wolfgang grimaced as though he would rather be anywhere else. Sam appreciated him honouring their deal.
Sam’s mission to improve his room started successfully. He bought a vintage Valencia poster, two plant pots and an utterly bizarre copper lizard. Wolfgang raised an eyebrow at the last purchase.
“Aren’t you getting anything?” Sam asked, amused by his confusion.
“I don’t need anything.”
Sam remembered Wolfgang’s painfully bare room. A bit of decoration might actually help him relax.
“I’m not sure about that. I dread to think what your flat in Germany looks like. Are you a minimalist?”
Wolfgang laughed before immediately frowning at a flamenco dancer figurine Sam had picked up.
“Perhaps. I don’t see the point in unnecessary clutter.”
“Do you live alone?” Sam asked, determined not to waste an opportunity to learn something new about him.
Wolfgang gently removed the figurine from Sam’s hand and replaced it on the stall.
“You really do want to know everything, don’t you, Sam?”
They squeezed through the crowds while one elderly woman attempted to sell Sam herbs guaranteed to make any woman fall in love with him.
Sam glanced sideways at Wolfgang.
Wonder if they work on tall German men too.
“That’s generally how people get to know each other,” Sam pointed out. “They share information.”
Wolfgang paused to inspect a grimy plate before shaking his head. “I do live alone, yes. What about you?”
“Nope. Still living with my mum. It cramps my style a bit, but it means I can afford things like this. Not that I’ve made much use of my freedom here either.” He paused when Wolfgang stared at him. “What?”
“Are you really like Astrid?” Wolfgang asked. “A different person every night?”
Astrid practically needed a revolving door fitted to her bedroom.
“She’s definitely a woman on a mission,” Sam said. “I wish I had that kind of confidence.”
“Senor!”
A stallholder waved Sam over to a display of extremely inappropriate postcards.
One featuring an exceptionally well-endowed bullfighter immediately caught Sam’s eye.
“Mum will love this,” he declared. “A true snapshot of Spanish culture.”
Wolfgang seemed horrified. “Your mother? I will never understand the English.”
“We’re all talk,” Sam admitted. “Honestly, I don’t really have Astrid or Maria’s confidence. I pretend well.”
After paying for the postcard, they escaped the packed market and stepped onto the pavement.
“I think you could get Ruben if you wanted,” Wolfgang said suddenly.
Sam blinked. Did he detect a hint of jealousy?
“I don’t think that would be a very good idea, do you?” Sam replied lightly. “He’s lovely though. Maybe in another life, I’d have gone for it.”
Wolfgang’s expression darkened instantly. “I think it’s inappropriate, the way he is around all of you,” he said sharply. “We’re here to learn, not to fall into bed.”
The bitterness in his voice surprised Sam. For once, Wolfgang had completely failed to hide his feelings.
Now Sam had to work out exactly what had caused that reaction: Ruben wanting him…or the possibility that Sam might want Ruben back.