Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
Predictably, Astrid got to her feet first. She stalked over to Sam and raised her hand.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” he spat.
Maria leapt off her seat and grabbed Astrid. “Don’t, Astrid. Please.”
Astrid wrestled out of Maria’s grip. She slammed her hand down on the table, making everyone jump.
“I don’t know what kind of lovers’ tiff you had up there. How lovely for us all to hear how you really feel.”
Maria bundled Astrid onto her empty chair. Astrid was not for consoling and burst into hysterical sobs. Her impressive performance seemed to have the others gripped. Sam noticed not a single tear had left her eyes yet.
He needed to get out of this situation of Wolfgang’s making, who’d run home to Mummy. He turned toward the stairs.
“Not so fast,” Genevieve said.
Here we go.
“Fine,” he said. “I can understand how you’re all upset by what you overheard. But let’s face it, I only spoke the truth.”
Genevieve reared as if she had every intention of trying to take Astrid’s crown of house drama queen. Paul rubbed her back and scowled.
“You’re out of line, Sam,” he said. “I think an apology is in order.”
It was time to attempt some damage limitation.
“You’re right,” he said. “I said those things in the context of mouthing off. I didn’t mean any of it. I’m sorry.”
Paul looked to Genevieve, who shrugged. None of this appeared to have been lost on Astrid, who peeped through Maria’s suffocating embrace. She pushed her away and, in a performance Meryl Streep would be proud of, got shakily to her feet.
“It’s not as easy as that, Sam,” she said. “I bet you’ve been badmouthing us to Ruben as well. He’s been hard on me for a week now.”
“He’s hard on you because you rock up late, stinking of booze and the latest man’s aftershave. You can’t lay that blame on me.”
And once again his big mouth ruined a situation.
The other three recoiled as though he’d let off tear gas in the kitchen. A flash of victory swept over Astrid’s face before she turned to the others.
“I’ve never been spoken to like this in my life,” she said, her voice wobbling in all the right places.
“That surprises me with the way you behave,” Sam sniffed.
His ship appeared to be going down. He may as well salute the world from the deck in style.
Astrid put her nose in the air and pushed past him. “Don’t speak to me again. Is that understood?”
Once in the corridor, she spun on her heel. “And if I catch any of you speaking to this…this…person, then I will take it you don’t wish to speak to me.”
With that she disappeared into her room. Slamming the door in the process. A door Sam suspected she’d instantly pressed her ear to.
He glanced at the others who would not meet his gaze. They’d obviously chosen which side of the fence they sat on.
“Oh do what you like,” he said.
A fortnight passed and, true to Astrid’s plan, no one had spoken to Sam. So he’d thrown himself into work. On days off he explored. One time getting the train to Barcelona and staying over. Anything to stave off the homesickness and emptiness.
Things had gotten worse since Wolfgang’s family went home to Germany and he had no option but to return to Squid Towers. Subsequently creating an atmosphere so thick it could have been sliced and served on bread.
Sam had managed to get on with him at work and they had drawn their battle lines at home. Each morning, Sam resolved to make more effort. Then he saw him and remembered how he’d trodden over his emotions. The red mist descended once more and it was a struggle to keep it under control.
He hated that Claudia waited patiently at home for the love of her life. She might even have a chart to cross off the days. An unreasonable jealousy fuelled Sam’s anger all the more.
So they all rattled along together. Then before he knew it, the final week was looming. His summer hadn’t worked out and Sam was ready for home. Yet he would miss the work part of what they’d been doing.
It was a rare bad weather Wednesday and choppy seas meant they couldn’t take the boat out.
Sam had spent the morning in the aquarium’s reference library.
As usual he sat on his own in the cafeteria, reading a book and having his lunch.
He’d never been scared of his own company and didn’t miss Astrid taking all the attention.
Suddenly Ruben took the chair opposite and plonked a tray of food down.
“Buenas tardes.”
“Hi.”
“How are you doing?”
Sam glanced around the half-empty cafeteria. Astrid and co were in the far corner. He really didn’t want to have this conversation. Not with him. And not in front of them. He’d done everything in his power to avoid Ruben for the last few weeks.
“I’m good,” he said, taking an interest in his plate of pasta.
“You don’t look it. And call me paranoid but you’ve been avoiding me.”
A cross-examination appeared to be incoming and Sam wanted to shut it down as quickly as possible.
“Me and the others haven’t been getting on. Nothing major.”
“Why didn’t you mention it?”
“Because you would try to fix it and it can’t be. I’ve behaved shittily and I don’t want you to know about it.”
To his horror, tears were welling up inside him.
Why does this man always make me cry?
He frowned and started tucking into his food.
“I thought I picked up tension,” he said. “That kind of makes what I’ve got planned a bit awkward.”
Sam froze. “What do you mean?”
“As it’s your final weekend, I’ve arranged for us all to go to Madrid for the night on Saturday. The high-speed train is brilliant. We can be there in ninety minutes. I’ve booked a tour to see the sights and a great dinner. The aquarium have even said we can stay in a fancy hotel.”
The glint in his eye suggested he had high hopes of them staying the night somewhere.
“I think I’ll bow out. Sorry, Ruben.”
His face dropped.
“Are you sure? I will protect you from the others. I promise.”
Perhaps in another world that would have been wonderful. The last thing Sam needed was a roll in the hay with Ruben the weekend before he left for good. Besides, his thoughts were still occupied by Wolfgang morning, noon and night. It would be cruel.
“Thank you for the offer. I’ll be fine.”
Sam lay in bed that Saturday, listening to them all excitedly leaving their rooms. Once silence reigned, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The place would be his for a whole twenty-four hours.
Not that he had an orgy planned or anything.
He was content with not having to time trips to the bathroom and kitchen when the coast was clear.
To celebrate he vowed to cook himself a decent breakfast.
With a spring in his step, he threw some clothes on and headed out to the market. In no time he would be home and this a distant memory. Why shouldn’t he make the most of it.
When he got back from the supermarket with meat and vegetables, he stopped in his tracks to see Wolfgang standing in the kitchen.
He was too busy stacking his plate with cheeses and meats to turn around.
“What are you doing here?”
“I live here.”
Sam had no idea why Wolfgang was giving out attitude. Although he did admire Wolfgang’s attempt to cast himself in the hurt party role. The ego on the man knew no bounds.
In no mood for confrontation, Sam dropped his bag on the table. “Give me a shout when you’re done.”
Wolfgang grabbed him by the arm before he had a chance to storm out.
“Wait.”
Sam stared down at his arm. “Take your hand off me.”
He did as asked yet something stopped Sam from carrying on upstairs.
“I am sorry for what happened.”
“Yes, me too. You really fucked up the last half of my placement.”
The guilt lay written on his face. Sam was unrepentant. Let him feel it.
“Can we talk?”
Sam had no intention of listening to any more words from this man. No doubt ones designed to lead him straight to bed.
“I’m good, thanks. In fact, I’m going to the beach. I’ll get breakfast there.”
This time he did leave the kitchen. Not without Wolfgang in hot pursuit.
“Sam, please.”
Sam whirled around.
“You haven’t said a word to me for nearly a fortnight unless it’s about fucking squid. And now you want to talk? Or maybe you’re hoping for another fuck before you head home to the rock you crawled out from. Sorry, Wolfie. Nothing doing.”
He didn’t give him time to reply. The tears were coming thick and fast as he bounded down the stairs and out onto the street.