Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
They all sat in a semi-circle in the meeting room.
Sam on the end with Wolfgang forming a human shield between him and the others.
Sam had tried to make amends with Maria the night before.
He hated parting badly. She had accepted his apology with good grace until Astrid had called her into her room.
They were planning a farewell meal together somewhere in the old town that night.
Of course Sam hadn’t been invited. Wolfgang had refused.
They’d spent the last few days sneaking from one room to the other.
The Jack and Jill bathroom had actually come in useful in the end.
Although who was Jack and who was Jill was very interchangeable.
Parts of Sam ached like they’d never done before.
He didn’t care. He’d decided to get the most out of Wolfgang before the inevitable wrench the next day.
Ruben stood in front of them. Sam studied his handsome Spanish looks.
Things might have been a whole lot different if I hadn’t gotten caught up with bloody Wolfie.
Typical that he’d been drawn to the forbidden fruit rather than a nice, available guy.
“I cannot thank you all enough for the hard work and dedication you have shown to our aquarium. We will not forget you and we beg you to come to Valencia again one day.”
He stared directly at Sam when he said this. Wolfgang regarded Sam with interest. If he was jealous, then good.
“The other tutors and I have put together your own special photobook of your time with us. We hope you will take this with our love and that you will never forget your Valencian summer. There is no need for you to finish the day. You are all free to go.”
The other milled to the front whilst Sam stayed put. He’d let them subside before getting his book.
“Are you heading home?” Wolfgang asked.
“I think I’ll have a wander on my own, if that’s okay.”
He winked. “I’ll be waiting.”
Wolfgang followed the others out of the room, leaving Ruben and Sam alone. He approached the table to pick up his book.
“This is very thoughtful,” Sam said. “Thank you.”
“You are most welcome,” Ruben replied with his usual cheerful demeanour. How did he stay so upbeat all the time?
“And thank you for everything you’ve done for me. It really is appreciated.”
“Sam. You haven’t had the easiest time. I don’t know what has gone on but I am not a fool. If you ever wish to work here again, please remember there is a place for you.”
As usual the Ruben effect had the tears welling up inside Sam. He had certainly become a cry-baby in Spain. His friends at home would find it hilarious.
“Thank you, Ruben. You never know, do you?”
He grinned. “No. You don’t.”
The park had the usual commotion about it with people buzzing around doing their own thing.
Sam sat on a bench like a rock in furious water rapids.
He wanted to take it all in one last time.
It was hard to believe it had only been eight weeks since they had discovered this place as they dashed excitedly toward the aquarium.
He retrieved the photobook out of his rucksack and flipped through.
Pictures of him and Wolfgang on the boat dominated the book.
Miguel had been snapping away with his phone.
Sam had presumed it had been for their records.
When he got to the end, there lay a picture of the squid Ruben and he had caught.
It now lived with a couple of mates in the aquarium and had settled in very nicely.
They had spent the last two weeks gathering more from the rocky outcrops. It brought Sam such joy that the squid community was growing beautifully down there.
He sat and watched the people of Valencia. They would be doing this tomorrow and the day after and the day after that. Sam would be miles away. Probably nursing a broken heart and driving his mother crazy. Before then, he had a final night to experience.
With an air of finality, he snapped the book shut and set off toward the steps leading up to the old town.
When he got home, the others were all joking across the landing as they packed with their doors open. Sam ignored them and went straight upstairs. They weren’t part of his future. The closer he got to that flight, the less he cared.
His focus lay elsewhere.
Let them go to their stupid meal. We can make as much noise as we like then.
He might even cook something. There were a few scraps left in the fridge to rustle up a decent meal if need be.
When he got into his room, he immediately frowned. A note and a rose sat on his pillow.
He tore open the envelope.
S. Meet me in the square by the cathedral at 4. W x
What did he have planned. Sam went across to Wolfie’s room and stuck his head around the door. It sat empty save for a suitcase on the bed.
“He’s so organised,” Sam said to himself.
This reminded him he hadn’t even thought about packing yet. Now he didn’t know what the evening had in store for him, he figured he should get on with it.
It took him a while. Things were spread from one side of the room to the other. His untidiness drove Wolfgang mad. In the end he’d flatly refused to spend time in Sam’s room.
Once he’d finished, the room had returned to its bleak, cell-like appearance. He’d even thrown the bits he’d bought at the flea market in the rubbish. That trip had probably been Sam’s first inkling about his feelings for Wolfgang.
I wonder who’ll have this room next. I hope they don’t have the rollercoaster I’ve had.
He killed the rest of the time gazing out of the window until the clock struck three.
He had an hour to make himself presentable.
For some inexplicable reason, butterflies swirled around in his stomach.
Of course not knowing what Wolfgang had planned caused a wardrobe crisis.
In the end he settled for a pair of navy shorts and a white short-sleeved shirt.
He added a generous splash of cologne and set off to discover what his crazy German hunk had planned.
Sam couldn’t believe his eyes when he got to the square. There Wolfgang sat in navy shorts and a white shirt. They looked like twins. Except for Wolfgang’s bulging muscles and chiselled jawline of course.
“Great minds,” he said, laughing.
“Shall I go home and change?”
“No need.”
He held out his hand and they strolled across the square. Sam tried to guess which restaurant Wolfgang had chosen but they passed them all and went down a narrow alleyway.
“Is this where you murder me to cover your tracks?” Sam joked.
“You foiled my dastardly plan.”
Sam hated it when his own words were used against him. Especially when they were words he still stood by.
They stopped at a nondescript doorway with a tiny plaque that read Hotel Turia.
“I don’t understand.”
Wolfgang pushed open the door and led him inside. A lush courtyard greeted them with several waiters in crisp linen suits flitting around, serving customers.
“Oh wow,” Sam exclaimed. “I didn’t even know this was here. I bet they do a brilliant dinner.”
Wolfgang winked. “All in good time. Come on.”
He pulled Sam toward a staircase to their left and they ran up.
“What are you doing?” Sam asked.
“Let’s explore.”
“We can’t. We’ll get thrown out.”
The cool corridors were dimly lit. Everything screamed expensive, from the soft carpets to the furnishings. Even the cast-iron numbers on the doors were posh.
After living in those hovels for eight weeks, this place didn’t have much competition. Even so, Sam felt out of place.
They reached the end of the corridor.
“Okay, we’ve seen it all now,” Sam said, glancing around. “Let’s go.”
Wolfgang opened the door in front of them.
“Stop it now. Someone might be in there.”
Gently, Wolfgang pushed him inside. The room gave a whole new meaning to the word spectacular. A huge bed dominated the place with a bath in the corner next to a window with views over the rooftops of Valencia and down to the sea. Sam had only ever dreamt of staying somewhere so grand.
Rose petals were strewn all over the bed. Sam frowned and walked closer. They weren’t haphazard but in the shape of a squid. He spun around. “You didn’t.”
“It’s too cruel for you to spend your last night listening to the others partying. I know I have hurt you and can never make up for it. I thought this might—”
Sam didn’t let him finish the rest of his speech. He flung his arms around him and kissed him.