Chapter 8 #3
Danny waves his hand around, as if he thinks this line of conversation is getting boring. ‘Anyway, let me introduce you to some of my friends.’
‘Sure,’ I say, hoping to fill in a few more of the Raffa blanks in the narrative he’s been spinning me.
Danny is as good as his word and ends up introducing me to a big gang of people, all of whom are just as friendly and curious about me and Raffa as he was.
I get a lot of questions about the show as well, of course, especially the more popular episodes where I’ve managed to get someone famous to give me the skinny.
They all want to know if these celebrities are my friends now and I have to disabuse them of this fantasy.
I’m sure if I bumped into any of them they’d be friendly, but I’ve no compunction to chase friendships with them.
Apart from the odd person I got on well with outside of the show, they’re business acquaintances at best. You soon lose your fascination with famous people once you’ve seen behind the curtain. They’re just people, after all.
By the time we’re encouraged to move back to the hotel for the buffet, many more drinks have been consumed and it’s all a bit raucous at the dinner table, where people shout across each other in their semi-inebriated states.
I think a few of them are going to need a lie-down before we all reconvene for the evening meal and reception.
It’s a lot of fun hanging out with them all though and I’m glad I stayed around for it.
I feel bad for Raffa that he’s missed this, but I guess that’s his choice. Perhaps he’ll be a bit more likely to socialise this evening once he’s got some more work out of the way.
Once I’ve had my fill of the amazing buffet lunch, I decide it’s time to head back to the villa and I make my excuses, waving to all my new friends as I make my way out of the dining room.
Being made to feel so welcome here – like I’ve been accepted into the heart of this big family – has really lifted me.
When I make it back to the villa, still none the wiser about the dark part of Raffa’s past, there’s no sign of him in the communal living areas. Guessing he’s working in his room, I head straight to mine and lie down on my bed, intending to just nap for half an hour, then go looking for him.
Three hours later, I wake with a start and, after glancing at my phone, realise what woke me was a loud knock on my bedroom door.
Struggling up off the bed, my head woolly and my eyes bleary, I open the door to find Raffa standing on the other side, looking at me with a puzzled frown on his face.
‘There you are,’ he says, ‘I was starting to wonder whether you’d left the island. I couldn’t find you anywhere.’
‘Sorry,’ I say, hiding a yawn behind my hand. ‘I fell asleep after lunch and I’ve only just woken up.’
‘So you had a good time then?’
‘Yeah, it was great. They’re a really friendly bunch.’
‘Oh, good,’ he says a little stiffly.
Is he regretting coming back here to work and missing the fun?
‘Danny introduced me to all his and Darian’s mates,’ I add, just to see what kind of reaction I’ll get to that. I know I’m playing with fire, but I can take a burn or two if it means I get closer to something real. This strategy has served me well in the past, especially when it comes to my show.
This admission does exactly what I expected it to do and Raffa’s expression darkens.
‘Oh yeah? I hope he didn’t talk shit about me. He’s been friends with Darian for years and we’ve never really got on.’
I shrug. ‘He mentioned that he didn’t think you liked him very much,’ I say.
‘Well, he’s got that right.’
‘He also told me you got into trouble with the police when you ran away from home.’ I tilt my head and smile. ‘You’re giving off some serious bad-boy vibes there, Raffa.’
He smiles, then folds his arms and leans against the doorjamb. ‘And that’s your thing, is it?’ he asks, his voice deepening.
‘One of them,’ I say, surprised by his flip into flirtation. I’m suddenly intensely aware of how my heart is thudding in my chest.
‘So you’ve been asking probing questions about me?’ His expression is teasing.
‘I might have,’ I admit. ‘I happen to find you very interesting. And I’m a dedicated student of human nature. It’s an inescapable instinct in me.’
The corner of his mouth lifts in a grin and he leans in closer, dipping his chin and gazing into my eyes.
My stomach drops in response and heat rushes between my thighs.
‘Well, maybe I’ll tell you all my secrets later,’ he murmurs. ‘If you play nice.’ Then he takes a deliberate step back and breaks the tension by saying, ‘We should probably get ready for the wedding meal. It’s starting in forty minutes.’
I’m thrown by this sudden change in tack. ‘S-sure. No problem,’ I say, clearing my throat and making a show of checking the time on my phone to give me a moment to pull myself together. I’m strung-out with lust. ‘I’ll take a quick shower and be ready to go in half an hour. Okay?’
‘Yep,’ he says, backing away from my door, his smile now back to the usual level of friendliness. ‘See you in thirty.’