Chapter 25
25
It wouldn’t be so bad, if we could store and cook food at the villa. Seeing as though we can’t, we have to trek to the shop for hot food. Honestly, I don’t think we’ll ever financially recover from the taxi journeys, but they’re worth it, because the street food here is to die for.
‘We need an intervention,’ Willow says. ‘We need real food, every day, not just junk food. We’ll die.’
‘Don’t take it up with me, take it up with the boys,’ Nita tells her. ‘They’re the ones being unreasonable.’
‘We’re all being unreasonable,’ I point out.
‘Yeah, but they deserve it,’ Nita adds.
She grins, but I can see the exhaustion in her eyes.
‘I can’t believe we’re still here, putting up with them,’ Lou says as she eats. ‘If it weren’t for the wedding, we’d have run a mile by now.’
‘Well, that should show you how much we love you,’ I point out.
‘You really must,’ she replies. ‘Thank you. Needless to say, when any of you get married, you’ll get the same energy back from me.’
I don’t doubt that for a second.
‘You’re not worried about the wedding, are you?’ Nita asks her.
‘Honestly, I think we’re all good,’ Lou replies, her voice unusually calm given the situation. Her eyes shine with a little more excitement than I’ve seen in a while. I’m so glad she isn’t letting it bother her. ‘I mean, we’ve got everything we need for the big day. My dress is here, the venue’s stunning, and the cake is set to arrive on time. I guess, after the craziness of the last few days, I’m really excited now. It’s almost over. I’m getting married! It feels… surreal.’
‘Surreal, yes,’ Nita agrees. ‘But also exhausting. We didn’t need the boys making it harder.’
‘We didn’t, but it’s not going to be a problem,’ I say, making sure Lou feels reassured. ‘Plus, after living with guys like these, your new husband is going to seem like a dream.’
‘Any man would seem like a dream after these tools,’ Nita replies. ‘Even…’
Her voice trails off. I wonder if she was going to say Dean…
‘What do you think the boys are up to right now, while we’re out?’ Nita says, changing the subject. ‘Telling each other how big their muscles are is my guess.’
Lou laughs.
‘Probably. They’re all so… suspiciously buff,’ she points out.
‘I bet they’re not real muscles,’ Willow says.
‘What else would they be?’ I ask with a laugh. ‘Inflatable suits?’
‘No, obviously they’re real, but, like, can’t boys work out in a way that gives them muscles that look like muscles, but aren’t actually strong?’ she replies.
‘I don’t know about that one,’ Nita says. ‘But, real or not, they think it makes them so hot. Muscles aren’t for everyone – someone should tell them.’
‘You can do that,’ Lou tells her.
‘Yeah, well, I will, when we win this competition, and we’re waving them goodbye,’ she replies. But then her confidence fades a little. ‘God, I really hope we win. I really want us to stay. I want that second week for us, girls.’
‘We’ll do our best,’ I tell her. ‘And we’ll make the most of this week.’
‘Here’s hoping,’ she says. ‘Now, does anyone want any more hot food, because it’s crisps and biscuits for the rest of the day…’
‘Yes, please,’ I say in an instant.
‘Absolutely,’ Lou adds.
‘Yeah, me too,’ Willow agrees.
‘I’ll get us another round,’ Nita tells us.
You’re supposed to have drinks in rounds on holiday, not food, but we’re just working with the hand we’ve been dealt.
I just hope things don’t get worse, because we’ve got a wedding to stick around for.
But what happens after that? All bets are off.