Page 2 of Love on the Island

‘Maybe the text wasn’t actually meant for me,’ I say, grasping at straws. ‘Perhaps he was breaking up with his… his personal trainer or his…?’

‘It was definitely for you, Libs.’ She looks away pretending to pick at some fluff on the sofa.

I screw my eyes at her. ‘What are you not telling me?’

‘I’m sorry,’ Lois says with a sad look. ‘I found out today that he’s on Tinder.’

‘Eh? Tinder?’ I’m instantly confused. ‘You’ve got Tyrone, what do you need a dating app for?’

Tyrone is my sister’s fiancé, and he is adorable. The three of us hang out all of the time.Allof the time. Probably too much now that I come to think of it. He often jokes that he is in a committed relationship with conjoined twins.

Lois gives me a wide-eyed stare. ‘What? God, no. I love Ty to the moon and back. He’s my rock. My soulmate. You know that. I’d never cheat on him. Never. He’s my dream man.’

‘Thank goodness,’ I say. I love Tyrone. ‘So, why are you on Tinder?’

‘I’m not.’

‘So, how do you know about Josh?’

Lois guides me to sit back down and clears her throat noisily. ‘Clever Amy at work asked me and Booby Julie what we thoughtof this guy who’d just uploaded his profile this morning. I recognised Josh straight away.’

Her words hardly seem real. ‘This morning? Before he’d even broken up with me?’

Lois looks sorry for me. ‘Clever Amy was asking if he sounded weird because… well, it doesn’t matter why, the main thing is he is back on the prowl, and you need to forget all about him.’

‘What does Josh’s profile say?’ My heart is hammering in my chest. I trust her implicitly. I would give my life for her in a single heartbeat. We always tell each other the truth.

She reluctantly swipes at her phone and turns the screenshot towards me. I take in Josh’s handsome profile pic and try to ignore the stabbing pain as I flick over the description of what sort of new lady he is after. He is looking for glamorous, party-loving, adventurous women who throw caution to the wind and are partial to a no-strings relationship. In glaring capital letters, he has written NO TEACHERS.

Chapter 2

‘I think he was sick of me always talking about work and staying in with my marking piles,’ I say, trying not to sound so hurt. ‘But he obviously thinks I’m not sexy enough or glam –’

My sister’s cheeks go pink with outrage. ‘Nope. Do not start self-doubting and putting the blame on yourself.’ She flicks her glorious long brown curls over her shoulder, her big brown eyes wide with compassion. ‘We are eleven out of ten stunners. He’s the fool that can’t see it. He’s the dickhead with the problem. Not you.’

I love her sense of self-worth and confidence. It oozes from her.

‘He’s moving on very fast considering we were together for nearly four months,’ I say, a batch of fresh tears pooling in my eyes.

‘You have to move on too,’ Lois says gently. ‘Forget him. Don’t dwell in the past.’

Is barely one hour ago considered ‘the past’?Is it?

I ignore her and carry on. ‘Do you think it’s a cry for help?’ I sound very desperate. Very needy. This is not my finest hour.

‘Even if it was, would you really take him back after the way he is carrying on?’

I shake my head, barely able to look her in the eye.

‘Libby, he is not right for you,’ Lois sighs. ‘If you want to get back at him, then make him jealous by moving on and never looking back. Your pride has been dented but come on, you were never in love with him, were you?’

What a question to ask at a time like this. All I can do is shrug. Everything around me is imploding at the same time, my relationship, my career, my confidence. Everyone around me is moving forward while I seem to be going backwards at full steam.

‘Listen, I’ve got some news that will take your mind off him,’ she says, her eyes shining. ‘You’ll never guess what. You know how I’ve always wanted to go onLove on the Island?’

‘Yes, of course. You’re obsessed.’

It’s that programme on TV where extroverts go to live semi-naked in a luxury villa, surrounded by potential lovers. Lois has been infatuated with the show since it began.

---