Page 5 of Benidorm Again

They turn their huge, excited eyes towards me as though I’ll never, in a million years, guess.

‘In two weeks!’ they say in unison.

Gah!

‘As in roughly the same time as I’ll be going to visit Matteo?’

‘YES!’ Ged shouts. ‘Isn’t it bloody marvellous? You’ll be there anyway, so you may as well do best woman duties. It’ll be like killing two birds with one stone. And, it’ll save you a fortune on theflights.’

So much for their anti-animal cruelty stance but I do appreciate them thinking of my poor finances.

I watch them jump up and down hugging each other. It is quite the conundrum. Of course, I am excited for them. That goes without saying. But why, when I have not yet spent more than two nights with Matteo, and we are still very much finding our feet with each other, do they think muscling in on my week of carnal passion is a good idea?

‘And you’ve given Dubai some thought too, have you?’ I ask.

They nod.

‘And the Maldives? Diving with turtles? Or what about a Caribbean Disney cruise?’

Ged is folding his arms. I must tread very carefully. Liam has also begun to raise an eyebrow.

Oh God, what will Matteo think?

‘Las Vegas will be perfect. So perfect,’ I backtrack.

‘Well, Matteo did invite us. And we thought as best woman it’d be easier for you to organise all the activities. Because he can pull a few strings. Get us a few celebrity meet ’n’ greets?’

I couldn’t even organise my way to the local shop this morning. It was my turn to nip out for full-fat milk to steam in our awesome coffee machine that you need a degreeto operate. I was daydreaming about the last time Matteo kissed me, and before I knew it, ducks were quacking, and I’d arrived at the park. Four miles in the opposite direction. And as for Matteo pulling a few strings… I wouldn’t dream of asking him. But if I’m being picky, their invite from Matteo was to LA not to Las Vegas.

I spend the next half an hour listening to them excitedly list a range of must-do activities and must-see shows for me to organise, while we toast their good health, wealth and happiness. I have no idea how I’m going to balance my romantic break with such an extravagant week or how I’m going to afford it. Thankfully, my phone rings.

‘Will you be needing a room in the hotel? It might not have an ensuite though, and you will definitely have to share a room with Cherry. Or Liberty.’

It’s Tash. As usual, she is carrying on a conversation as though we have been talking it through for hours.

‘Hotel? Where? Benidorm?’ Maybe Tash has forgotten that I have a room of my own above Voices.

‘Vegas, babes. Whereelse?’

My heart has stopped. I wait for it to restart. It has forgotten that it is supposed to thump blood regularly to my brain. My brain that is playing cruel tricks on me.

‘Vegas?’ I gulp. ‘As in Las Vegas? In America?’

‘Yes. Nancy needs to know if you’re staying with us. For tax and visa purposes. She’s putting it all on expenses.’

Oh, my God.What is happening?

‘How did you know I was going to Vegas?’

I’ve literally just got off the phone with Matteo an hour ago. I haven’t even told my dad that I’m going.

All is revealed.

‘Ged just posted that you were all going to Las Vegas on their pre-menstrual spree thingy,’ Tash says.

‘Has he?’ I say tentatively.

‘And obviously, they invited us but we’re all too skint. Cherry is almost a single mother. Liberty has discovered vampire facials. Big Sue and Big Mand are worried about our carbon footprint, so combining work with pleasure ticks a box for all of us.’

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