Page 69 of Benidorm Again

Nacho lights up. ‘Yes. He says it is one of the biggest pop singers he has worked with.’

Ged and Liam both perk up at this. ‘Who? Nacho, who is it? Harry Styles?’

Nacho laughs. ‘Maybe. I don’t know. Matteo cannot say me. It is big secret, but you know he works with French producer? She works with all the famous stars. She is very beautiful.’

I bristle. ‘Yes. Yes, she is.’

This causes Nacho to laugh more. ‘Don’t worry. My brother only has the eyes for you.’

I smile tightly. Let’s hope that is true. I turn my attention back to the stage where for some reason, Liberty is glaring at me in an unfriendly way.What now? What is her problem?

I’m vaguely aware of Nacho leaning across to yell in my ear. ‘Matteo has no interest in Birdie. He would never date her again. Not after last time.’

What the actual… !

Chapter 25

We stare open-mouthed at Nacho’s bombshell. How did Matteo fail to tell me that he is working with an ex-girlfriend? Surely, he has had plenty of opportunities to tell me (yes, yes I can hear myself).

‘So, I think we can guess what the ‘not great’ news is that he was trying to tell you,’ Ged says drily.

I spend the rest of The Dollz’ set in a daze. Horrible delusional fantasies of Matteo and Birdie together poking me in the brain, taunting me (she’s in a clingy vest top without a bra, constantly fanning herself because the studio is baking hot, and Matteo has yet to realise that it’s because she has tampered with the heating controls). I’m dying to probe Nacho more, but we have received numerous glares from The Dollz for not paying enough attention. Plus, Ged and Liam are annoyed with me because I have had to finally admit to not yet telling Matteo that they are all gatecrashing our romantic break.

Eventually, it is my turn to wow the crowd. The Dollz have given a stellar performance, as usual, and now it is time to give them a less crowd-pleasing and far less energetic show. We clap them off stage, but they do not seem impressed.

‘What’s so bloody important that you couldn’t be bothered to watch us?’ yells Tash. ‘You missed every single one of my vertical splits.’

‘We were. We didn’t,’ I say. ‘You were great. Very bendy.’

‘You know that hot French music producer that Matteo is locked away in the studio with?’ Liam supplies readily. ‘Turns out Birdie is his ex-girlfriend. And Connie is having a giant meltdown over it.’

My best friend, the uncontrollable gossip.

‘Understandable,’ says Liberty. ‘Connie is the rebound from the cheating ex, so that makes Birdie the one that got away.’

I am speechless.

‘Don’t blame me for having a degree in Psychology. Blame Sigmund Freud.’ Liberty gives me a mean smile.

‘It’s a friggin Mood Management degree,’ tuts Cherry. ‘Don’t listen to her, pet. She’s just jealous.’

‘And she hasn’t even told Matteo that we are coming,’ Liam says, clearly miffed.

‘My God.Are we twelve? Why are you telling tales like this?’ I don’t mean to snap, but it’s like my feelings don’t matter now that my best friend has become consumed with all things weddings and pre-moons.

‘Is that true?’ Big Sue booms. ‘What about Kylie? I promised Mandeep that we’d see her.’

Big Mand gives her a doting look.

‘And what about all the VIP tickets to the best clubs? The hottest parties? The frows?’ Ged is asking. His voice rises to a shriek. ‘Or did you forget about being best woman?’

‘CONNIE!’ yells Dan from the stage. ‘LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR CONNIE COOPER EVERYONE!’

Perfect timing. I dash away to the side of the stage and immediately apologise to Dan.

‘I’ve put your setlist up for you. You’re good to go. Is everything okay?’ he asks.

‘Fine. Fine,’ I say. ‘It’s all fine.’ I quickly grab the microphone off him and prepare to dazzle the crowd. All that opera singing has really sharpened my vocal range, and it shows. I launch into a power ballad to smooth the transition from the electric sizzle of The Dollz’ sexy performance. It instantly casts a wave of calm across the sea of bald heads. I lure them inwith my hypnotic sounds until you can hear a pin drop, before I build the song up, and bring it to a crashing and dramatic crescendo. Halfway in, and the crowd seem over the moon with my set. I’ve put loads of sing-along tunes in there, as well as some of the Benidorm favourites from last time.

---