Page 91 of Benidorm Again

‘I’d ask Cherry, but she’s raging right now. And I’d do it myself, but I’m not speaking to him. And there’s no way I’m asking Libs, she’ll probably try and get off with him. That girl has no boundaries.’ Tash shakes her head and gives me a sad look. ‘And Big Mand and Big Sue have made theiropinions very clear.’ She sighs resignedly. ‘So, that just leaves you. You’re literally the last person I can ask.’

I feel so special.

‘But given what he just said about Nacho, and being forced into fatherhood without his knowledge, hasn’t that put you off going ahead with the surprise pregnancy? Unless… unless you’re…?’ My voice is barely audible. Sister Kevin is standing only feet away, and even though he is facing away from us, he is so tall his ears are probably picking up all conversations in a five-mile radius. It’s a shame really, because they make a very cute couple.

Tash shrugs. ‘I’m not sure. But is it too much to ask that someone is happy for me? Babes, you want me and Kev to be happy, don’t you?’

I nod back even though it is madness. ‘I’ll talk to him on the plane. No worries. But why don’t you lay the foundations for a reconciliation by at least talking to him while we check in? He has come all this way to be with you. He must really like you to want to spend his BIG birthday with you.’

Tash mulls over my pearls of wisdom and finally agrees to let Sister Kevin off the hook for now. I watch her sidle up to him and hug him from behind. Without turning, he reaches for her and sweeps her around to face him. Her eyes light up immediately.

Eventually, all of the bags are placed on the conveyor belt, weighed and tagged, and I am presented with a card reader to pay a massive surcharge for the extra luggage. I take out my credit card with a sweaty palm.

‘Don’t worry. We’ll give you it back once we have the full total,’ says Cherry kindly, her maternal streak making a brief appearance before she goes back to resting angry beast face.

I try to smile. I’m really digging deep to keep calm, to keep a lid on the turbulent mess of excitement over Matteo mixed with anxiety and responsibility swirling around in my stomach. They all need me to step up a notch. And I will. I will.

‘Fucking hell,’ yells Liberty, spinning round to face us. ‘I’ve just seen Luke.’

‘Where?’ I say.This cannot be happening.

‘Over there. He just went through to passport control.’

Deep breaths.

Deep breaths.

He could simply be making his way back to England or Norway now that we have cleared up our misunderstandings. Kind of.

They all turn to stare at me.

‘I’m going to check the departure board for flights,’ says Big Sue in an authoritative tone. Big Mand offers to go with her. We watch them race over to the boards at the far end of the concourse.

‘He’ll be going back home. I’m sure of it,’ I tell the group.

PING. It’s Big Sue texting. There are no scheduled departures for the UK or Norway today.

PING. It’s a message from Matteo telling me he has hired a bright pink limo to pick us up from the airport. He will have it stocked with Champagne for all the celebrating. He is so kind and understanding. He is about to board his flight from LA to Vegas, and he can’t wait to see me. He thinks the Barbie wig looked sexy. He signs off Mr Window Seat.

I clutch my phone to my chest, my heart thumping and my pulse racing. Everything will be fine just as soon as we are together.

Deep breaths.

Deep breaths.

Matteo is desperate to see me. He knows we have something very special. He also knows that I am very much a work in progress. I hope he clings to that when I turn up in Las Vegas with my two bridezillas, my broken Dollz… and my royal Norwegiansapiosexual stalker.

PING. Matteo has sent a screengrab of Luke kissing me. Actual lip to lip contact. Taken from Voices social media last night. His message is simple. ‘As soon as you land, we need to talk.’

THE END

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