Page 90 of Girls Just Want to Have Sun

‘I knew there’d be a new drama. I knew it,’ Cherry is saying as though trumpeting out a shopping list. ‘I called it. Didn’t I call it? I said it’ll be Alex trying to knife her or Nancy firing her, or she’ll have thrush from wearing that catsuit. Which is it?’

‘I detach,’ I say calmly. ‘I detach from it. There’s no drama. It’s very simple. I have two job offers. One at home with the Sinfonia, the position I’ve been trying to get for the last five years, singing classical music.’ I shrug at them. ‘Or this bizarre one here on The Strip. The last place I’d ever imagined I’d end up. I could make my own music, discover my own voice. I’d sing my own songs.’

It barely sounds real.

Two hours later and we are all tipsy at the music festival. Ged and Liam are disembarking from our camel rides.

‘They’re like buses, aren’t they?’ Ged is saying in disbelief as he leaps nimbly from the camel. ‘You have no job one minute and life’s as dull as a buffering phone, then all of a sudden two come along at once and before you know it, you’ve said yes to both of them.’

I’ve been in a trance, overwhelmed with how inept my decision-making has been. I have no idea what to do and my thoughts are still straying to Matteo every chance they get.

‘Connie,’ yells Liam, rushing over to help me disembark. My camel does not want to kneel down to let me off, so I am sliding unattractively down its belly sideways, while clinging to its neck for dear life. ‘It’s him! He’s over there! Remember, just play it cool. Let him come to you.’

‘Play it cool? In this position?’ I say, panicking. I’m almost upside down as the camel tries to shake me off. Liam scoops me into his arms, only to suddenly let go as though he’s just realised he’s carrying the wrong bride over the threshold. I flump down to the ground in a heap.

‘Hi,’ I hear him say skittishly. ‘I’m Liam. Connie’s best friend.’

‘Charming,’ I say, dusting myself off as I unfold to stand back up. Liam is shaking hands with Nacho vigorously and beaming adoringly at him as though he’s meeting his favourite A-list celebrity. ‘It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Although,’ he says, catching himself, ‘we’re obviously furious at you for breaking Connie’s heart like that. She’s been a hot mess ever since.’

I stare at him aghast.In what way is this playing it cool?

‘Liam, that’s not?—’

‘She’s the kindest person we know. And you’re a fool if you think you can do better. Your loss is our gain.’

Nacho looks at him, his face amused. ‘Yes. Very nice to meet you. I am Nacho. Matteo’s half-brother.’

Liam’s eyes are out on stalks.

‘Christ Almighty. What do they feed you over here? Are you all this handsome? Ged, we’re moving to Spain!Ged!’

Nacho laughs. He speaks to me in Spanish, telling me that he is very sorry for the way that he spoke yesterday and that some of it got lost in translation.

‘I want you to know that my brother does not play games. He would not want to hurt you. He likes you very much.’

My stomach flips at the thought of me being wrong about everything. I’ve never wanted to be so wrong in my life. I give him a half-smile. He gives me one back before he kisses me on both cheeks and walks away.

‘Well, for a first awkward meeting with a family member, I think that went well,’ Liam says, turning to me. ‘That hair. Those eyes. Are there any more of them?’

I shake my head.

‘What should I do?’ I say for the millionth time. ‘Stay or go? I’m not sure I can handle all the drama that comes with this Benidorm life.’

‘Oh, darling,’ Ged says, linking my arm. ‘Drama just means you are alive.Alive. Living a life!’

Liam puts an arm across Ged’s shoulders before Ged can fully commit to getting overly emotional. I sense there may be tears. ‘It’s all we’ve ever wanted for you,’ he says, giving me an adoring look. They know I owe them my life. They are my ship as I sail through these choppy waters.

We walk over to see Dan, the Dollz and the nuns who are all at the main stage. It is in full swing. I do some quick introductions, and Dan asks Ged how he and Liam met but instead of saying we all did the same degree course at university, Ged thinks it is refreshing to try and impress because he is speaking to someone of youth and innocence.

‘You met at a privacy night? I’ve not heard of those,’ Dan says. ‘But they sound very peaceful. A sort of retreat?’

‘Please try not to corrupt my new friends,’ I say to Ged, grabbing Dan’s elbow to steer him away through the crowd. He doesn’t need to know what goes on at Ged and Liam’s PVC nights.

‘I love this band,’ Dan yells. ‘I saw them last year in Madrid at the Mad Cool festival. Honestly, Connie, you’re going to love living here. There’s so much going on. The music scene is one of the best in the world. And as a singer you’ll get in free almost everywhere.’

He sounds like he’s selling me life insurance, but his enthusiasm is rubbing off. I do love this weather and the culture, and the whole outdoors vibe.

‘Where are we going?’ I yell as we pass by the stage and the throngs of people jumping up and down.

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