Page 34 of An Island Promise

‘My friend’s worried.’ She deleted the message. ‘Wants to make sure I’m all right.’

Their eyes met, and she imagined both of them picturing Belle; she couldn’t bring herself to say her name out loud, not when she was lying naked next to Diego.

There was no way she could return her call and speak to her, not like this. It would be hard enough to lie to Belle when she was back at the hotel, impossible while she was still in bed with Diego.

Gem breathed deeply and thumbed a reply as the pounding in her head intensified.

Just listened to your messages, so sorry, I’m fine. Will be back soon xx

Belle replied within seconds.

Oh my God I can’t even begin to tell you how relieved I am! X

Gem desperately wanted to escape but the need to have a shower, to wash away the scent ofhimbefore she went back to the hotel, was far more pressing than escaping the awkwardness of the morning after the night before.

She locked herself in the tiny ensuite. The events of the last few hours played over and over as she showered. The best night of her life had been tarnished by the reality of the cold light of day, her mistake still imprinted on the sweat-soaked sheets.

Diego called her a taxi and thoughtfully checked she had enough money before walking her out of the apartment block maze to the entrance. He looked as if he was going to say something but then thought better of it. His dreamy eyes were filled with what she assumed was regret and his forehead was creased with worry. He kissed her on each cheek then wrapped his arms round her. Gem rested her head against his chest and breathed in his intoxicating citrusy sweaty scent. She hugged him tight, not wanting to let him go, a million thoughts fighting with each other. He wasn’t going to see either her or Belle again, but that didn’t help erase her guilt. With a sigh, Gem extracted herself from his arms, but before she could walk away, he grabbed her and pressed a piece of paper into her hand. Without faltering, she shoved open the glass door of the apartment building and stepped into the sunshine.

‘Gem!’ She turned back at Diego’s shout. ‘I had the best time with you.’

Gem opened her mouth to reply, but the door shut closed with a thump, Diego already retreating.

Tears lodged in her throat as she unfolded the piece of paper. All that was written on it was his name, ‘Diego Torres Corchado’, and his number. Gem stared at it so hard the pen marks danced and her eyes blurred. She crumpled it up, went to drop it in a nearby bin but hesitated and stuffed it into the bottom of the bag slung across her chest.

It was early still but the sun was already too bright, reflecting off the white buildings and making her wish she had sunglasses to help ease her hangover. The thought of having to lie to Belle made her nausea intensify; it would be far easier to speak to her over the phone than lie to her face. It was cowardly, but it was all she could cope with.

She breathed deeply and rang her.

Belle’s voice was filled with relief as she answered, and the lie Gem spun about spending the night with someone who worked at Pacha slipped easily from her mouth. She told herself she was simply bending the truth to protect Belle.

The moment Gem entered their hotel room, Belle enveloped her in a tight hug.

Belle’s breath was hot against her neck. ‘I’ve been so worried about you.’

She pulled away and Gem could see her taking in her damp hair and her clothes stale with smoke, drink and sweat. Oh God, clothes that had been pressed up against Diego, then removed by him.

Gem pulled Belle’s phone from her bag and handed it to her, desperately wanting to focus her attention on something other than her. ‘Not being able to contact you is where it all wentwrong, otherwise I would have let you know that I wasn’t coming back till the morning.’

‘Well, at least one of us had a good last night,’ Belle said jokingly, her smile blatantly forced. The underlying disappointment was impossible to miss. ‘Mine was memorable, just in a completely different way.’

‘You didn’t, um…?’ Just as she hadn’t been able to say Belle’s name earlier, she found it impossible to say Diego’s name now. Feigning innocence was purely to protect Belle because what good would come of admitting the truth when they’d be heading home in a few hours?

‘See Diego? Nope, had to look after Laurie.’ Belle shrugged. ‘It’s not like I’m ever going to see him again.’

Belle echoed Gem’s earlier thought. Gem’s stomach twisted with nausea, anxiety and worry. She turned her attention to Laurie spreadeagled on the bed, a snore fluttering with every breath. ‘She’s really okay?’

‘She’s going to feel like shit for probably a week and might never drink again, but she’ll survive. We’ll need to wake her in a bit.’ Belle’s face crumpled with disappointment. ‘It’s time to go home.’

Unlike the journey to Ibiza, which had been noisy and boisterous with excitement, when Gem had actually felt sorry for the cabin crew trying to manage pissed-up twenty-somethings alongside a handful of families, the flight home was noticeably subdued. Laurie was squished in the window seat, her head lolling against the side. When they’d finally managed to drag her out of bed earlier that day, she’d been sick again and looked like death. Not that she seemed much better now, clutching a sick bag like it wasa comfort blanket. Gem was rapidly wishing she wasn’t trapped in the middle seat between an ill Laurie and a melancholy Belle. At least Belle didn’t seem keen on talking. Gem didn’t think she could cope lying to her any more than she already had. Belle kept looking at a message on her phone. Gem assumed it was from Diego but didn’t dare ask. Not long after she’d returned to their hotel and had given Belle back her phone, Belle had messaged him. If Belle’s mood was anything to go by, his reply had not been what she’d hoped for – if he’d replied at all.

Gem swallowed. Her heart felt as if it was being squeezed. Her stomach churned with anxiety. She still had Diego’s number on the piece of paper he’d given her which was hidden safely away in an inside pocket of her bag. She couldn’t even look at Belle without feeling shame and regret, her friend’s obvious sadness and disappointment written all over her face.

As well as Belle being unusually quiet, Laurie had barely spoken either apart from shortly after take-off when she’d breathed heavily into the sick bag then muttered, ‘I am never snorting anything ever again.’

If Gem had been as ill, she might have considered never touching alcohol again either, but her night with Diego was a far bigger regret than Laurie having drunk too much.

From towards the back of the plane a baby started crying, ear-piercingly loud in the hungover quiet. Laurie groaned and shifted closer to the window. Belle clicked off her messages, shoved in earphones and closed her eyes.

---