Page 39 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

Fabs glanced over her head towards them. ‘Just the two of us and our friends…’

‘I’m sure they’re in no rush to go back either.’ Mirabel raised an eyebrow and looked pleadingly at Lola.

‘I’m happy to go with whatever you two want.’

Rhys couldn’t work out Lola’s tone, not when her face was a masterclass in neutrality, her eyes fixed on Mirabel.

Mirabel’s face, however, was a picture of mischievousness as she whirled back to Fabs with a seductive flutter of her eyelashes. ‘Come on, one night away, before the craziness really begins.’

Rhys was certain there was no way Fabs would be able to resist.

Already reaching for his phone, Fabs grinned at his soon-to-be wife. ‘Let’s see if I can find us somewhere to stay.’

* * *

Even if Fabs was sober enough to drive them back, Lola knew how tightly Mirabel had him twisted around her little finger. Of course he wouldn’t be able to resist her blatant desire, not when the alternative was to go back to the warring parents and a shit tonne of headachy stuff to deal with. A night away must have seemed like a dream, and they lucked out when he managed to book a two-bedroom Airbnb with last-minute availability in Costa Paradiso.

When they reached the lane that led to the Airbnb, Mirabel steered Lola away from Rhys and Fabs. ‘Are you two okay sharing a room?’

‘Of course,’ Lola said with far more certainty than she felt. They’d shared a room and a bed once before; why would it be a problem doing so again?

Mirabel leaned closer. ‘I know what I said earlier on the beach, it’s just I didn’t want to assume.’

‘Unlike Deni and Sarah.’ It was too hard to explain, even though shewasworried about sharing a room with Rhys again. The first time had been a bit of fun; they’d known where they’d stood with each other and there’d been no expectations. This time she had no idea what he was thinking, while she was second-guessing each look and every interaction. Not to mention the confusing mix of longing and lust that had coiled through her this evening. Her thoughts were running wild with the what-ifs – what if they took things further than the pretend kiss that had felt anything but pretend? What if she kissed him again – how would he react to that?

The thing that had changed between them was intimacy and expectation, precisely the elements that always changed a friendship into something undefined and more complicated. Their love pact added complexity, because what part was she pretending any longer?

The Airbnb was a simple one-storey building painted white, with just a small kitchen, living room and two bedrooms. They hadn’t got any further than the living room before Mirabel was tugging Fabs towards the nearest bedroom. Fabs gave a backwards glance and a brief shrug in their direction, but there was zero resistance from him and their lips were on each other’s before they’d even shut the door behind them.

‘So,’ Lola said, twisting round to look at Rhys, who was standing in the middle of the room looking as awkward as she was.

‘I can sleep out here.’ Rhys pointed at a two-seater sofa that would leave his legs dangling off the end.

Lola gestured to the closed bedroom door where Fabs and Mirabel had retreated. ‘You seriously want to sleep out here while they’re in there?’ She raised an eyebrow.

Rhys pulled a face. ‘Fair point.’

Lola started towards the dimly lit hallway, which she presumed led to the second bedroom.

‘I’m happy to sleep on a chair,’ he said as she pushed open a door. ‘We might be lucky, and our room has a sofa…’

They both stopped short in the doorway. A double bed was pushed against the wall, with a narrow bedside table on the other side. There was a rail to hang clothes, a window and two doors; one onto a tiny terrace, another to what Lola assumed was an en suite.

‘I can sleep on the floor,’ Rhys said quietly.

Lola stepped into the room. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, there’s hardly any floor space.’

‘At least it looks clean.’ Rhys pulled back the bed cover. ‘Although perhaps not the romantic bolthole Fabs and Mirabel were hoping for tonight.’

‘I honestly don’t think they’re going to care one bit.’

Rhys closed the door behind him. ‘Do you think it’s all kicking off back at the house?’

‘I’m not sure Mirabel running off then Fabs following is going to have helped, but then it’s Fabs and Mirabel’s wedding, so I say whatever makes them happy should be the priority.’

Lola sat down on the bed, her heart sinking as the bed springs creaked. The place might be clean, but the bed sounded like it had had a lot of use.

Rhys turned on the bedside lamp and switched off the main light; his shadow dominated one wall as he opened the window.

---