Page 40 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

‘It’s sort of got a sea view.’

She could tell he was stalling, but then she was feeling as tense as Rhys looked, even more so when he eventually sat down, the space between them a yawning chasm.

The ease with which they’d talked at the restaurant earlier had vanished. They did manage to chat about random stuff, if only to avoid having to actually lie down and attempt to go to sleep, but even that got a hell of a lot more awkward when the hushed noises from the next room became way too loud to ignore.

Lola would have found the way Rhys’s cheeks flushed the colour of raspberry gelato utterly adorable if she hadn’t been quite so mortified. A headboard thumped into the wall directly behind them, and then the moaning started.

‘Who’d have thought a cheap Airbnb with last-minute availability and no air con would have such paper-thin walls,’ Lola hissed under her breath as she clamped her hands over her ears. She launched herself from the bed and flung open the door to the patio.

Pretending to have sex with Rhys to get back at his ex had been one thing. To hear her best friend getting amorous with Fabs while she and Rhys were trying to navigate how they were going to share a bed again was something else entirely.

Rhys closed the door behind them and joined her on the white plastic chairs that only just fitted on the narrow patio.

The street light cast an orange glow over the road that ran in front of the house. Beyond was darkness, but she could just make out the expanse of ocean glinting silver where it shifted and caught the moonlight. It was far better than sitting in a small stuffy room listening to Fabs and Mirabel getting it on.

‘It’s a bit better out here.’ Laughter coated Rhys’s words as he mirrored her thoughts.

‘Yup.’ Lola rested her feet on the peeling paint of the railing. ‘Just wish we had somewhere comfy to sit and a drink in our hands.’

Rhys huffed in agreement. ‘I don’t think Fabs and Mirabel cared about any of that tonight.’

‘No, they didn’t.’

They lapsed into silence, listening to the sound of the sea churning against the rocks and the incessant chirrup of cicadas, which drowned out everything else.

‘I hope both Fabs’s and Mirabel’s families work things out because her mum is the loveliest woman in the world – it’s where Mirabel gets it from. Her dad’s quieter, but the same, just two great, caring people – parents anyone would love to have. Perhaps Mirabel being their only child has heightened things.’

‘Because they feel they’re losing her?’

Lola nodded. ‘Exactly.’

‘Believe it or not, Fabs’s parents sound very similar. Giada is the best, she welcomed me into their family when I stayed, but I can understand how she might be overwhelming for Mirabel. But she cares and loves her family fiercely.’

‘Which is what matters most, although an overbearing mother-in-law might be a bit much for anyone, even someone as easy-going as Mirabel.’

‘An overbearingItalianmother-in-law.’ Rhys raised his eyebrows.

‘I hadn’t factored that in.’ Lola laughed. ‘But one who cares and who’s present and interested in their son and daughter-in-law’s lives is something special. They all want what’s best for their children.’

‘It’s a nice problem to have.’

‘Isn’t it just.’ Lola sighed. ‘I should make more effort to see my parents. I love London, but I miss Devon and being by the sea. Mum hates cities and I resent their expectation that I should visit them when they don’t make the effort to come see me.’

‘Do you miss them though?’

Lola nodded and fought back a wave of sadness that took her by surprise. ‘More than I realised. Since Jarek…’ Glancing away, she watched a black cat dart across the road and into the bushes. ‘He bad-mouthed them and played on my insecurities and resentment and made my relationship with my parents even more strained.’

Rhys leaned forward in his chair, rested his elbows on his knees and looked at her intently. ‘You saw through him and got out. He manipulated and played you, but you’ve not lost your parents, have you?’ At her shake of her head, he continued. ‘If you miss them, go see them. I’m sure they miss you just as much. Sometimes it’s best to swallow pride or those feelings of resentment and make amends to get a relationship back on track.’

‘You’re right, but it’s hard to do in practice.’ Lola wound her thumbs around each other and breathed in the salt-tinged air. ‘I need to change that, particularly now my parents have retired. There’s no excuse. And with Mirabel in Sardinia, there’s going to be less reason to hang around in London.’

Rhys ran his fingers through his hair and rested his leg on his knee. ‘You’re really going to miss her, aren’t you?’ he said softly.

‘She’s like a sister. We feel that way about each other; surrogate sisters because we both grew up alone. We clicked the moment we met; instantly more than colleagues, a friendship that’s grown closer than best friends. She’s family.’ She met his eyes, warm and comforting, but there was something else, a steadying presence that sent tingles through her to the parts of her body that longed for him. The caring, thoughtful and introspective side to him was an aphrodisiac. And the way he left her wanting more: to talk all night, to sit in companiable silence with his arms wrapped around her, to eagerly slide into bed together to see where it could lead… It undid her in the best possible way.

Her phone pinging made Lola jump. She felt physically sick with worry as she picked it up, expecting the message to be from Jarek.

‘You okay?’ Rhys asked.

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