Page 28 of What Happens in Dubai

‘The gift shop – I need a hat or a fan or something. Will you order me some water for when I get back?’ I hadn’t even moved yet and I was panting the words out.

‘Sure,’ he chuckled, reclining back on his chair.

I marched up the decking towards the shop, feeling my expanding thighs chafe painfully with every step until I reached the gift shop. They had a poor selection of hats on offer. Most of the skip hats were branded and worn by the lifeguards or bartenders on duty.I can’t look like I work here.I rummaged about a bit and found an old-style gangster fedora.Oh, nice,I thought. I pulled it down and admired myself in the tiny circular mirror situated on top of the hat stand. It gave me a very nineties pop vibe, and it matched my black swimming costume perfectly.

‘I’ll take this, please.’ I handed it to the cashier, paid and strutted back to the lounger with my new prop.

Raj was still lying down peacefully, enjoying the sun, now with two giant jugs of water on our table.

‘Well, what do you think?’ I pulled my hat on over my plait and smiled down at him.

‘Wow, very … erm …’ He sat up, considering his response.

‘Alicia Keys?’ I suggested.

‘Hmm … I was going to say Danny DeVito, but I suppose Alicia would work too.’ He burst out laughing as my face fell.

‘Is it that bad?’ I asked, feeling more self-conscious than ever.

‘Zara, no. I’m only winding you up. Sit down.’ He patted the lounger.

‘OK.’ I handed him my sun cream. ‘Will you do my lotion? I can feel myself cooking.’ I leaned forward, arching my back towards my friend.

‘Sure thing.’ Raj squeezed the lotion onto his hands.

‘What fucking factor is this, Zara? It’s like an emulsion,’ he said as he stretched the cream over my back.

‘Fifty – I have pale skin, Raj,’ I replied defensively.

‘You look painted,’ he laughed, watching me cover my arms and face as well. ‘Like a geisha or something.’

I started to giggle as well.

‘We’re not all blessed with your skin colour, you know.’

‘Can you do mine now?’ He handed me his bottle and turned his back to me.

I started to spray Raj’s carrot oil on his broad brown shoulders, then worked it up his neck and down his back, feeling envious of his colouring.

‘Done.’

I patted my greasy hands together, and we lay back once more, finally appreciating the beach club. The sun was intense, but I immediately felt relaxed, listening to the ocean hit off the sand.

‘To think we would be working back home in the bitter cold, eh,’ Raj said.

‘I know. This is just amazing. Cheers, Andy, eh,’ I giggled.

‘Oh, Andy again,’ he teased in a high-pitched tone as I grinned back. ‘Did you message him back last night?’

‘Yeah, I just said “Aww thanks,” or something, but he didn’t reply. He was probably just being nice sending the first message anyway.’ I shrugged down the situation.

‘Yeah, maybe. Plus, even if he had other intentions, would you really want to go there again with a co-worker?’ Raj snickered, referring to my ex Tom.

I lowered my sunglasses and blasted him a stare.

‘He’s hardly a co-worker, is he?’

‘Well, he is. Besides, the way the aesthetics business is going, we need all the inside help we can get, Zara!’

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