Page 44 of What Happens in Dubai

‘First time, eh. If we’d met earlier, I could have shown you all the best bits.’ Cameron blushed, looking a little shy at his flirty remark.

‘That would have been so much more fun,’ I said, unable to stop myself from smiling.

We continued chatting for the first hour until a comfortable silence came over us and Cameron tilted his chair back and made himself more cosy.

‘I’m going to try and catch a wee half hour. However, if the snack trolley appears then please waken me!’ he joked, then dived into his tight jeans, popped his AirPods in, and closed his perfect eyes.

‘Zara! Pssst, Zara!’ Ashley hissed, leaning across the aisle. ‘Oooft, fucking hell! What a babe!’ She and Raj giggled.

I glanced discreetly at Cameron, making sure he was unaware of our gossiping, and turned back to my friends, rolling my eyes and sighing with satisfaction.

‘He is so fucking hot!’ Ashley continued. ‘Like mile-high-club hot.’

Raj darted her a disgusted look while I burst out laughing.

‘Sorry?’ I heard the strong accent behind me, and my body went stiff with panic.

‘Did you say something, sorry? I had my AirPods in,’ Cameron said.

‘No, no. Not to you, sorry. My friends are just across the way there.’ I felt my palms sweat with nerves at the realisation he may have picked up on our conversation. Cameron grinned over at Ashley and Raj, who waved back enthusiastically.

‘Would you like an ear?’ He held one of his AirPods out.

I was caught by surprise. ‘Erm, OK, sure! I hope you have some Beyoncé on that playlist, though,’ I teased.

Cameron laughed. ‘I not only have Beyoncé, Ialsohave some original Destiny’s Child on here, Zara.’ He began flicking through his phone; I watched his fingers move quickly and I imagined how good they’d feel inside me. ‘And here is some “Bootylicious”, just for you!’

‘Wow, I’m impressed.’ I popped the AirPod into my ear and faced him, feeling intrigued.

He leaned over and whispered, ‘Zara, can you handle this? Cammy, can you handle this? I don’t think you can handle this,’ while wiggling his shoulders with attitude.

I laughed out loud as I watched him. Cameron was adorable, and I felt utterly captivated by him.

Over the next couple of hours we listened our way through his assortment of tunes. I chuckled at some of his poor selections, but overall enjoyed being whimsical and flirty, and being complimented by an absolute ten. I positioned my back towards my friends, keen not to catch Ashley’s eye or allow Cameron to see the immature, hilarious yet repulsive hand gestures she directed my way. I knew she was attempting to make me uncomfortable and I only dared to engage in conversation with my friends when Cameron nudged past me to go to the toilet.

Ashley seemed frantic, leaning over Raj.

‘OH MY GOD! He’s perfect!’ she gushed.

‘I fucking know,’ I said, unable to take the grin off my face. ‘Well, almost. He lives in Dubai!’

‘He’s just so manly, Zara.’ Ashley was not listening to any of my cons.

‘Like, I could imagine him up in the Highlands chopping wood or shearing fucking sheep or something.’

I knew exactly what she meant. Cameron was tall and robust, not in a working out kind of way but more genetically favoured. He wasn’t a pretty boy, draped head to toe in designer labels, no Rolex watch or Gucci belt in sight, but he had an aura. He was a manly man who naturally oozed one hundred per cent raw sex appeal.

‘Oh my god, he’s legit the spitting image of the Scott’s Porage Oats guy!’ Ashley said, having an epiphany.

I snorted loudly, and observed a few sniggers from other passengers listening into our conversation.

‘You’re forgetting he stays in Dubai, Ash,’ I reiterated, hoping she’d listen this time around.

‘No one stays in Dubai for ever; it’s a stepping stone. Ask how often he comes back to Glasgow. Go, shhh, here he comes.’ Ashley rested back in her chair, smirking at Cameron as he returned to his seat.

‘So, Cameron, do you spend much time in Glasgow?’ I asked once he’d sat down.

‘To be honest, on my holidays I like to travel. I have a few friends in Glasgow, so occasionally, I suppose.’ He buckled up his seatbelt and faced me.

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