Page 39 of Ride the Wave

The concern in her voice catapulted me back into reality. She had enough on her plate without me being unsupportive. I’m a grown-up, not a child. It’s just a house.

‘Yes, sorry, I was concentrating on my make-up,’ I said hurriedly. ‘That’s great that you spoke to an estate agent! Was it all positive? How did you feel about it?’

She assured me that she was all right and it was for the best, and she said the estate agent was extremely complimentary, confirming that the house was in a desirable location. The perfect home for a young family, apparently. He thinks they would get an offer within the first week of it being on the market.

I mentioned that I had to rush off to the party, so we said goodbye and hung up.

It took me a few minutes to go back to the bathroom mirror to finish my make-up. I had to focus on blinking back the hot tears at the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over and ruin the eyeliner I’d already applied. I was embarrassed for myself. What a stupid reaction to something that should not be such a big deal.

‘Pull yourself together,’ I scolded myself.

The whole debacle made me change my outfit. I’d been wearing wide-leg linen trousers and a strap top, but fuck it, I wanted to feel sexy. I changed to a green dress with a plunging neckline and block heel shoes, throwing on a faded-black, baggy denim jacket to make the outfit more casual. I boldened my eyeliner and I put on gold statement earrings, letting my hair down from its satin heatless curling headband. It fell in soft waves past my shoulders.

I lifted my chin as I checked my reflection.

‘Better,’ I said, shaking off any sadness about saying goodbye to my childhood home.

As I approach the bar, the nerves flitting around my stomach intensify. I try to rationalise why I feel this way. My job isn’t about personal feelings, so I shouldn’t be upset that I may have affected Leo’s. I think it’s because he proved that, beneath the hardened exterior he puts up for strangers, he’s actually very easy to get on with. Naturally chatty, funny, thoughtful, he asked if I was cold, offering a hoodie. That was sweet.

But I need to remember that he’s not my friend.

He’s a job.

‘Iris, you made it!’ Marina calls out, beaming at me as I arrive at the bar, which is full of people. She weaves around a huddle of friends to greet me, pulling me into a hug, and I try to pretend I don’t notice all of them peering at me, intrigued.

‘Thanks again for inviting me.’

‘Here,’ she turns round to tap someone on the shoulder, ‘meet my girlfriend, Anna.’

With cascading, blonde hair and a blunt fringe that frames her delicate oval face, Anna has a striking smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks, and a smile as big and warm as Marina’s. A bit like Flora, she justlooksfriendly.

‘You must be Iris,’ Anna says in an English accent, before Marina has had the chance to introduce me. ‘It’s so nice to meet you. Marina mentioned you’d come.’

‘Thanks for having me,’ I say, before turning to Marina in surprise. ‘You didn’t tell me she was a Brit.’

‘She did tellmethat you were, though,’ Anna says excitedly. ‘Nice to have some reinforcements. They’re always taking the piss out of me here. I’m from Norfolk but went travelling on my gap year and never came home. As soon as I met Marina, that was it. Made Burgau my home.’ She grabs my hand and squeezes it. ‘I highly recommend the move. You should be here in the summer when it’s hot.’

‘I’ll have to come back.’ I smile. I hold out the paper bag carrying the boxed candle I bought from one of the local shops yesterday. ‘Here, a little something for your birthday. Sorry, I wasn’t really sure what you like so it’s not very exciting.’

‘That is so nice of you!’ She peers into the bag, before holding out the gift so the others can admire the pink and gold wrapping paper and gold ribbon. ‘Oh my God, you wrap presents like a professional. Look at the bow and everything. How come none of my friends are this sophisticated?’ She holds out her arms and pulls me into a hug. ‘Thanks Iris. Come on, you have to meet everyone.’

‘She needs a drink first.’ Marina reaches for one of the bottles of white wine already out on the bar, grabbing one of the glasses alongside it. ‘Wine or something different?’

‘I think I’ll go with what I know for now,’ I say, taking it gratefully once it’s poured.

‘You’re going to need the Dutch courage,’ Anna says, lowering her voice. ‘Some of our friends have made enquiries about you. I think they’ve seen you around.’

‘What does that mean?’ I wonder whether Leo has started to turn the locals against me. ‘Do people not want me here?’

‘What?’ Anna balks. ‘The opposite!’

‘Okay, we have some single friends,’ Marina sighs, rolling her eyes. ‘But we weren’t sure if you were interested. We know you’re here to work, so…’

‘So tell us to fuck off if we’re being inappropriate or if you’re in a relationship already, basically,’ Anna finishes bluntly for her.

‘Oh.’ I smile, taking a large gulp of wine. ‘I could be interested.’

‘Yesss,’ Anna says excitedly, holding up her glass to clink it against mine. ‘Is there anyone who you’ve got your eye on? What’s your type?’

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