Page 26 of Hot to Go

‘Lucy, NOOOO!’ I yell, trying to pull her off. ‘He’s cool. He’s a nice Spanish guy who helped me. He’s cool, he’s cool.’

Carlos taps out against the cobbled stones, and she lets him go as he rises to safety.

‘His name is Carlos.’

Both sisters watch him curiously as he stands there circling his arm around. ‘Les cousines?’

I nod. ‘Oui.’

I turn to Beth who’s trying her best to work this out. Why is he speaking French? Why am I wearing this towel? ‘Where did you go?’

‘I swam away in the other direction, and when I looked back…’

‘Oh,’ Lucy says, gathering herself off the floor, still keeping one eye on my new Spanish friend. ‘Turns out they were just fishermen. They didn’t want us to get caught in their nets and scare the fish away. Lovely fellas actually. Meg’s getting some massive prawns from them but I think her tits got those for us. God, we were bloody worried about you. Grace is sobbing. We thought you’d drowned.’

I see Carlos laughing but he must also be clocking Lucy’s strong London tones as she embraces me tightly. ‘So, are you all from France then?’ he asks.

Beth and Lucy look at me. Did I knock my head? Did I possibly swallow too much seawater?

I try to silence them with my eyes. ‘Yes. We’re all from Nice. But Beth and Lucy spent a lot of time growing up in London,’ I explain. Beth looks like she’s smelt a really bad fart but I can see that Lucy gets the assignment. Lucy was made for assignments like this.

‘Oh, bien sûr. But j’habite à Nice. Je m’appelle Lucy.’ That would perhaps sound more convincing if it didn’t sound like she was reciting it for an exam.

Carlos casts his eye between the three of us before landing on my gaze again. I don’t know how to continue this, how to keep talking to him to see where it goes. I can tell from the way they’re looking at me, at Carlos and at each other that the cousins also realise they’ve interrupted something.

‘We have your clothes if you want to swap…’ Beth says, holding up my dress and lacy knickers.

Carlos looks away. ‘Or you know, to protect your modesty, maybe just keep what you have on for now. I feel I’ve seen far too much of you this evening.’

‘Likewise…’

Beth’s jaw drops, Lucy can’t hide the massive smile on her face. I glare over at them when Carlos’ back is turned.

‘Well, maybe I can return the T-shirt to you tomorrow. I can wash it first,’ I tell him. ‘And repay you…’

‘For?’ asks Lucy.

‘His kindness,’ I say firmly, killing off her assumptions.

In the corner of my eye, I see Beth elbow Lucy hard in the ribs. Please don’t laugh, please keep this going. For me. ‘Look, Carlos, we’re staying in a villa in Santa Posa. Maybe come and see us tomorrow, come and get your shirt and have some brunch with us. A thank you for looking after our cousin,’ Beth suggests.

Lucy nods. ‘A très bien idea, Beth. Where’s your phone, Carlos?’ she asks. He holds it aloft and she takes it from hishands, holding it up to his face to unlock it. ‘I’m putting a pin in your maps. Come for midday. Bring some swimmers. Comprendez?’

‘Oui,’ he says, an eyebrow raised.

Lucy’s phone rings. ‘Zut alors, it’s Meg,’ she exclaims as she goes to answer it. ‘It’s fine, we found her, she’s OK. I’d actually argue she’s more than OK.’ I feel my cheeks redden. ‘A taxi? Yeah, we’ll come find you.’ She hangs up. ‘We have to go. See you tomorrow, Carlos.’

He waves, smiling. Beth and Lucy start walking away while I linger, unsure what it is I want to do. I think I want to stay. ‘Tomorrow?’

‘Tomorrow? Why not?’ he replies.

I laugh. Exactly. Why not? Why not have a drink with a good-looking man who’s bought you bunyols and has dreamy blue eyes. Take a chance on him, Suzie. Let go. Just remember your name is Aurelie. I lean over and kiss him on the cheek, putting a hand to his arm. His lips are perilously close to mine, his skin is warm, inviting. Kiss him. But instead I stand there, that energy between us clear, almost intoxicating.

‘Merci beaucoup,’ I mutter.

‘De nada.’

He smiles as I turn and catch up with my cousins, looking up, asking myself why all the stars in that clear midnight sky suddenly seem to be winking at me.

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