Page 72 of Going Overboard

‘I’ve never had a couple’s facial,’ I whisper to Brody.

‘I’ve never had a facial,’ he replies.

We’re led into a private treatment room and I don’t know if it feels more or less awkward for us not being a real couple.

There are two massage beds, soft towels, and two therapists in matching linen uniforms who greet us with unnervingly zen smiles. So serene they almost seem dead behind the eyes.

I lie back and exhale as my therapist starts working her magic on my face. It’s so relaxing until I hear a strange noise, coming from Brody. A snort – no, a snigger.

‘Try to keep still,’ his therapist tells him.

‘Sorry, sorry,’ he replies.

The room is only silent for a second or two before he starts giggling again and, honestly, it’s contagious. Hearing his adorable chuckle sets me off smiling too.

I’m able to glance sideways at him, and he’s trying to tough it out, bless him, but his whole body is shaking as he tries to contain his laughter. The therapist gives him a gentle, disapproving shhh, which only makes things worse.

And then I lose it too. Well, that’s how it goes, isn’t it? If one person starts laughing when you know you shouldn’t, it’s impossible not to join in.

It’s almost a relief when it’s over, and our patient therapists leave us to have a moment of quiet – I do wonder if they said that sarcastically.

‘That’s supposed to be relaxing?’ Brody says as he catches his breath.

‘It usually is,’ I reply. ‘When there isn’t a hyena in the room…’

‘I’m so sorry,’ he says sincerely. ‘I tried to hold it in but, I don’tknow, she started flicking water at my face and I just kept thinking about how funny it must look…’

‘It’s fine,’ I tell him. ‘I don’t remember the last time I laughed so much.’

‘They do say laughter is the best medicine,’ he points out. ‘Maybe it’s good for skin too?’

‘You’d better hope so, because I don’t think they’ll let us back in here,’ I reply.

We decide to leave, before we’re kicked out, but do you know what? I feel like I’ve been here for hours. I feel relaxed, I feel happy – in a way that no spa treatment can achieve.

I can’t help but laugh, as we walk back towards our cabin.

‘What?’ Brody asks. ‘You’re not still laughing at me laughing?’

‘No, no,’ I say, the corners of my mouth twitching upward. ‘Okay, maybe, just a bit, but it was hilarious.’

‘Tell people we came, but not what happened,’ he says firmly, but jokily.

‘Listen, there’s not a doubt in my mind that you’re officially the best boyfriend I’ve had this year,’ I tell him.

‘Well, given the competition, I won’t get too excited,’ he replies. ‘But thanks.’

I love his smile – it’s as contagious as his laugh.

‘How is it possible that we’ve never met?’ I ask him.

‘The phrase is: where have you been all my life?’ he jokes. ‘We have met though.’

‘What do you mean?’ I ask.

‘You and I, we’ve met, before all of this,’ he tells me.

‘At a wedding or a party or something?’

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