Page 96

‘Thanks for coming,’ he says. ‘I just… I really wanted to have dinner with you again.’

‘It was really nice,’ I reply. ‘I’m always up for a Hawaiian. Or any other foods, to be honest.’

‘I’d be up for that too,’ he replies.

His thumb moves across the back of my hand and my heart races. Not because I’m excited, but because I’m confused.

I really like Jamie as a friend, and he’s gorgeous, but I just can’t stop thinking about Eddy. That kiss he gave me, even if it was just a peck, even if it was all for show – it meant something to me, and trying to move on with the next nicest guy isn’t the solution; Jamie deserves better than that.

The evening breeze blows my hair across my face. Jamie reaches up and brushes it away, his fingers skimming my cheek. And then he leans in.

Any girl would be lucky to kiss him. He’s gorgeous, kind beneath all the swagger, and very clearly interested. There is no reason this should be wrong… but it feels disloyal to Eddy, whether we’re pretending or not.

I turn my head slightly. Jamie’s lips brush my cheek.

‘We should be getting back,’ I tell him. ‘Eddy will be wondering where I am…’

‘Yeah, okay,’ he replies. He doesn’t say another word. Not about this anyway.

The conversation does not completely disappear, but it changes. We talk about the Fiji match and how the tournament works.

Jamie doesn’t sulk, he isn’t cold or rude, but I can tell that he’s taken a step back.

By the time the resort entrance comes into view, I feel even more confused about everything, about what I want, about what I can actually have.

‘Thank you for dinner.’

‘Anytime,’ he replies.

‘I mean it. I had a lovely time.’

He nods.

‘See you tomorrow.’

‘Yeah, sweet dreams,’ I reply.

We go our separate ways.

Jamie wasn’t wrong when he said he was bringing me a crisis. Normally I’m great in a crisis, but not this time. This time I have no idea what to do.

22

After days of training and creating content, I can’t believe my luck – as per – when a phone call wakes me up, on one of the days when I could actually lie in.

My phone vibrates across the bedside table. I grab it, because I’ve learned there’s no ignoring it these days. Probably best I just answer.

‘Hello?’

‘Morning,’ Eddy replies brightly.

‘Morning,’ I reply. ‘What time is it?’

‘Eight thirty,’ he says.

I groan.

He laughs and, honestly, it’s music to my ears. After last night, and what happened with Jamie, I’ve been feeling bad about having dinner with him, like I really had cheated on Eddy, which is silly because we’re not a real couple, and nothing even happened, but I couldn’t shake the feeling. So him calling me, sounding happy – it makes me glad I didn’t kiss Jamie.