Three's a Crowd

  Chloe shook her head. “He’s in his office. For the next hour, we reckon.”

  “We?”

  Voices sounded from the corridor.

  “Okay, I’ll do this if you promise me you’ll talk to your dad.” It was Eve.

  I blinked. The door to Chloe’s room swung open. Eve and Alejandro stood in the doorway. Eve was avoiding my eyes, looking stunning in her little shorts. I felt the familiar clench of desire I always felt when I saw her. I glanced at Alejandro. He grinned at me.

  “Now, talk.” He prodded Eve through the door. Chloe scampered over to him and they disappeared into the corridor, shutting the door behind them. I heard the key click in the lock.

  I stalked past Eve and wrenched at the handle. The door wouldn’t budge.

  “I don’t freakin’ believe it. They’ve locked us in here.” I thumped on the door. “Hey,” I shouted. “Hey, let us out.”

  Silence.

  “Don’t you want to see me?” Eve said behind me.

  I turned round.

  She smiled nervously. “Are you okay? Chloe told me what happened earlier . . . what you said.”

  I stared at her.

  “Alejandro and Chloe think we should talk to each other,” she said.

  What the hell was I supposed to do now? Bloody Chloe. How dare she interfere like this. I shoved my hands in my pocket. Felt the scan picture again. I pulled it out and looked at it. I still couldn’t make out where the baby was. I walked over to the bed and sat down, staring at the paper.

  It was easier than looking at Eve.

  “Well, say something,” she said.

  I looked up at her and waved the picture. “D’you want to see this? It’s Mum’s baby again.”

  Eve looked mildly exasperated, but she came and sat down beside me. She peered at the grainy lines of the scan.

  “Hey,” she said. “This one’s much clearer. Look. There’s its head. It’s lying curled up. See?” She pointed. “It’s sucking its thumb.”

  I stared more closely at the picture, following the invisible tracing of Eve’s fingers. And I saw it. The baby. Perfect and tiny. Sucking its thumb. It suddenly hit me. The baby was real. A real person.

  I looked up at Eve, my eyes shining. “That’s my little brother.”

  For a moment I forgot about everything else – it was just us again. The two of us, together and happy.

  Eve moved her hand slightly and our little fingers touched. I wanted her so badly. But it was different from how I’d wanted Cat. All the desire was there – the lust shooting through me. But there was something else too. Some scary feeling in the middle of my chest when I looked at her. She had so much power over me, power to hurt me. Part of me wanted to get up and run away.

  But I couldn’t take my eyes off her face.

  And, anyway, they’d locked the door.

  There was a long pause.

  “Do you want to go out with Catalina?” Eve said.

  “No,” I said, honestly.

  “But you fancy her?”

  “Yes.”

  Eve recoiled a little. She picked up the scan and folded it.

  Crap. Too honest, Luke.

  “But not like I do you,” I added.

  “So you fancied her that day in the store room too?”

  “Sort of.” I hesitated. “But nothing happened, honest. I didn’t lie about that.”

  “Nothing happened then, you mean.” Eve looked up at me. “When I heard about you and her last night I felt like my skin was all peeled open. I couldn’t bear it.”

  “It was just a kiss,” I mumbled uncomfortably. “It was stupid. Didn’t mean anything.”

  Eve’s pale eyes pierced through me. “Chloe said you had your hands all over her. She said you were practically doing it on the dance floor.”

  Cheers, Chloe. Remind me to tell Ryan how you wet yourself once when you were ten.

  I had no idea what to say. I shrugged.

  “Feeling jealous is horrible,” she said. “I realised last night what it’s been like for you. I wanted to kill you. If you’d been here, if I’d seen you together, I might have tried. It was scary how awful it felt.”

  I nodded. “I know. But you never did anything to make me jealous. I was a moron. It was all in my head.” I glanced at her. “Alejandro said you’d made up that stuff about liking him.”

  Eve blushed. “Actually, I did fancy him a bit. I mean, I wouldn’t have done anything but he is incredibly good-looking. And he’s so nice too.”

  I swallowed, waiting for the hard, dirty pull of jealousy to suck me down again. But it didn’t come. And in that instant I realised – people were always going to fancy Eve. And she was bound to fancy some of them back. Maybe even be tempted by them. Just as I had been with Cat. But, like Ryan said, what was the big deal? Either Eve wanted to be with me – in which case I had nothing to worry about – or she didn’t. In which case, all the worry in the world wouldn’t save me.

  I stared down at the folded-up scan. “I’m sorry about being jealous before,” I said. “And I’m sorry about Cat.”

  And I’m sorry I blew it. So, so sorry.

  “I’m sorry I dumped you,” she said.

  I shot a look at her.

  “I mean, then you wouldn’t have gone off with Catalina.” Eve put her hand on my cheek. “Would you?”

  The touch of her fingers rocketed straight to my groin. “Mmmn.”

  Eve’s lips trembled.

  Shit. “I mean no. No.”

  Eve drew her hand back.

  I grabbed it.

  Crap. How could I be so stupid?

  “Eve. I wouldn’t go off with anyone, ever. I swear. I don’t want anyone else.”

  She got up and walked to the door. “I’m scared.”

  “Me too.” I leaped up and followed her. “I’m scared too. Part of me wishes I didn’t feel like I do. But I do. I can’t help it.”

  Eve turned round and leaned against the door. She looked up at me. God, she was so incredibly beautiful. I put my hands on either side of her head, letting the door take my weight, then bent down so my face was right next to hers. We stood there, looking at each other.

  “Please, Eve.” My voice cracked. “I love you. I love you so much it—”

  She was kissing me before I’d even finished speaking – this long, deep, sexy kiss that practically had me on my knees.

  When I drew away, Eve’s eyes were still shut, a blissed-out smile on her face. “I love you too,” she whispered.

  I moved towards her again. But her eyes snapped open.

  “No,” she said. “I’m fed up with being scared. You were right. Come on.”

  She turned and banged on the door.

  I stared at the back of her head, bewildered. What was she talking about?

  “Chlo! Alejandro!” she yelled. “Let us out. It’s okay now. It’s sorted.”

  I reached round her waist. “You mean it?” Happiness spread through me like fire. I kissed her neck. Sorted. She’d said it was sorted. Yes. I bit gently into her shoulder. Mmmn, she smelled fantastic.

  Eve was still banging on the door. “Chloe. For God’s sake.”

  Footsteps in the corridor. Then the sound of a key turning in the lock.

  The door opened. I looked up, my arms still wrapped round Eve.

  Chloe screwed up her nose. “I hope you haven’t messed up my room,” she said.

  I made a face at her, then squeezed Eve closer.

  “Let’s go into your room and lock the door there,” I said.

  “No.” Eve grabbed my hand. “Come on.” She pulled me past Chloe and down the corridor.

  Grumbling, I let her lead me out into the main part of the hotel. “Where are we going?”

  Eve said nothing, just dragged me by the hand down the stairs.

  I sighed loudly, but the truth was I didn’t care where we were going.

  She was holding my hand.

  She wanted me back.

  I’d have gone anyw
here she said.

  Hang on. She was holding my hand? She never touched me while we were in the hotel. As we reached the main lobby she was still holding my hand. I glanced at her, feeling nervous.

  The last thing I wanted to do was pull it away, but what about Jonno?

  We headed through the practically empty lobby towards the little office where I’d had to do my homework. I frowned. Then I realised where we were going.

  Jonno’s office was right next door.

  Eve stopped in front of it and knocked – three loud raps.

  She was still holding my hand.

  22

  Facing Jonno

  “Come in.” Jonno’s voice was gruff. Surly. He did not sound in a good mood.

  I stared at Eve. What the hell was she doing?

  I moved my mouth but no words came out.

  Eve pushed at the door. “Let me do the talking,” she said.

  About what?

  I followed her into Jonno’s office. It was a large, square room. Air-conditioned, I noticed immediately, unlike my broom cupboard next door. A leather sofa and chairs were at one end, near a door that opened out onto a patio at the side of the hotel.

  Jonno himself was sitting behind a large desk in the corner. It was covered with files and papers and a PC and printer.

  He glanced up at Eve. “What is it, Babycakes? I’m busy.”

  “I need to talk to you, Dad.”

  I suddenly realised why she wasn’t letting go of my hand.

  Oh.

  Crap.

  I looked back at Jonno. Jesus. He’d clocked our hands too. He glared at me, his nostrils flaring.

  I had a sudden image of Alejandro backed up against the wall outside the stage door, Jonno’s fist round his throat. My heart started racing.

  “Let go of her,” Jonno barked.

  Eve gripped my hand tighter. Her face was white. Determined.

  “Luke and I are going out together,” she said. “He’s my boyfriend.”

  I could feel my palm spitting sweat into Eve’s hand. Jonno’s face hardened into an angry mask. Jaw clenched. Eyes staring. He stood up.

  “No,” he said. “He’s not. You’re too young to have a boyfriend.”

  “Dad, I’m sixtee—”

  “Get out,” he yelled at me.

  I backed away. I guess it sounds pathetic, but most of me was wishing Eve would let go of my hand.

  She didn’t.

  “If he goes, I go,” she said.

  Jonno stormed round from his desk and grabbed Eve by the shoulders. He looked so angry that for a fraction of a second I thought he was going to hit her. I lurched towards him, my fear transforming to rage.

  Eve clutched my hand tighter, tugging me back.

  Jonno ignored me. He lowered his head so it was closer to Eve’s.

  “Babycakes, you just don’t understand boys.” He jerked his head in my direction. “He doesn’t care about you. Pilar caught him in the crèche with someone just the other day. He only wants—”

  “Sex,” Eve snapped. “I know. So you keep telling me. But guess what? The thing in the crèche was a . . . a misunderstanding. And we’re not having sex. Luke’s not even pushing me to have sex.”

  Jonno glanced at me, suspiciously. “What’s wrong with him?”

  My temper flared. “Nothing’s wrong with me.”

  I could feel my face reddening. Jesus.

  “Dad, listen to yourself. You have this one way you think all blokes behave. They don’t all think about sex all the time, you know. Some of them want a relationship.”

  I looked at the carpet.

  Jonno snorted.

  “Luke’s really sensitive. He listens to me. In fact, we talk more than anything else. He’s really sweet – and nice.”

  God, she was making me sound like a total wimp.

  “You’re still too young,” Jonno said.

  “So when will I be old enough?” Eve let go of my hand at last. “I’m not a little girl any more. Why can’t you see that?” She glanced at me. “Luke knows me better than you do. He made me realise. I’ve . . . I’ve acted all babyish around you for years because I was scared you wouldn’t love me if I was grown up.” Her mouth trembled. “But I was wrong, wasn’t I Daddy? You’ll let me grow up and still love me?”

  A tear trickled down her face.

  Jonno slid his arms round her and pulled her into a hug.

  I took a couple of steps away from them. Funny. I didn’t feel jealous at all.

  “Of course I’ll always love you,” Jonno whispered, soothingly. He raised his head and glared at me over Eve’s shoulder. “You’re my princess. My number one girl.”

  He raked his fingers through his hair as Eve drew back, wiping her cheek.

  She smiled up at her dad. “So you’re okay with it? Me and Luke?”

  Jonno’s mouth curved into a smile.

  It didn’t reach his eyes.

  “I’m not ecstatic but, like you say, you’re growing up and so long as it doesn’t go too far, I guess there’s no harm in innocent friendship.”

  I frowned. No way did Jonno think it was innocent friendship. What was he playing at now?

  Eve hugged him. “Thanks, Dad.” She grinned at me.

  “Now you guys better get out of here,” Jonno said, walking back to his desk. He leaned against the edge of it, tapping one of his fat cigars against his palm. “I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

  Eve skipped to the door.

  I walked after her, watching Jonno the whole way. I didn’t quite trust him not to leap forward and shove his cigar up my nose or something.

  His eyes followed my feet to the door, the cigar still tapping against his hand. Then he looked up.

  “Luke?”

  Now he gets my name right?

  I stiffened. “Yes?”

  Jonno looked past me to Eve. “Just give us two minutes, Babycakes. Man to man.”

  I turned to Eve.

  Don’t leave me here.

  But she was smiling at her dad. “I’ll wait outside,” she said.

  Boom. The door shut. I swivelled awkwardly. Jonno was still leaning against his desk. He put down the cigar and walked slowly towards me.

  I gulped, trying to work out where I should try hitting him if he punched me. He was bigger and taller than me, but he did have a slight paunch. I clenched my fist, ready to drive it into his stomach.

  Jonno loomed over me. His eyes narrowed.

  “You little shit,” he hissed. “You’d be flat on your back right now if I didn’t think knocking your lights out would make my daughter even more convinced you’re God’s bloody gift.”

  I gritted my teeth as he clapped his hands down heavily on my shoulders.

  “But let me tell you this,” he went on. “If you hurt her, I promise I will kill you.”

  What a total idiot.

  “I’m not going to hurt her.” I shoved his hands off my shoulders. “Didn’t you hear what she said?”

  Jonno snorted. “Yeah. I heard, Mr Sensitive.”

  God. The man was a monster. In spite of being practically psychotic about keeping guys away from Eve, he was actually sneering at me for not managing to have sex with her.

  “Is that it?” I snarled.

  “No.” Jonno gave me a withering look. “Whatever Eve thinks, I know exactly what’s going on inside your filthy little head. And when you do, finally, get up the nerve to go for what we both know you’re really after – know this – you’re not getting it. Ever. Understand?”

  Now I wanted to punch him.

  I should have just walked out. But I was too angry.

  I had to show him I wasn’t some pathetic wimp. That he couldn’t order me about. That whatever Eve and I did was up to us.

  “Oh you don’t need to worry about that,” I said sarcastically. “I’m Mr Sensitive – remember? I’ll let Eve decide when that happens.”

  And then I did it. I couldn’t resist it.

  I raised my eyebrow
s and smirked at him.

  And it’s going to happen soon, you bastard. Because she wants me. She really does. You should see the way she kisses me.

  Jonno grabbed my T-shirt and bunched it under my neck.

  Shit.

  My whole body tensed. For a second I thought he was going to hit me after all. Then he let go of me, his jaw clenched.

  “This isn’t over.” He breathed out heavily, then pushed me away.

  I backed away to the door. Opened it. Slid outside.

  Eve was waiting for me, her face creased in a huge grin.

  As I saw her, I relaxed. After all, what could Jonno do?

  I’d got Eve. He was beaten. Stupid old bastard.

  I’d got Eve.

  I grabbed her hand and we raced out of the hotel, past the screaming kids in the pool and along the beach – right along to the end.

  We stayed there all day.

  Bliss. Just me and Eve.

  Heaven.

  23

  Beyond the sea

  The last few days of the holiday were far and away the best. Everything was exactly how I’d hoped it would be before we set off. Lots of time for me and Eve to be together.

  Not that we didn’t mix with other people. We hung out with Ryan and Chloe and Alejandro and loads of the hotel staff. The first time Eve and I went to the Garito I was bricking it. But Ryan had worked his usual charm with Marco’s mates. They weren’t exactly pleased to see me. But at least the guy who looked like Ben didn’t shout at me again.

  Eve got a lot of attention. Now it was clear Jonno’s rule about her had been broken and I was openly going out with her, half the blokes who worked at the hotel seemed to think they were in with a chance to steal her away when my back was turned.

  I was furiously jealous.

  Only joking.

  I mean, I didn’t much like them hitting on her, but it was only – what did Ryan call it? – harmless flirting. I even began to enjoy watching her fending them off, knowing she was waiting for me to come back.

  We didn’t see Marco and Cat for two nights. Then the next evening, while I was getting a beer, I spotted Marco on the other side of the room. He was chatting with Ryan, Chloe and Eve. I frowned, wondering if I should go over.

  A small hand squeezed my arm. I turned.

  Catalina. In her micro mini.