Where the hell are you, Joshua? Hot Sarah quickly morphed into completely pissed off Sarah. I heard the key-card in the door and went back into the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind me. I really wanted that big entrance.

I could hear Josh moving about in the room and I waited about half-a-minute, so it wouldn’t seem like I’d just done the ridiculously vain thing I’d just done. I opened the bathroom door a second time, pretending to fidget with my earring, as though I had only just finished getting ready—so casual—so casually gorgeous—so …

I stopped in my tracks and stared at the bed. Oh, my god. What? What?!

On the bed was a giant, fluffy sea turtle, practically life-sized. It was bright green with beautiful, soulful eyes. My hands went to my mouth. So that’s where he’s been. I dashed across the room, and dropped my clutch onto the bed so I could grab the turtle and hug it.

And, yes, I do realise that most grown women probably wouldn’t get that excited about a stuffed animal, but it was so sweet and squishy, and I loved sea turtles. Swimming with them had been one of the most peaceful, incredible experiences I’d ever had. It was an extremely thoughtful gift. At least, I thought it was a gift. I suddenly realised that maybe Josh had bought it for himself. He’d seemed pretty keen on sea turtles too.

“Is he for me?” I asked over the turtle’s head. In that short amount of time I’d decided that he was a he.

Josh laughed and came over. “Of course! You’ve stared at it in the gift shop window about a hundred times since we got here.” That was true—even before we swam with the turtles, I’d been eyeing him off.

“I love him,” I said, hugging the turtle tighter. I love you for getting him for me. I didn’t say that last part, but it was the most thoughtful and romantic gift I’d ever been given. It was for playful Sarah, fun-loving Sarah, the Sarah who laughed underwater and fell in love with the craggy little faces of sea turtles. It was for me.

“I did worry about how you’ll get him home. I hope it will be okay. I can help squash him into your suitcase, if you like.”

“I’ll just take him on the plane with me. He’ll be like a pillow.” Josh seemed to like that. I tried to ignore the niggling reminder that we only had a couple more days together before the turtle and I would be on a plane to Sydney, while Josh flew off in the other direction. The goodbye loomed ominously; it would be easy to succumb to melancholy if I wasn’t careful.

“And what are you going to call him?”

Happy for the distraction, I thought for a moment. “He’s called Maui.” Josh smiled at me and gave me a gentle peck, leaving my fuchsia lips un-smudged, just like the thoughtful sort-of boyfriend he was.