Antonio winks at me. “She’s so clucky.”

“Hush, you.” Gabby shrugs. She raises her palm so that she’s talking to me behind her hand. “He’s not wrong, though.”

I grin. “It was really nice to meet you.”

“You too. Maybe we can meet up for dinner before we go back to filming.”

“That sounds really good.”

They walk away, hand in hand, and even my heart skips a little just watching them. There’s no doubt about the state of their relationship, and now I’m even more sad about those stupid articles. How must it feel for Antonio to read that while he’s right there seeing there’s nothing going on?

It’s so not fair.

* * *

I spend the next hour walking through the market, picking up a crocheted doll and running my fingers through the feathers of dreamcatcher. I could spend a fortune on Melly here, and I’m glad she’s not with me. Everything would be catching her eye.

And then I spot it.

It’s a white summer dress with large purple hibiscus flowers. It’s similar to the one I’m wearing, but I couldn’t find anything like it in a child’s size back home.

She’d love it.

I open my bag, and dig my hand around in the cluster of receipts. It’s not there.

Shit.

Closing my eyes, I see myself yesterday sliding my purse, my passport, and my phone into my pockets. Where they’ve stayed. I was so flustered this morning that I have nothing on me.

“Did you want me to gift wrap it?” the smiling lady behind the table asks.

“I’m sorry. I’ll have to come back. I’ve managed to leave my money at the house.”

She nods. “It’s fine. I can put it away if you want me to? We’re here tomorrow as well.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

My cheeks burn as I walk away, and not just from embarrassment. I need to get back to the house and out of this sun. There’s not a cloud in the sky, and very little respite from the heat until I do.

Retracing my steps, I’m relieved to reach the point where I turn, but I know there’s still a long way to go.

I come to a stop at the side of the road. I’m lost without my phone. I can’t even summon an Uber. Which would be pointless anyway as I’m not sure of the actual address of the house.

Rubbing my forehead to try and ease the headache that’s building, I sigh.

The only way is forward, so I take a deep breath and plod toward the house. What the hell was I thinking?