‘Yay. I’m looking forward to it already,’ says Soph, reaching over and giving my hand a squeeze.

I’m looking forward to catching up with Soph and Douglas again without Joel and his cold eyes boring into me. I don’t understand why he’s mad at me; he’s the one who broke my heart and set in motion the chain of events that led to the worst night of my life.

Chapter 9

THEN

I first met Joel when I found him lying naked in my bed a few days after I’d arrived at Hartland’s.

The first few days had been a shock to the system and I’d quickly learnt how full-on it all was. The camp mantra amongst the staff was definitely work hard play hard. The long shifts and rotations around different parts of the camp seemed relentless, and after we finished it was time to go out. There was always a party somewhere: in town, on the beach, a silent disco in the club after it finished. After a few nights I was exhausted; I had no idea how I was going to survive the entire thirteen weeks.

By the night I met Joel I was running on fumes. I’d just finished the late shift in reception. I’d hidden from Soph and Douglas, who had been talking about getting a taxi to another campsite to go clubbing with a few of their friends and there was no way that I had the energy for that. Instead, I’d gone back to our accommodation and headed straight for the shower and got dressed in my flannel pyjamas, the ones my mum had bought me and that Soph had dubbed my passion killers. I was so knackered I didn’t care. They were warm and cosy and I was set to flop straight into bed.

I flicked on the light to my bedroom and got the shock of my life. There on my bed was a naked man curled up in the foetal position on top of my duvet cover.

He opened his eyes, looking round, confused.

I was completely paralysed, my body rigid with fear, too stunned for the flight-or-fight mechanism to kick in.

‘What are you doing in my room?’ he said, putting up one arm to shield his eyes from the light and the other to grab a pillow to cover himself up.

‘Your room?’ I screamed, my voice coming back. I looked over my shoulder; three steps and I could be out of the main door and on the walkway. ‘This is my room.’

He laughed and rubbed at his hair. He had the type of long hair that made you want to run your hands through it.

‘Very funny. Did Douglas send you? I wouldn’t normally be complaining about a beautiful woman walking into my room but it’s been a long day.’