‘Uh, no. I’m going to stay here and read, maybe do some journal writing …’ Marie wasn’t buying it. ‘And, wait for Hannah.’ It was a last-ditch effort to convince them – and probably myself – that I preferred staying on the boat to riding on the back of a scooter with my arms wrapped around Josh.

Marie actually tutted when she shook her head at me; I knew I was going to hear about it later. She turned and put on her helmet, and the others did the same. Except Josh. Josh ran back across the gangplank – quite nimbly, I noticed – and planted a big kiss right on my lips. ‘See you later, gorgeous,’ he said. And before I could reply he was back on dry land, straddling his scooter and putting his helmet on. My mouth had formed a silent O and as soon as I realised, I closed it.

Definitely boyfriend behaviour. And everyone saw it. Double crap – no, make that triple crap!

*

I was sipping hot tea out of a plastic mug and half-reading one of the magazines Hannah had brought with her, when – speak of the devil – she sauntered onto the boat and plonked herself down on the bench opposite me. She was still wearing the clothes she’d had on the day before, and her sunglasses looked like they were glued to her face. I doubted they were coming off until she’d had caffeine and a shower, regardless of which came first.

‘Good night?’ I asked as I took another sip of tea.

‘Excellent night,’ she said, her usual frown exchanged for a grin.

‘So … don’t leave me hanging.’

She nodded towards the lower deck. ‘Anyone else here?’

‘Just us. The others went out on the scooters for the day.’

‘And you didn’t want to go?’

‘I wanted to read,’ I replied, holding up the magazine.

‘Uh huh.’ I could feel her eyes scrutinising me behind the big lenses of her sunglasses.

‘Don’t change the subject,’ I said, doing my best to change the subject. ‘What did you get up to last night?’

‘And this morning,’ she retorted with a sly grin. She was enjoying herself.

‘Okay, and this morning.’

‘Stu.’ One word, but it spoke volumes.

‘The skipper of the other boat?’

‘Yep.’ She seemed particularly pleased with herself and considering that Stu was skippering a boat of six single women, I had to give her props for leaping to the head of the queue.

‘Wow. So, you’ve gotta be, like, the most hated woman in the Greek Islands.’ I couldn’t help but smile at her.

‘Yep – well at least the most envied.’

‘So, Stuart … how was it?’

‘Great fun. And you know what? I knew those sour cows could hear us, and I didn’t care! Not my boat, not my family on the sea. And, let’s be honest, I really needed that.’ We both erupted into laughter.

‘Good for you, Hannah.’

‘And?’

‘And what?’