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  The first week of our holiday flew by. We were pretty much wrapped up in ourselves, although we did make friends at a couple of the youth hostels we stayed at and exchanged telephone numbers. But all too soon we were beginning the second week of our holiday, with the final week closer. I didn’t want it ever to end.

  We changed our plans slightly and swapped our itinerary around – Andrew and I both liked the idea of heading south ahead of schedule to warmer climes. The things we’d planned to do in the third week we decided to begin in the second. Late Tuesday afternoon of the second week, Andrew and I arrived in a small town called Fipoli. All the way there on the train, Andrew had this secretive smile on his face. And he wouldn’t tell me why. When we got to the youth hostel I found out the reason.

  ‘Hi! I’m Andrew Harrison. This is Jayna Lucas.’ Andrew smiled at the receptionist.

  ‘Ciao! I am Luka.’ The receptionist smiled back. ‘You want two beds for the night, yes? You have booked them already?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve booked a private room with an ensuite bathroom,’ Andrew said evenly. ‘For two nights.’

  I stared at him. He didn’t bat an eyelid, as if he did this sort of thing all the time! My face started to burn and I risked a glance at Luka. He was tall and relatively good-looking, with dark-brown hair and thick eyebrows. His light-blue eyes were friendly, but sharp, and he spoke with a lilting accent. He was kind of old, though – at least thirty-five.

  Looking at him, I wondered if he could tell I’d never done this before. It felt as if a neon sign of pointing arrows and innuendo had suddenly appeared above my head.

  ‘We arranged the room for two nights next week, but we changed our plans,’ Andrew continued. ‘I did phone ahead to ask if we could have the room for tonight and tomorrow of this week instead.’

  Luka glanced at the small computer screen on the desk before him. ‘Ah yes, I have it now. We have your room available for two nights as requested. There will be a small administration charge for the change of plan as discussed over the phone. This is OK?’

  ‘Jayna?’ Andrew looked at me.

  I shrugged, looking what I hoped was nonchalant. I too wanted to look as though I did this sort of thing all the time. ‘That’s OK. We’ll take the room.’

  ‘Bene!’

  I listened as Andrew sorted out the rest of the details. I picked up a brochure on the reception desk about the hostel. Wow! Not bad! Cable TV, free WiFi, breakfast included, common room, this place even had a restaurant and bar. Some of the gloss was taken off by the fact that the one and only lift wasn’t working and our room was on the third floor. But it could’ve been worse.

  As we made our way upstairs to our room, I said, ‘I’m very impressed. How did you manage it?’

  ‘Skill, charm, charisma . . .’

  I laughed. ‘Don’t forget modesty.’

  ‘I found out which hostels in which countries catered for couples, and as this one was on our proposed route I booked the room in advance from London,’ Andrew explained.

  ‘You booked it that far in advance? You were very sure of me,’ I said slowly.

  ‘No, I wasn’t.’ Andrew shook his head. ‘I was . . . hopeful, that’s all. If you’d said no, sleeping in the same bed would’ve been enough. Hard, but enough! And even now, if you need more time, just say so.’

  I cupped my palm against one of his cheeks. He really was something special. Andrew turned his face to kiss my palm, then we carried on up the stairs.

  It was a small room, about the size of our kitchen back home. The paintwork was a dingy yellow and peeling off the walls in places, and there was a double bed against one wall with an empty painted wooden wardrobe opposite it. That was it. But it was ours.

  ‘Here, let me help you get that backpack off,’ Andrew said.

  I turned my back to him and started to unbuckle the pack. Inexplicably, I was nervous. Actually that was an understatement – rhinos were charging up and down in my stomach. Andrew lifted the pack off my shoulders and put it on the floor between the far side of the bed and the window. Then he took his own pack off and placed it next to mine. First things first: I went over to the bed and flung back the covers to check the sheets. They were clean. Thank goodness for that! The first thing I did in any hotel or hostel room was check the sheets. Sitting on the bed, I started lightly bouncing up and down to test how comfortable the mattress was. This one didn’t seem too bad – some of the beds we’d slept on to date were so thin, it had been like sleeping on carrier bags.

  ‘So what should we do now?’ I asked. With a smile still on my face, I looked up – and stopped bouncing.

  Andrew’s expression instantly had my face flaming. He sat down beside me on the bed and I struggled to find something witty or pithy to say until Andrew put me out of my misery by leaning forward to kiss me.

  Closing my eyes, I poured my heart into returning his kiss. The next thing I knew, Andrew’s arms were around me, holding me tight and pulling me closer. We both fell backwards so that we were lying prone, and still Andrew was kissing me. All my doubts and fears vanished as I strained to get closer to him, my arms wrapped around him. Being with him this way felt so good, so natural. So right in fact that, at that moment, there was nowhere else on earth I would rather be.

  Over an hour later, after Andrew had disposed of his condom, we lay side by side, facing each other. My arm was around his waist. His hand was lightly stroking my cheek. And neither of us could stop smiling. I stroked a finger along his eyebrows and down his nose and across his lips.

  ‘Thank you,’ I whispered.

  ‘For what?’ said Andrew.

  ‘For being so patient with me. For making my first time so wonderful.’

  Andrew regarded me for a moment, then kissed me, his eyes closed. Love and longing flowed through him and into me with that kiss. He pulled me closer, I wrapped my arms around him and gave as good as I got. And though the first time had been good, the second time was even better!

  Another hour later and we both sat on the bed, getting dressed. I expected to feel more self-conscious, but all I felt was happy. Andrew and I couldn’t stop grinning at each other. It didn’t take words to know that what we had together was something very, very special. We carried on getting dressed in a companionable silence. I settled for jeans, sandals and my red short-sleeved T-shirt. Andrew wore jeans and an olive-green polo shirt. His wavy hair was getting a bit long and reached the collar of his shirt, but it suited him. His polo shirt was unbuttoned and I could see some of the dark hairs on his chest. God, but he looked good! But as great as he looked, he looked far better with his clothes off.

  ‘Jayna, behave!’ Andrew laughed.

  I looked up from his chest to his face and caught his extremely amused expression. My cheeks instantly began to warm. Damn it, I really had to get this easily embarrassed disorder of mine under control!

  ‘Fancy a walk and maybe something to eat?’ Andrew asked, changing the subject before I could self-combust.

  I nodded. ‘I’m starving.’

  ‘Come on, then.’ Andrew held out his hand.

  ‘Will our backpacks be safe in here?’

  ‘Probably not, but there’s nothing in them worth fleecing.’

  We left the youth hostel and made our way into the town centre, about a ten-minute walk. I kept thinking, I’ve done it! Andrew Harrison is my friend and my boyfriend and my lover. I had a lover. My face started burning! Surprise, surprise!

  The sun had set and the sky was darkening. It was still very warm and humid, so when a night breeze caressed my face it was most welcome. Hand in hand we strolled along, window-shopping.

  I looked in the window of a crafts shop. The dull street light behind me cast dark shadows so I had to strain to see into the unlit shop window. Then I noticed my reflection. Eyes, obsidian-dark and bright, shone back at me. Andrew always said I was useless at hiding my feelings. Every thought, every fear, every emotion shone from my face like an image from a ten-metre-high cinema scre
en. Right now, it was true. My smile could’ve lit up the whole world.

  I turned to Andrew and thought, I’m happy. No mistake about it. Really soppy, I know, but that’s how I felt.

  ‘It’s a shame our holiday didn’t start sooner.’ I sighed momentarily, letting a dark cloud mar my silver lining. ‘I might have avoided all the unpleasantness with my mum and your mum and your brother and my sister and . . .’

  ‘And the cat and the garden gnome!’ he teased.

  ‘And you.’

  His smile faded. ‘And me,’ he agreed quietly. His expression cleared. ‘Still, we’re here now and that’s all that matters.’

  ‘What presents am I going to get Mum and Teegan and my friends? I’d better think about it now, before my money runs out,’ I said.

  ‘Hmm! When we get back to the youth hostel, I suppose I’d better send an e-postcard to my mum and dad,’ he mused, not at all enthusiastic about it.

  I’d already sent two e-postcards back home and spoken to Mum once on the phone, but I decided a third real postcard wouldn’t hurt. The evening air was warm and the town was still. Very few people were about. The occasional car drove down the main street, but that was it. It made a change from London.

  I was just about to turn back to the craft-shop window when my stomach started to rumble. Glancing at my watch, I said, ‘Andrew, I’m hungry.’ I stepped into the road. ‘Let’s try and find—’

  ‘Jayna, look out!’

  The moment Andrew shouted at me, I heard the blare of a car horn. I turned my head and saw the car. Like a rabbit in the glare of oncoming headlights, I couldn’t move, couldn’t blink, couldn’t even breathe. The car was coming straight for me. Then, all at once, I couldn’t see it. The car’s headlights vanished. All I could see was a dark, velvet-blue nothing above me and the car horn blast was replaced by a sound like a rushing, roaring waterfall. I fell backwards and waited to hit the ground – but I never did.

  I just kept falling, falling, falling . . .

  10

  ‘JAYNA . . .?’

  I opened my eyes. Andrew’s face was so close to mine I could feel his warm breath on my face. He was staring at me, his green eyes wide, an intense, frightened look on his face. Behind him, a couple of other people were watching me, their expressions serious. Only then did I realize I was lying down on the pavement. Embarrassed, I scrambled to my feet.

  ‘Andrew, what happened?’ I asked, dusting myself off.

  ‘You stepped into the street. I almost hit you.’ A man in his early twenties, with blondish-brown, wavy hair, spoke with a strong guttural accent. He was tall, over six feet, with the lightest eyes I’d ever seen; in the evening light, I couldn’t even tell if they were blue or grey. He wore dark trousers and a light-coloured shirt – cream or yellow, I think. A pullover lay over his shoulders, the arms knotted just below his neck. Behind him was a four-door hatchback car, but I didn’t recognize the make. When the other people around saw that I was all right, they started to wander off. I was grateful!

  ‘You bloody idiot! What d’you think you were doing? If I hadn’t pulled you out of the way, Jayna—’

  Until Andrew said my name, I thought he was remonstrating with the man who’d almost knocked me over. I scowled at him.

  ‘Thank you so much for your concern,’ I said.

  Andrew glared at me. He took a deep breath, then another, the light in his eyes changing with each passing moment. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ he asked at last.

  I concentrated on my feet, my legs, my back, my arms, my head. ‘Positive. I must have blacked out for a second. I’ve never done that before.’ I felt like a complete wimp. How humiliating!

  ‘You stupid cow!’ Andrew pulled me towards him and hugged me so tight I could hardly breathe.

  ‘Stop being so mean,’ I told him, close to tears. And yet I still hugged him back, my arms around his waist. Slowly, I felt the muscles beneath my hands slacken and relax.

  ‘Sorry I shouted at you. I thought . . . and then when you turned into dead weight in my arms and I couldn’t hold you . . . I thought . . . I thought I’d lost you . . .’ Andrew released me reluctantly. His expression was still a study in worry. I’d really frightened him.

  ‘Next time I’ll pay more attention to where I’m going,’ I said ruefully.

  ‘And you should do the same, mate.’ Furious, Andrew turned on the driver. ‘You were driving much too fast.’

  ‘You are absolutely right. It was my fault entirely,’ the man agreed immediately. He said to me. ‘You are not hurt?’

  I shook my head.

  ‘My name is Julius. Julius Keller. You are sure you do not need a doctor?’

  ‘Positive. It was my fault, Mr Keller. I shouldn’t have stepped out like that. I forgot cars drive on the wrong side of the road on the continent.’

  ‘Call me Julius. You must be English,’ he laughed. ‘We prefer to call it the other side of the road to the practice in Britain, rather than the wrong side.’

  I nodded, acknowledging the correction. How could I have said the wrong side? I knew better than that!

  Julius smiled. ‘You must both allow me to make it up to you.’

  ‘There’s no need for that,’ said Andrew, his eyes still shooting daggers through Julius. ‘Bloody Italian drivers!’ he muttered under his breath.

  He’s not Italian. Not with that accent, I thought.

  Julius raised a hand. ‘I insist. I was travelling much too fast for this road, so you must at least allow me to provide you both with dinner. Have you eaten?’

  ‘Not yet. We’ve only just checked in at the youth hostel. But really, there’s no need—’ I began.

  Julius turned to me and smiled. But his eyes . . . they seemed to burn right into me. My breath caught in my throat. It was getting harder to breathe. The colour of Julius’s irises began to change.

  ‘Please. I must insist. I feel terrible about what has happened,’ he said softly, his words flowing through me like a hot drink on a cold day. ‘You must allow me to do this small thing.’

  ‘Jayna?’ Andrew queried.

  Julius looked back at Andrew. I blinked rapidly, whilst dragging air into my starved lungs. What the hell . . .? I steadied my breathing, then shrugged. Andrew and I exchanged a look.

  ‘Fine with me,’ I said. Strangely, I felt suddenly impetuous. Different. I blushed. Was this a result of what we had done earlier? It was as though a new Jayna was being released. Or maybe something in Julius’s eyes when he looked at me made me instinctively trust him.

  ‘OK, Julius. Thanks,’ said Andrew. ‘This is Jayna and I’m Andrew. Actually, we were wondering where would be a cheap and cheerful place to eat around here . . .?’

  Julius grinned. ‘I have something even better in mind,’ he said. ‘I am having a party for some friends tonight at my house. There will be good music and plenty of food. You will come as my guests. Sì?’

  ‘Oh, but we couldn’t do that,’ I protested. ‘We wouldn’t want to intrude.’

  ‘It will be no intrusion, I assure you. I would like both of you to come – very much. A few friends from the youth hostel are already at my house. You know them? Christine and Scott are from Australia, Carlos and Juan are brothers from Spain . . .’

  ‘’Fraid not. We only arrived in Fipoli today so we don’t really know anyone yet,’ I said.

  Plus we hadn’t exactly spent the afternoon socializing! Anyway, it was highly unlikely that we would have known them, even if we had been at the hostel longer. There was no way we could get acquainted with everyone there. People came and went so frequently.

  ‘This will be your chance, then,’ smiled Julius. ‘My parties are very friendly. You will be most welcome.’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Andrew frowned. ‘I’m not being funny or anything, but we don’t really know you.’

  Andrew was right. It would be really stupid to hop into the car of someone we’d only just met. But Julius seemed so friendly.

  ‘This is t
rue.’ Julius nodded, his expression serious. ‘But at the youth hostel they know me – I am famous for my parties! If you were to ask about me I am sure they would reassure you. And you will enjoy yourself.’

  ‘Jayna?’ Andrew asked doubtfully.

  I was Jayna the cautious, Jayna the analyser, Jayna who never made a move without working it out from every angle. But I did something I still can’t explain. I must’ve left my common sense back in Britain because I said, ‘Yeah. Why not?’

  It all sounded fine by me. I was convinced Julius was harmless. Besides, I hadn’t been to a good rave in ages. Mind you, Julius’s idea of good music and mine were probably worlds apart!

  ‘Are you sure?’ said Andrew.

  I nodded. I was with Andrew; what could go wrong? The two of us together were invincible. And the new Jayna wanted to dance!

  ‘All right, then,’ Andrew agreed at last.

  Julius glanced down at his watch. ‘My house is about ten minutes’ drive from here. We will go there together. I will drive.’

  ‘If you’re having a party, why aren’t you at it?’ I frowned, some residual sense kicking in.

  ‘I had to take a friend home who did not feel very well and who was not able to drive himself home.’ Julius smiled. ‘I did not want any of my guests to be inconvenienced, so I took Daniel myself. To tell you the truth, I do not think that many of my friends will have even noticed my absence.’