‘Are you kidding me, Freya?’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘I swear you two are going to explode if things get any goddam hotter. You’re his plus one for the bookshop reopening tonight.’ She raised an eyebrow.
‘I’m the love island bookseller, of course I’ll be going with him.’
‘You’re his date and you know it. You do realise tonight is about way more than reopening the bookshop. Please, I’m begging you, do something about it. If you like him, go for it, because he sure as hell likes you.’
Freya shook her head in mock frustration at her friend. Deep down she loved how Drew looked out for her, and she knew she was only telling her like it was. She’d been there for her throughout everything, including the fallout of Aaron’s actions. She couldn’t have asked for a better friend and they told each other everything.
Drew grabbed her mobile and hugged her. ‘I hope everything goes brilliantly.’
‘Thank you. And I’ll see you at the party afterwards.’
Drew wrinkled her nose. ‘Are you sure it’s okay? Am I allowed to come?’
‘Of course you are. You’re my guest.’
‘And that’s because Zander’s your date.’ She flew from the kitchen with a wink and a wave, shouting back, ‘Later!’
Freya couldn’t help but smile, but she also acknowledged the truth at the heart of Drew’s teasing. It was the 31st January, more than two months since the bookshop had burnt down and Aaron had left the island for good. The last time Freya had spoken to Aaron was just before he’d stormed off after the confrontation with Zander on the beach. She purposefully avoided leaving her room too early in the morning in case she bumped into him. She’d gone straight to Reef to open the bookshop, her head filled with Zander and their heart to heart and kiss the evening before. The last time she’d seen Aaron was from afar. With hunched shoulders and his rucksack on his back, he’d stalked to the seaplane, his time on the island and working for Zander over. He left without a backwards glance and certainly not a look in her direction. He must have known that she’d been there, watching. She’d felt strangely empty; any remaining feelings she had for him had been erased the moment she’d found out the truth. His destructive nature and his distrust and anger was the last thing she wanted to be a part of, while Zander had reeled her in, not because he was charming or rich, not even because he was good looking and owned a tropical island, but because he was a good person. He’d opened up to her, shared his heartache and helped her to make sense of hers. She couldn’t have been more wrong about them both.
Freya left the staff accommodation and took the path through the centre of the island towards the over-water villas. Since she and Zander had first kissed, it had happened a few times since, but they hadn’t taken things further. And Drew was right about the sexual tension. She knew it, Zander knew it, and probably everyone who saw them together knew it. They’d grown even closer over the last few weeks collaborating on the rebuilding of the bookshop. Zander was eager to have Freya’s input as well, and it gave him an excuse to spend time with her. He’d said as much, and she was as keen to spend all the time she could with him. Most of her days had been spent on Reef at the makeshift bookshop, before it closed down in mid-January, then she’d switched to restocking and putting the finishing touches to the newly-built bookshop. Many of her evenings were spent at Zander’s villa, often discussing plans and talking about the progress made, but they’d also have dinner together or go for a moonlit walk along Driftwood Cove and through the jungle of trees that hid the villa so well. They’d talk and kiss and talk some more. After that first time, Zander never asked her to stay over and Freya never suggested it, but she was pretty certain it crossed his mind. It was always at the forefront of hers, and yet she was terrified of losing what they had and making a mistake by rushing into things without being certain... But every time he touched her: a brush of his hand against her back, a lingering kiss, the way he swept a loose hair off her face, it made her realise how much she longed for him.
Her head had been so filled with Zander that she realised she’d already reached the Sand Bar. She stepped up on to the wooden walkway and made her way towards the over-water villas. Her raspberry-painted toenails caught her eye as she walked, contrasting against the white of her skirt. She was wearing the maxi skirt and strapless pink top that she’d worn for the photo shoot back when she first started. It seemed appropriate given Annie would be there this evening to re-photograph the bookshop. It wasn’t drastically different but there were a few extra touches here and there, which Freya was proud to have been a part of.
She reached villa #30 and knocked on the door. It almost immediately swung open.
‘Freya, my goodness, you look even more gorgeous than you did the last time I saw you!’ Mia gripped her arms and kissed her on both cheeks.
‘The same for you. It’s brilliant to see you and thank you so much for doing this again.’
‘Are you kidding me? Any excuse to come out here.’ She ushered Freya into the villa. ‘And I brought Blake with me this time.’
A tall man with a beard and dark hair peppered with grey was standing on the threshold of the bedroom looking out at the view. He turned and smiled as they walked across the dark-wood floor.
‘My husband, Blake. Blake, the lovely love island
