Page 42 of More Than Just Friends

‘Sammie!’ I scolded.

‘What? It’s true. As I may have mentioned once or twice, I’m happily loved up with the hottest man God created, but even I know a hunk when I see one.’

‘No one says hunk or stud muffin any more.’ I cringed.

‘Not true!’ Sammie countered. ‘Mum said it the other day when she was watching an old romcom. Crap. Does that mean I’m turning into our mother? God help me! Noah, what are the cool kids calling hot guys these days?’

‘Er…’ Noah winced. ‘I have no idea. Maybe you’d need to ask them… Anyway, it was lovely to see you. Thanks again for helping to get me a place here. I’m meeting Kayleigh for dinner, so I’d better go. Bye.’ He flashed me a weak smile.

Sammie watched him leave, then once he was out of earshot, she turned back to me and glared.

‘What the fuck, Ali!?’ She slapped my arm.

‘Ouch!’ I shouted. ‘What’d you do that for?’

‘Because you’re a bloody idiot! Why didn’t you tell me that Noah looked like that?’

‘Like what?’ I feigned innocence.

Sammie raised an eyebrow, then put her hands on her hips.

‘Don’t give me that bollocks! If you try to tell me that you didn’t notice that he’d had a makeover by the gods, I’ll whack you even harder.’

‘What’s with all the violence?’

‘Sorry, of course I wouldn’t hurt my little sis. I just don’t get it? Remind me why you two aren’t together?’

‘Not this again!’ I huffed. ‘I’m not repeating what I’ve already told you a billion times before. I didn’t pay a grand to come to Santorini to date my best friend! If I wanted to, I could’ve stayed in London and done that for free. Which just to clarify, I don’t.’

‘Ah, but that’s the thing about this hotel. The majority of guests leave with an amazing match who they’d never met before. But sometimes you fall for someone unexpected. Stella didn’t think she’d end up with her ex. I didn’t think I’d end up with my Love Alchemist and Laila didn’t expect to fall for her best friend’s son. You’re paying for the magic that only exists here. These hotels have some kind of romantic fairy dust that makes things happen, that wouldn’t in the real world. Even with people you already know.’

‘If you say, so,’ I scoffed.

‘It’s true!’

‘You know what happened the last time I dated a friend.’ I huffed. ‘It was a disaster.’

‘That was years ago!’

‘Doesn’t matter! I’m never doing that again. And you should give me more credit,’ I added, returning to her earlier point about Noah’s glow-up. ‘Do you honestly think that I’d completely change my mind about Noah just because he now has muscular arms, killer abs, a new haircut and clothes that fit him like they were sewn straight onto his firm body? I’m not that shallow.’

‘Aha!’ she said excitedly. ‘So you admit that he’s hot!’

Shit.

‘I didn’t mean… I didn’t say he was hot,’ I stuttered. ‘I just meant, obviously he looks… handsome.’

‘But you could’ve just said handsome. But instead, you went into great detail about literally every part of his body, which you’d only know if you were ogling him. I’m surprised you didn’t comment on his backside.’

My cheeks heated and I avoided her gaze.

Thank God Sammie wasn’t here to see the way I’d ogled his arse in the restaurant that first night. I’d never have heard the end of it.

‘I was just making an innocent observation. That’s all. I’d say that for you or any of my other friends if their appearance had changed. Doesn’t have to mean anything.’

‘Yeah, yeah, sure,’ she said sarcastically. ‘Keep telling yourself that, sis.’

‘What! It’s the truth.’