Page 6 of More Than Just Friends

‘What? Why?’

‘You know I’ve always wanted to go to Santorini. And the Love Hotel resorts always look incredible.’

‘You should totally apply!’ she suggested. ‘I know they’re looking for guys too. There’s bound to be loads of other single ladies there. Unless… wait. How did your date go? Was it today or tomorrow? Sorry, I forgot.’

‘It was tonight, and nah, I’m still single.’

‘Sorry to hear it didn’t go well, but seriously though, if you’re interested, I could ask Sammie if you could apply too.’

‘Maybe…’ I said. A flashback of the many times I’d had to sit at a table like a third wheel whilst Ali cosied up to her latest boyfriend popped into my head and my stomach tensed.

This would be different though. If I went, I’d also have a date.

There’d be no more staying single so that I’d be available just in case like I’d stupidly done when we were at college. Like I’d said to Colin earlier, I’d moved on.

Ali and I were friends. That was all we’d ever be and I was totally cool with that.

‘Actually, yeah,’ I added quickly. ‘That’s not a bad idea. Like I said, I’ve always wanted to go to Santorini, and it’d be great to see Stella tie the knot.’

Stella was Ali’s sister’s best friend, so I’d known her for years.

‘And you’ll get to meet your Mrs Right.’

‘Yeah,’ I said, wondering why I didn’t mention that part first. I mean, obviously that was the main objective. And if it got me out of going on any more of Colin’s questionable blind dates that was a bonus.

‘Great! I’ll call Sammie right now. Just think – soon we could be in Santorini meeting the loves of our lives! And it’ll be great for us to catch up in person too. Feels like it’s been ages. You’re always busy! It’s been sooo long since I’ve seen your face. I still don’t know why you hate video-calling.’

‘It’s just… I prefer the phone, that’s all,’ I said. ‘Then I can talk to you without worrying about my flat looking a tip or if I have food stuck in my beard.’

‘You have a beard?’ She gasped.

‘Maybe,’ I teased.

‘At this rate, if we passed each other in the street, I’d probably walk straight past you!’

The last time we saw each other face to face was when Ali had come to see the new flat I’d started renting about twelve months ago.

‘Nah. I look pretty much the same,’ I said. It wasn’t entirely true, but I was sure she’d still recognise me, despite the changes to my appearance. ‘You know what it’s like with a new job and stuff. Plus, I could probably get to Santorini quicker than getting the tube and train to Norbury!’

‘The ten-hour journey would totally be worth it though,’ she joked.

The truth was, it probably took less than an hour and a half to get to the town in South London where she lived, but, well, like I’d said, stuff had got in the way and we hadn’t met up.

It was normal not to see your friends often once you were in your thirties. That was what I told myself when I moved out of the flat that was only a few streets away from Ali’s.

Anyway, the past was the past. If Ali asked Sammie if I could take part in the Love Hotel experiment and I got a place, maybe we’d have time to see each other face to face.

Until then we’d speak on the phone like we always did.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?

3

ALICIA

This was it.

I was currently in a luxury Mercedes being driven to the Love Hotel in Santorini!