Fun In The Sun by repgreece (read people like a book TXT) 📕

deeply. “It’s even more complicated than you think.”

“More complicated?” Adam said incredulously. “Right, out with it. This is going to get sorted now. I’ve never known anyone with so many complications,” he pointed out.

Nick laughed. “I know. Sorry mate.”

“Don’t mention it. What are mates for? Now, what else is on your mind?” he asked.

“The thing is,” he took a deep breath and dived in, “I have feelings for someone else.” Nick’s voice betrayed the inner nervousness he felt about vocalising that statement. Then he added quickly, “I haven’t cheated on Jen though.”

Again, Nick surprised Adam; it was a pleasant surprise though. “That’s good,” Adam replied brightly, “that you like someone else.”

“Yes it is but…” Nick was horrified then to feel tears prickle the back of his eyes at just the reminder of what he had done tonight, and how he’d ignored his feelings for Sal. “But, oh God, I’m so mixed up,” he admitted. “Strictly speaking, I did nothing wrong by sleeping with Jen. I should feel like I’m cheating on Jen for having feelings for someone else, but instead, I feel like I’ve cheated on...this other person.”

Adam was itching to ask who this other person was, but Nick wasn’t offering that information. Still, he couldn’t help but try to find out. "Is ‘this other person’ anyone I know?" he asked, as casually as he could.

Nick’s heart beat nervously. He shook his head.

Adam didn’t entirely believe him, mostly because there were very few people that he didn’t know in Agios. Nevertheless, if Nick wanted to keep that to himself, Adam would respect that and not pry.

“Does this person know how you feel about her?” Adam went on.

“No”, nick replied.

“Okay, well, do you think she feels the same about you?”

"No," Nick said at first, before hesitating and adding, "I don’t think so." He sighed, “Oh, I don’t know; I’m not sure.”

“So she might?” Adam pushed.

“Anything’s possible I guess,” Nick was forced to admit.

“Hmm, well the problem is, if she does feel the same about you, she'll never let you know how she feels if you’re still with Jen,” Adam pointed out.

“No I guess not,” he agreed, “but I’ve never really seriously thought that the two of us could be together, so splitting up with Jen hasn’t been a priority as such, up until now.”

“What, apart from the fact that Jen is majorly screwed up and messing with your head in the process?” Adam said sarcastically. “Nick, whatever the reason, splitting up with Jen should be a priority… for your own sanity.”

“Yeah, I know. Or at least, I can see that now,” he replied.

“Good.” Adam was on a roll now, and determined to put Nick in the right frame of mind. “So, about this other woman…”

Nick’s heart picked up its beat again.

“…just how much do you feel for her?” Adam asked.

Nick began to feel fidgety. “What do you mean?”

“Alright, I guess what I’m asking is, are you in love with her?” he asked boldly.

Oh hell! Nick wasn’t prepared for that question. “I don’t know,” he answered.

Adam frowned. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“I aint ever been in love with anyone before, so how am I supposed to know?” Nick said defensively.

“If you were, you’d know. You can’t be in love with her then,” Adam concluded.

In that instant, Nick felt suddenly sick with panic, as though just by hearing that, he’d lost something so incredibly important to him. On instinct, he spoke without realising he was going to.

"I AM in love with her!" he blurted out defensively, shocked by his own admission.

Adam seemed equally shocked and surprised. "Oh mate, that’s great, but what are you still doing with Jen then? It doesn’t matter if you’re not sure about this woman’s feelings for you, the fact is, that while you are still with Jen, this other relationship is never going to stand a chance.”

Nick felt the panic rise again at that thought. He ran a shaky hand over his face, to hide the moisture. “I’ve seriously messed up, haven’t I?”

“No you haven’t, not yet,” Adam replied, a little exasperated. “Stop giving yourself such a hard time. If you want this woman, and you think she’ll make you happy, fight for her with everything you’ve got, because people like that don’t just pop up every day you know.”

Nick contemplated Adam’s animated face. He was so sure of everything, and he always got what he wanted. He’d heard a million times about how Fay had snubbed Adam in the beginning and yet he still managed to win her over.

“Do you think I can make her fall for me?” Nick asked suddenly.

Adam smiled. “Yes, yes I do, if you offer her the things she needs to be happy, then yes. Of course you could do with going to the gym a bit more mate,” he said, gesturing to Nick’s bare chest. “You know, make yourself a bit more attractive to the opposite sex.”

Nick frowned and looked down at his upper body. He thought he was well toned enough.

“Yeah?” he replied uncertainly.

Adam burst out laughing. “No mate, I was kidding! If you go to the gym any more, you’ll show up the entire male population of Agios! Come on, get some clothes on, we are going to Sal’s place,” he said, standing up decisively.

“We are?” Nick answered with surprise, his heart thudding at the mere mention of her name.

“Yes, we are. Come on,” he urged, when Nick still hadn’t moved. Nick stood and headed for his suitcase. “She’s down in the dumps tonight as well; I don’t know what it is with everyone tonight,” Adam added.

At that, Nick’s head shot up. “What’s wrong with Sal?”

“Ah, she’s just a bit tearful. Fay’s with her though,” Adam answered.

“Tearful?” Nick repeated with concern.

“Yes. Nothing happened in Matala did it?” Adam asked.

Nick’s face lost some of its colour as he slowly stood, with a clean t shirt loosely held in his hand.. “Damn!” he exclaimed.

“What now?” Adam asked.

“I completely forgot; I was too concerned about being in trouble with Jen. Sal had a bit of a shock earlier today. But thinking about it, she seemed okay when we got back.” He growled with anger at himself. “But obviously she wasn’t. Damn it, I should have made sure she was alright though before I left her.”

Adam shook his head in confusion. “What are you talking about? What kind of a shock?”

“She got arrested,” Nick said simply.

Adam’s eyes widened. “Man, trouble seems to follow you around.”

“It was okay, just a misunderstanding, but…”

Adam cut Nick off. “Listen, put that on,” he gestured to the t shirt in Nick’s hand, “and let’s go, then you can see for yourself that Sal’s alright. I said I wasn’t going to be long; Fay will have my guts for garters.”

“Okay, I’m ready,” Nick said, after grabbing his key and wallet, and pulling the t shirt over his head as he strode over to the door behind Adam. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 41

Mike was restless, pacing the confines of his hotel room in the new town he'd found himself in. Was he really interested in being there? No. His only interest was in this ridiculous quest that the couple had mentioned. He laughed to himself; now that was entertaining. But for more amusement, he needed to get busy and make some phone calls. Nevertheless, all the details of his plan were not clearly thought out yet. He was impatient and wanted results now; not to be stuck there alone in that room. Still, he'd bide his time. The fun would soon begin.

"Ah, he's on his way back," Fay informed Sal, reading the text message that had just come through on her phone. "Oh, and Nick is with him."

Sal's hand froze midway in between supplying her mouth with another cheesy puff.

"He is?" Her eyes widened with surprise and , what seemed to Fay like, a sparkle of pleasure. Then a frown of confusion developed. "But what about Jen?"

"Apparently she's gone back to the airport for some kind of meeting," Fay answered, watching Sal inquisitively.

"What? But she's only just got back. She's nuts," Sal concluded, devouring the cheesy puff.

"Quite possibly," Fay agreed.

"I mean, doesn't she at least want to spend a bit of time with Nick before she rushes back to work again?" Sal asked, sweeping up her glass of wine. "They haven't been together for more than two seconds!"

"Yeah. There are workaholics, and then there is Jen; she's in a whole other league," Fay commented.

Sal sighed and took a sip of wine.

"Poor Nick. I don't like Jen," Sal announced.

"Well, neither do I much, considering..." Fay said.

"Yeah," Sal agreed, before turning to Fay. "Considering what?"

Fay became still for a moment, searching Sal's face. "You know, last year and all that."

"Last year?" Sal said, confused.

Fay tutted. "Come on Sal, think about it. Adam and Jen."

Sal gasped and turned herself on the sofa, placing a hand on Fay's arm. "Oh God yes, I'm sorry. I completely forgot about that." Falling back against the cushions again, she added, "Still, that was only a one night fling before you got together with Adam."

"Hmm, listen Sal, we are best friends; you don't have to pretend with me. I know how Jen feels. I've heard the gossip."

Sal turned again to Fay with interest. "What gossip?"

"Sal, are you serious?"

"Sorry, I might be being stupid or something tonight, but I really don't know what gossip you mean," Sal replied.

Fay contemplated her with disbelief. "Well then, you must be the only person in Agios who doesn't know that Jen is supposed to be madly in love with Adam."

"What?" Sal's hand dropped then slightly, spilling some of the contents of the glass of wine over her jogging bottoms. She placed the glass back on the coffee table and wiped away the moisture with one hand. "But...but...why? How can she be?"

"Well, if you ask me she isn't really. She hardly even knows Adam. Like you said, it was just a one night fling, and even then, Adam was so drunk, he hardly knew what he was doing. I think she's just delusional," Fay concluded.

"Hmm," Sal nodded, chewing her thumb nail thoughtfully. "But why the hell is she with Nick then?" She gasped suddenly. "Does Nick know?"

"I don't think he did for a while, but I think he must do now. I do honestly think that you are literally the only person not to know," Fay answered.

"Oh," Sal responded, then she sighed again deeply. "God, how awful for Nick. She probably just got together with him on the rebound..." Sal glanced at Fay, "...not that there was much of a rebound anyway from what happened between them. She must have given up on that when you two got together, realizing that she didn't stand a chance. I wonder why..."

Sal's comment was cut short by the sound of the doorbell ringing.

"...why Nick says with her?" Sal finished on a whisper, before jumping up off the sofa, but pausing to wait for Fay's response.

"That's the sixty four million dollar question. She's a bossy bitch though," Fay whispered back, "and you know what Nick is like, he's so laid back, he probably just goes along with her for a quiet life."

Sal's face was awash with compassion and sympathy for Nick. "It's all so bloody sad. Why can't all the nice people in the