Quickly, she grabbed a shower—Jake had thought to place the towels she’d brought in the bathroom—and dressed, before hurrying out to the main house. And straight into her sister, who eyed her knowingly.
‘Good afternoon?’
‘Great,’ Flávia replied loftily. ‘And yours?’
‘Well, I got honeycomb ice cream, so I can’t complain.’
Flávia waited for Maria to say anything more. Unreasonably disappointed when she didn’t.
‘Did you...um...see Jake before he left?’
‘Well, now that you come to mention it, I do believe I did.’
Another pause. It seemed that her sister was going to make her fish for every detail.
‘And did he say anything?’
Maria cocked her head speculatively.
‘Livvy...’
‘Uh-oh.’ Flávia forced herself to grin. ‘I know that tone—it’s never a good one.’
‘No.’ Maria shook her head. ‘It’s not like that.’
‘Then what?’
‘You’re not falling for this guy, are you?’
‘Of course not,’ Flávia scoffed. But even to her own ears her voice was too bright. Too high.
‘Oh, Livvy.’
‘I’m not.’
‘This is all my fault.’ Maria shook her head, her hand reaching out to stroke Flávia’s cheek.
Flávia pulled away sharply. ‘I’m not falling for Jake. You told me to have a little fun, that night of the gala, remember? So that’s what I’m doing. I’m having a little fun.’
‘You’re falling for him.’
‘No,’ Flávia denied.
Only in that instant she realised, with blinding clarity, that she was lying.
‘You can’t fall for him, Livvy. He’s leaving. In a matter of weeks,’ Maria pointed out forcefully.
‘I know that.’
So why did it now press so heavily on her chest that she felt as though she was suffocating?’
‘Do you? Because I’ve never seen you like...this before, Livvy.’ Maria swirled her arm in Flávia’s general direction. ‘Not even with Enrico. And if I’m right, then you’re setting yourself up for the hardest fall of your life.’
‘You’re wrong.’ Flávia crossed her arms obstinately. ‘I know the situation. Jake is going back to England, and I’m going back to the jungle.’
‘And he will be going, Livvy.’
‘I know, Maria.’ Flávia rolled her eyes. ‘Look, it was only supposed to be a bit of fun that night. But then this happened—and do I need to remind you that you’re the one who encouraged it, with your “we won’t be back for hours” comment? But that’s it now.’