She loitered over the ‘send’ button for a moment and then hit it before she could second-guess what she was doing. She bit down on her lip, and had gone back to her emails when a ‘ping’ noise indicated that she’d received a new message.
Her breath held, she clicked back into Facebook and saw a little green circle beside Cressida’s name. She opened the message up, her nerves firing in every direction as Cressida began to type. The little dots moved frantically and Tilly waited with impatient panic.
Finally words appeared, and Tilly leaned close to the screen as she read them.
Hey, babes! What’s up? Hope you’re having a bloody ball. I know I am. You are such a superstar for doing this for me! I owe you. xxxxxxxx
Tilly couldn’t help the smile that pulled at her lips. Cressida was extravagant with praise and censure. She was one hundred and ten per cent sure of how she felt at all times.
Tilly ran her fingertip over the space bar as she tried to find words. Eventually she typed her reply, testing the water with a small white lie.
Don’t thank me yet. I think Rio suspects something.
The response was immediate.
You’re not serious?
Tilly expelled a breath and began to type again.
Yes. Did you know he was going to be the one showing me around? For a whole week?
There was a pause and Tilly suspected Cressida was doing her own word-searching, looking for a way to explain why she hadn’t been upfront about that.
Now that you mention it, I think Daddy did say that might be the case. Something about not wanting people to know he was selling the island.
Tilly ground her teeth together.
A heads-up would have been nice. We’re sharing a tiny cabin...
Cressida sent a little laughing face emoji which made Tilly roll her eyes.
It’s not funny.
Tilly’s response was another emoji and then:
LOL! Sorry. Just imagining Miss Prim & Proper spending a week on a gorgeous island with that spectacular piece of man. What a wasted opportunity. Maybe I should have gone instead...
Tilly expelled an angry breath.
Actually... she began to write, thinking through a way to tell Cressida the truth that wouldn’t result in gossip
spreading like wildfire.
‘Urghhhh!’ she shouted into the cabin.
It was useless. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. If she told Cressida that she’d fallen in love with Rio, Cressida might tell the world—and Tilly didn’t want that.
Although... Realisation fired inside her. Cressida was as bound by silence as Tilly was. How could Cressida spread the news about Tilly and Rio without owning up to her own part in the scheme, thereby admitting to her deception?
The thing is, I like him.
Tilly sent the message, instinctively disliking the lukewarm sentiment.
And I want to see him again.
There was a pause. A long silence.
No.