When I woke up the next day, I remembered that I hadn’t told Blake I wouldn’t be going to the gym today. I texted him quickly, explaining that I was going to see my cousin in Pafos. He replied with a thumbs up, so I figured he wasn’t bothered. I wore a floor-length and flowing cream-white skirt, and a maroon crop top that showed just a sliver of tan skin at my waist. I matched it with black sandals and a black shoulder bag, grabbed my sunglasses and keys, and headed for the car.

As usual I got stuck in traffic, and I grumbled for the millionth time why Cyprus didn’t have more roundabouts. A car drifted up next to me, all its windows open, and the driver glanced in my direction.

So help me god, it was Jason.

A mix of reggae and rap blasted out of his speakers, and a surfing board was strapped to the roof of his car.

‘Mithra!’ he called, practically leaning out of his open window. ‘Hey!’

I couldn’t help my answering grin. ‘Hiya.’

‘Are you headed for the gym?’ he asked.

‘No,’ I said, blushing slightly. ‘I’m going to see a friend.’

‘What about later today?’

‘I don’t think I’ll have time.’

‘Too bad,’ he said with a lopsided grin. The queue started moving then, and his moved faster, so he sped away, muscled arm still dangling out of the open window.

When he was gone, I finally breathed out. Jeez, I could barely breathe normally in his presence. What was it about him that made me so unnerved?

While I was on the highway I pondered over his behaviour. Jason always seemed glad to see me, but then, he was glad to see everyone. He’d recruited me as a customer to his gym, which I understood from a business perspective, but he also seemed to enjoy teaching me privately, without charging me extra. Maybe I was like an experimental project to him. Or maybe he simply saw potential in me. Either way, I couldn’t make sense of it, and thinking about it was only giving me a headache. I put on a Muse album and sang along as the car sped between the carved mountains.

It took over just a couple of hours to reach the other side of the island. Pafos looked mostly the same. There were a few new ugly and modern buildings scattered here and there, but otherwise, not much had changed. I drove to the theatre where my cousin had all her performances, and bought a ticket on site. I took a seat at the far back and enjoyed the show. The dancing school put on a mix of performances; ballet, hip hop, modern, and some breakdancing from the guys. Maria danced as good as she always did, her face expressive and glittering with makeup. When it was finished, I made my way down the steps and found her in the crowd.

We kissed each other on the cheek. ‘Hey cuz! You were amazing—as always!’

‘Oh, thank you!’ she gushed, clasping my arm in excitement. ‘I’m so glad to see you. Are you coming with us for dinner?’

‘Sure,’ I said, looking up at her friends, who were gathering around her. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Just Pizza Express,’ she said sheepishly.

‘Oh, yum.’

I went back to the car and scrolled a little on the phone while Maria and her friends went backstage to remove their costumes. She came with three girls, so that we would all fit into the car. They introduced themselves, and I smiled and gave them my name, though I immediately forgot theirs. I let the girls chatter amongst themselves while I drove them down to the harbour. We parked and then filed into the restaurant.

I decided to order a Caesar salad, not feeling much for pizza, and nibbled on the poofs of bread that had been served as a starter. Maria told me all about how things were going in school, since she still had a year left until she graduated, and revealed to me what boys she had been crushing on and even dating. Feeling a little daring, I decided to reveal my own situation.

‘Oh my god,’ she gushed. ‘And he’s like, your PT?’

I giggled. ‘Yes, sorta. I’ve only been to the gym twice, but I think I’ll be going every day if I can manage it.’

‘You need to tell me everything!’ she exclaimed, gesticulating wildly with her gelled nails. ‘If anything happens with him, you need to tell me straight away.’

I laughed, feeling a little embarrassed. ‘Nothing will,’ I said. ‘It’s just nice to have a crush on someone. It’s been a while.’

‘You don’t know that,’ Maria insisted. ‘You’re so pretty, he’d be an idiot not to fall for you!’

Her words kind of stunned me. She was looking at me admiringly, like she really thought I was pretty. I wrote it off as kindness and maybe the fact that I looked more mature than her. Still, to be polite I offered her a smiling, ‘Thanks. You’re the prettier one.’

She waved my compliment away and turned to say something to her friend. The dinner was spent mostly like that. They’d talk amongst themselves about their common interests while Maria remembered sometimes to turn and inquire about my life. I disclosed that I would be working at the hotel for a while, and that I was still unsure about what to study. All in all, it was a fun night. I ended up giving her a lift home before I drove over to my brother’s place.

Only when I turned up, Alec seemed wrapped up in work, his computer on and my niece Lila dancing around his legs. I ended up saying a brief hi, playing with her a little before I got back into the car and drove all the way back home. By the time I arrived in Ayia Napa it was nine p.m., much too late for a session at the gym. I figured it was best to head straight to bed, since I would be getting up early tomorrow.

Before I switched off my bedside lamp, I saw I’d gotten a text from Jas.

Saw hottie by Nissi beach today!

REALLY wanted to talk to him but Andrew was kind of embracing me so I couldn’t! UGH xxx

Feeling like a terrible person, I texted back:

You’ll get him next time! x

Then I muted my phone and went to sleep.