Chapter Five

THEN

 

The villa belonged to Tulip’s uncle, who had purchased the property sometime in the early nineties, well before the recession and before Ibiza saw an influx of tourists attracted by the rave movement of the time. It was classically designed with whitewashed walls and a minimalist feel to its five-bedroom layout. Despite being relatively new compared to other properties on the island, it had recently been refurbished and modernised, including the addition of an enormous infinity pool which allowed for the most breathtaking view of the area between Figueretas beach and Playa D’en Bossa.

The bedrooms were interconnected and simple, furnished with king size beds and walk-in wardrobes, and enormous bay windows that opened up onto a balcony that stretched the entire width of the apartment.

On their first full day on the island, Lenox woke up to the warm early morning sun streaming in through the windows, caressing his face with its gentle movement as it swept slowly through the room. The windows were open, letting in a whistling gust of fresh air that ruffled the floor-to-ceiling white silk curtains. Lenox breathed in the rejuvenating early summer breeze, tossed back the thin cotton duvet, and practically leaped out of bed.

As the years passed, Lenox had made a silent promise to himself not to waste the precious Ibizan days hung-over or strung out in bed, but instead to embrace his time on the island by taking in all of it he could. Within moments of being out of bed, he was dressed and feeling the soft caress of the bleached white sand between his toes.

He loved this time of day in Ibiza. The sun was just starting to show itself in the sky above the tall lookout tower of the D’Alt Villa, its already warm rays heating up the sand at his feet. Here and there, he spotted the occasional local, out for their morning stroll along the otherwise deserted beaches, or swimming slowly through the warm waters. He smiled at those he passed, the skin crinkling at the corners of his dark eyes as he did, his feet treading through the surf where the water met the sand. He held out his phone to capture the pink sky before continuing on his way. His thoughts were slowed and his stresses few as he closed his eyes for a moment and took it all in.

His blissed-out thoughts were momentarily disturbed as the soft sound of what he presumed was a guitar being played reached his ears. Lenox turned his head in the direction of the gentle strumming. As he took another few steps and craned his neck to see beyond the array of beach chairs and umbrellas, he spotted where the sound was coming from.

A man sat on one of the long beach chairs, incredibly tanned legs outstretched and clutching what turned out to be a ukulele gently in his arms. The sight of him caught Lenox off-guard and he slowed his pace to get a better look.

To say he was beautiful would be the understatement of the century. His skin was the colour of golden butter and appeared just as smooth. He was shirtless, wearing nothing but board shorts that rode up slightly and exposed the muscles in his thighs as he crossed his legs in front of him. He had neatly done sun-kissed dreadlocks that grazed just below his tanned and round nipples. As his fingers worked the strings on the ukulele, he hummed and murmured a beautiful accompaniment; something almost pained or tortured yet soulful at the same time, as if playing the instrument was his deliverance from whatever conflict he faced. The notes dusted the air gently as they danced all around him, hitting the waves and bouncing back towards where Lenox stood, dumbfounded and entranced by the sweet, melodic music.

He could do nothing but stare, his mouth a little ajar and his heart picking up speed as his eyes drank in the sight of this tanned Adonis before him. He was like nothing Lenox had ever seen back in London, and the more Lenox stared the more he was filled with a sense of ease. The air around him was heavy with a mixture of sex appeal and desire. Lenox thought perhaps it was the gentle sound of the ukulele, or maybe the way the stranger’s voice echoed against the surrounding mountains, but he was certainly overcome with a sense of allure which manifested as a stirring in his stomach like a thousand butterflies, flapping madly to get out.

It took a moment for the man to realise he was being watched but as he turned his aqua-coloured eyes turned towards Lenox, their pained expression gently relaxed into a slight smile that was at once a gesture of acknowledgement and thanks to his unexpected audience.

Lenox felt very self-aware and didn’t know where to look. His eyes cast downwards to his toes and his body began to move awkwardly as if he was searching for something in the sand. The gentle humming and sound of the instrument continued as Lenox began moving away from it. He swallowed hard as regret and frustration flooded his psyche, the words of his friends repeating themselves in his ear.

Maybe it is time you get yourself out there…

But as he found himself wandering further and further away, the beautiful music growing dimmer and dimmer, he felt the moment escape him.

 

LENOX AND THE girls spent the day sunning themselves on the beautiful Playa D’en Bossa. The sun was hot and the water not much cooler as they let the energies of the island filter through them, awakening their every nerve and invigorating their souls. The traffic and noise of London seemed a million miles away, as the lapping sounds of the turquoise waters wrapped them in a warm, protective cocoon.

Bambi and Bubbles could lie in the sun all day, applying and reapplying Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil to their already deep hued skin, but Tulip and Del Rey got restless easily.

“Can we go check out Bora Bora soon?” Tulip asked, the question coming out dipped in a childish whine. “I can hear the beats from here and they’re making me antsy.”

“Gimme ten more minutes. I just need to turn over then I’ll be ready,” Bambi said, not once tilting her face from the direct line of the sun above.

“Girl, you’re already the colour of a cross between an extra from The Real Housewives and freakin’ Donatella Versace!”

“Good, that’s exactly the look I was going for.”

“Bubbles, what about you?” Del Rey asked.

“Why don’t you two go ahead and we’ll meet up with you?”

“Lenox, what are you feeling?” Bubbles squeaked in his general direction, only to be greeted with silence. “Lenox? Oi! Lenox, you with us?” she repeated, gently slapping his arm to break him from his trance. He had his head inside his beach bag as he searched manically for his phone.

“What you looking for, Lenox?”

“Sorry, what?” he responded, coming back from where he was.

“You all right, mate? You seem miles away…” Del Rey remarked.

“Yeah, all good. Sorry, I can’t find my phone. What did you say?”

“Did you leave it back at the villa?”

“I dunno. I’m sure I had it in here. Can someone ring it for me?”

Bambi picked up her phone and dialled. Everyone listened for a minute for the sound of it ringing, but there was nothing.

“Fuck. I bet I lost it on the beach this morning.”

“Don’t worry. You got a password on it, right?”

“No. You know I hate having to punch it in every time.”

“Seriously, mate? You don’t have a password on it?” Tulip mocked.

“That’s really fucking helpful, Tulip,” he shot back.

“Don’t worry, it’ll turn up. It’s probably back at the villa. We’ll check as soon as we get in,” Bambi said complacently.

Lenox just sighed and looked out to sea, inwardly beating himself up for being so absentminded.

Tulip and Del Rey gave each other a look and started to move.

“Well we’re gonna hit up Bora Bora down the beach for some drinks, you wanna come with?” Tulip interjected, standing and draping her tiny frame in a hooded beach wrap.

“Uhh, actually, I think I’ll just chill here a bit longer. You staying?” He motioned to Bambi, who nodded in response.

“Right, you lot have fun then. We’re going to get drinks.”

“And maybe some blokes!” Tulip joked.

“Don’t even think about bringing any randoms back, ladies. Remember we have dinner reservations at nine,” Bambi scolded.

“Hey, if no one else around here is interested in getting some, then I might as well. We’re on holiday, aren’t we?” Tulip said.

They all blew air kisses to each other before Tulip and Del Rey scuttled away down the beach.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Bambi turned to Lenox, lowering her sunglasses so she could stare him straight in the eye. Lenox did a double take upon feeling her sensors taking him down before lowering his own shades to meet her gaze.

“Penny for your thoughts, Mister Winter?” she asked coquettishly.

“Whatever do you mean, Miss Von Dutch?” He toyed with her.

“Don’t feign innocence with me, Lenox. What’s on your mind? You okay?”

Lenox glanced away for a moment and pretended to look for something further down the beach.

Bubbles seemed to sense the tension in the air and sat up abruptly to better take in the situation. “What’d I miss?”

“Lenox is about to reveal a secret, I can tell!”

“You’re so wrong, I’m afraid. Nothing much to tell…”

“Nothing much? So, you admit, there is something!”

“Hardly…” He looked away to avoid the girls’ penetrative stares.

“Come on, Lenox, what is it?” Bubbles asked, getting in on the game.

Lenox took another moment before sighing heavily. “Oh, fuck it. This morning. On the beach…”

“You went to the beach this morning?” Bambi interrupted.

“Not the point of the story!”

“Sorry. Continue.”

“So, I went to the beach as the sun was coming up—”

“Oh, my God, we’re getting so old!” Bubbles exclaimed, once again halting Lenox’s story in its tracks. “Remember the good old days when we would still be out when the sun was coming up?”

Lenox didn’t respond. Neither did Bambi. Instead, they just stared at her from over the rims of their sunglasses.

“Sorry. Did it again. Please, go on…”

“Anyways. There’s not much to tell.” Lenox shrugged. “But when I was walking…I saw this guy…”

“Ooh, really? What’s his name?” Bambi asked quickly.

“Was he cute?” Bubbles jumped in again.

“What’s he look like?” Bambi said.

“Well, I don’t…I mean, I didn’t…”

“Didn’t what? Is he staying close by?” Bambi shot back quickly.

“I don’t know…”

“What do you mean you don’t know? What did you say to him?”

The questions were coming quickly now, like wild fire; faster than he could muster up his pathetic response.

“Actually, I didn’t say…Anything…”

“What? Why not?”

“I…I don’t know. I just, kept on walking…”

The girls were finally quiet as they took in Lenox’s inherent shyness and the sad reality of the situation.

“Oh,” Bambi said, a full stop quite apparent in her tone.

Lenox studied their faces and saw the two girls make eye contact quickly and sheepishly. “What? Oh, go on, say it.”

There was another silent exchange between the girls before Bambi opened her mouth to speak.

“I think I speak for both Bubbles and I when I say ‘typical Lenox’…”

“Typical Lenox? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that chickening out in the presence of a good-looking guy is typically you!”

“I don’t chicken out in front of guys…”

This time both ladies shot him a double dose of a look that said really?

“Well, I don’t do it often…And who are you both to talk?” He gestured towards them both in a less-than-subtle way to redirect the topic of conversation away from himself.

“No, no, no, don’t even try to deflect,” Bambi countered, shaking a finger in his direction.

“Well, you must at least remember something about what he looked like?” Bubbles said, gently coming to his rescue.

Lenox looked out to sea for a moment as he thought of how best to describe the man from earlier.

“Well, he had these beautiful, long blond dreads—”

“Dreadlocks?” Bubbles shot back.

“Really, Lenox? Dreads? Since when do you like dreads on a guy?”

“Right. I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

Lenox stood up abruptly and brushed the sand off his shorts before grabbing his towel to leave.

“Lenox, come on. We’re just teasing you. Really. Sit down and tell us more about your dreaded friend,” Bambi joked, high-fiving Bubbles without diverting her gaze from Lenox.

“Yeah, don’t be such a prissy pants. Sit, tell us more.”

But Lenox had made up his mind. And as much as it was a tad on the dramatic side, his sudden self-awareness and vulnerability had given him cause to leave.

“I’m gonna go. I’ll catch you both back at the villa.”

“Lenox, don’t. Come on, we’re just joking.”

“It’s all good. I’ll see you later.”

He grabbed his flip-flops and turned to go.