me, but I’m not in my body, I just feel detached from the whole ridiculous situation.
“So what are you going to do?” Caz asks.
“Nothing. For the time being at least, hopefully he will have left by now and if he hasn’t I guess I’ll just have to deal with him later. At least now I’m 110% sure I want nothing more to do with him. Can you believe I actually felt bad for coming down on him so hard earlier? Well not anymore!” I say assertively.
“I’m glad to hear it Kate, you deserve so much better than him, I’m just sorry it’s taken so long for us all to realise what a dick he is!”
We say our goodbyes shortly after that, by now it’s nearly 13.00; I’ve got an hour and a half before I’ve got to be out the front of the lobby to meet for this bike ride.
My head is sore from crying, but I’m full of nervous energy so it will be good to work off some of this hot air.
Going to the bathroom I splash cold water on my face, attempting to dissipate some of the puffy redness now practically swallowing my face whole.
Grabbing a hair tie I throw my hair up, no longer caring how it looks; what a waste of time spending so long on my appearance this morning turned out to be!
I begin to route through my clothes for some shorts and a top suitable for cycling and come up with the water bottle I had taken on the plane. I had bought it a few years ago for the car as it has a straw like nozzle which makes it easier to drink from when driving; Mines pink and I had bought a matching blue one for Jake. Looking at it, a lump forms in my throat and impromptu tears threaten to fall, No! this is not the time, Kate, pull yourself together. Iwill not shed another tear over that cheating, sleaze-ball, I tell myself firmly.
Whatever I had thought was between us was all based on lies told by him and naively believed by me. At least now I know the cold, hard facts. If I can just get over how stupid I feel for falling for it all those years, then maybe I can move on once and for all?
By the time I’m stood out front waiting for the rest of the group to materialise, the blotchy affect on my cheeks has just about gone and my eyes are only slightly swollen. I plaster a big smile on my face and keep my voice light and airy as I make small talk to distract from it.
“Kate!” comes Blair’s shrill exclamation from behind me. The moment I turn towards her she fling her arms around my neck squeezing enthusiastically “are you coming on this bike ride too?” she asks jumping up and down at the mere prospect.
“Yes I’m coming” I laugh, I’ve instantly caught her good mood.
“Hey, what’s up? You look like you’ve been crying” she coo’s stroking my hair.
“Oh it’s a long story” I brush off the question like it’s no big deal, “I’ll fill you in later, for now lets just get on these bikes and have a great afternoon!” I say forcing the smile back into my voice a little too obviously. Blair agrees, shouting over her shoulder and summoning John over, away from the instructor he is deep in conversation with. He bounds over, giving me a brief hug, “How’s things Kate? Did you enjoy your shopping trip, you can’t have bought much as Blair came back with just about all of what Mexico has to offer!” he teases, tickling her sides.
“It was great thanks, and yes I managed to get a couple of bits before she bought the whole stall!”
Just as Blair starts to defend her purchases, we are called to attention by today’s guide.
In turn we are each fitted with a helmet and a bike and lined up ready to go, there are only about ten guests taking part, I can see why cycling would not be the most popular activity on a beach holiday; it’s still at least twenty five degrees and as I push off shakily I’m already starting to regret it.
I haven’t been on a bike for years, I was hoping to god that it was how people say, ‘you never forget how to ride a bike’, but now I’m going I’m not so sure that’s true.