fatigued as I do after our lazy day, but she waves her hand dismissively towards me giving the seat a pat and telling me to sit myself down.
I do as I’m told and we slowly weave back through the winding paths around the gardens that surround each apartment block, pointing out exotic birds and stopping to sniff the most colourful flowers as we go.
There’s something inanely comfortable about Blair; she is beautiful and thin, but does not appear to put any effort into maintaining it, she is full of boundless excitement which in anyone else would become irritating after a while, but yet somehow she is so enchanting, you just couldn’t dislike her for a second, even if you were actively trying to.
She is generous without question and I have never had the slightest impression that she is judging me, which is a rare quality in any person.
I am starting to realise that it will be a sad day when I go home, but not just for leaving Carlos, I really feel like I’ve found a friend in Blair, but the duration of our friendship is inevitably limited.
We spend the rest of the afternoon back at Blair’s room, John quickly escaping to the bar away from our girly talk; she gives me a makeover, covering as best she can the bruise still visible on my cheek.
She then braids a French plait, starting from one ear and encircling my whole head, effectively taming my unruly mane, for the time being at least.
Dressing me in one of her own ankle length powder blue skirts and a simple v-neck white top with ¾ length sleeves, she succeeds in hiding the worst of my injuries.
Admiring my reflection once she is done, I actually feel graceful, makeovers are clearly just another string to Blair’s already impressive bow.
Now for the difficult bit, “Blair, when Carlos arrives, I really don’t want to be wheelchair bound”
“Don’t be silly, you’ve been hurt, he will understand” comes her no-nonsense reply.
“Why are you all so desperate to make me an invalid?” I laugh to downplay my growing frustration “I feel fine, really! And you’ve done such a good job prettying me up, I don’t want to look like a fool in that clumpy thing, when my legs work perfectly fine, please Blair?” I add a whiny please to the original flattery ploy, to try and persuade her. She cocks her head to one side eying me suspiciously; I do a little skip on the spot to hammer the point home.
“Oh alright, I guess if you can do that you can walk” she giggles at my efforts as she collapses the chair and props it against the far wall.
“Thank you Blair, you’ve been a star these last couple of days”
“It’s been my pleasure”
Just as we are hugging it out, there is a knock at the door; we break apart just far enough to monitor each others matching grins, before Blair gives my hair and clothes one final smooth down, followed by a thumbs up as she goes to open the door.
She opens it reservedly so I can’t see if it is him or not, his smooth voice gives the game away however. “Good evening, you must be Blair?”
She smiles and nods, opening the door wider and signalling him to come in.
As he steps into the room his eyes instantly find mine, his face lighting up as he takes me gently into his arms.
“How are you sweet?” he whispers into my ear as we embrace.
“Much better now” I reply, staring into his sparkling eyes.
He turns duly to Blair, “I can’t thank you enough for looking after her for me, if there is anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable, please let me know” his impeccable manners and charm leaving her all but speechless, this must be a first for her.
I suggest we all meet for dinner tomorrow evening which is met with plenty of nods and agreement, we then politely excuse ourselves and head back to my room.
On the walk back we can barely keep our hands off each other, stopping periodically to kiss passionately and let our fingers roam across each others bodies as much as we dare to in relatively crowded public places.
He’s holding a paper bag which keeps clumsily bumping against me when we kiss, the curiosity is killing me as to what’s inside, but he has not volunteered the information and I’m hoping it might be a present for me, so I hold my tongue.