It’s him again!

Then you see him.

If this is paradise, you think bitterly, I guess it makes sense for there to be a snake.

Justin is standing with a group of guys you don’t recognise, laughing hard at something one of them’s just said. It takes a moment for him to notice you and Emma. Then his lips curve up in an unpleasant smile, and he raises a glass in mocking greeting.

Behind you, you can feel Emma fuming. ‘That bastard,’ she says quietly. ‘It’s like he’s following us.’

You have a strong feeling that’s exactly how he wants her to feel. ‘Don’t worry,’ you tell her, steering her firmly around a pillar and to the other side of the bar. ‘You know the easiest way to piss off an attention whore? Ignore them.’

Emma’s still glowering in Justin’s direction. ‘I don’t know,’ she says bitterly. ‘He’s more like an enormous shit that won’t flush. Maybe we should give him a nice big poke with a toilet brush.’

You chuckle, but press a drink into her hand soothingly. ‘Hey. Nothing’s changed, all right? This is still paradise, and we’re still together. Chances are he’ll be gone inside the week, and we’ll have the island to ourselves again. Just ignore him. I guarantee he’ll piss off.’

Emma nods reluctantly. ‘Yeah, I know. Sorry. I just… I can’t believe this is coincidence, somehow.’

You shake your head grimly. ‘Nope. Me neither.’