Page 19 of Waiting for a Prince (Island Tales #1)

Chapter Sixteen

The hairs on the back of Mark’s neck were standing to attention.

“She’s behind me, isn’t she?”

Sonia smirked. “Uh-huh, but never mind. Concentrate on what you’re doing.

” She handed Mark another foil, her eyes focused on his hands as he applied the hair dye evenly and folded the strand of hair into the foil, crimping the edges securely.

“You’re doing a great job,” she said in a low voice, and then leaned forward to whisper in her customer’s ear. “Isn’t he, Kathy?”

The lady in the chair giggled. “Mark, you’re doing fine.”

Mark had to smile at that. He was hyper-aware of Marie’s presence, which made it much more difficult to focus, but he took several deep breaths and pressed on.

It was his first attempt in the salon at colouring hair.

Sonia had taken on the role of mentor, and despite Marie’s obvious initial misgivings she’d let Sonia get on with it.

What a difference a month had made.

Mark was finally beginning to feel comfortable at work.

Sonia’s decision to let Mark cut her hair had proved the catalyst. A lot of the girls had jumped on the bandwagon at the thought of a free haircut, and Mark had found himself faced with demands that he do their hair too.

He had risen to the challenge. When Marie finally offered him some dry words of praise, Mark knew he’d turned a corner.

Finally.

The last of the foils in place, Mark adjusted the timer accordingly and leaned forward with a bright smile to address his customer. “That’s going to be about twenty minutes. Now, can I get you a cup of tea or coffee?”

Kathy beamed. “Ooh, a coffee would be nice.”

Mark gave her a grin. Kathy had been a regular throughout his time at the salon, and it had been Sonia’s idea to leave Mark in charge this time.

Nevertheless, he’d been grateful for Sonia’s reassuring presence throughout.

He gave Kathy’s shoulder a quick squeeze and after handing her a selection of magazines, he headed for the kitchen.

As he stood waiting for the kettle to boil, his phone chimed in his pocket. He grinned when he saw the screen.

It was Sam.

“I know that smile.” Sonia winked at him from the doorway. “What are you two up to this weekend?”

Mark opened the message.

Not again.

This was getting beyond a joke.

He frowned. “Nothing, apparently.” He puffed out his breath in exasperation. “Rebecca says she has plans .” That would make the third Sunday in a row Sam had cancelled on him, and each time it had been something to do with her.

Sonia gave another smirk. “Hasn’t she worked out yet there are three people in this relationship?

That’s very inconsiderate of her.” Mark stared at her open-mouthed and she laughed.

“Oh, come on, Mark. You and Sam spend time together every Sunday and Monday, not to mention meeting up on weekday evenings occasionally. You’re inseparable.

” She winked. “I think it’s kind of cute. ”

“It’s not funny,” Mark groused. “She tells him they’re going to be doing something, then changes her mind at the last minute, only by then it’s too late for us to do anything.” If he didn’t know better, Mark would swear it was deliberate. Sam promised him it wasn’t, however.

He poured boiling water over the instant coffee and stirred it briskly, trying not to let this new development spoil his good mood.

“We were going to go for a walk along the coastal path near Whale Chine,” he said gloomily.

Sam had suggested packing a picnic lunch if the weather allowed.

The western side of the island was less inhabited, and its beaches less frequented.

The plan had been to leave the car at the viewpoint above the theme park at Blackgang Chine and walk along the path as far as Brook village, have their lunch on the beach and then walk back.

It would have taken up the major part of Sunday.

Sonia came fully into the kitchen and closed the door behind her. “Mark, I’ve been wanting to say something for a few weeks now, but I’ve kept putting it off.”

Mark’s forehead furrowed. “That sounds kinda serious. What’s up?”

“Sweetie, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

He stiffened and gave her an incredulous stare. “What do you mean?”

Sonia sighed. “The amount of time you two spend together. Now, don’t get me wrong,” she said, holding up her hands as Mark took a step back.

“I think it’s great you have such a good friend.

” She moved closer and took hold of his hand.

“But sweetie, you talk about him all the time . You should listen to yourself. It’s ‘Sam did this’ and ‘Sam said that,’ several times a day.

” She gazed at him intently. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you were in love with him.

” She gave Mark a keen glance, finally falling silent.

Mark cringed. Damn her . He sucked in a deep breath, not trusting himself to speak.

Sonia’s hand flew to her chest. “Oh hell. I hate being right all the time.” Her voice was soft.

Mark shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know what you mean.” He ignored the sudden dry mouth and the tingling in his stomach. Sonia leaned forward and grabbed his hands.

“Mark, this is me you’re talking to. You know, Sonia, the woman who sees right through you?” Her eyes were kind. “You’re in love with him.” It wasn’t a question.

Mark closed his eyes. “It doesn’t matter whether I am or I’m not.

He has Rebecca.” His chest felt as though an iron band had been tightened around it, limiting the flow of air into his lungs.

A lump formed in his throat. Tears pricked his eyelids as Sonia pulled him to her in a warm hug, her arms tight around him.

“It’ll be okay, sweetie,” she whispered into his ear. He rested his head against her shoulder, taking comfort from her solid presence. Tears slid down his cheeks and soaked into her pink cotton blouse.

“I’m a fucking mess,” Mark whispered back. “I told myself I could do this. I could just be his friend.” What he hadn’t counted on was Sam.

The man was addictive.

The more time they spent together, the more strongly Mark felt himself drawn to Sam.

A day didn’t go by without some contact with him in one way or another.

Phone calls. Facebook. Texts. WhatsApp. Facetime.

Sam was the last thing in his thoughts each night as he drifted off to sleep.

Mark would wake the following morning to a smiley on his phone and a cheery Morning !

Certainly nothing earth-shattering, but he looked forward to his morning texts with eagerness.

Sonia cradled him in her arms. “Is it serious, him and Rebecca? Because I have to ask myself—if it’s doing this to you , how is Sam coping?”

Mark groaned. “I don’t know !” And that was the hardest part. He really didn’t.

Sonia reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled paper tissue. She handed it to him, and he wiped his eyes angrily.

“You must think I’m such a basket case.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Sonia pulled away to look him in the eye.

“Now, you need to listen. This has to stop. It isn’t good for you.

” Mark drew back from her, swallowing. “You know I’m right.

Okay, so Sam says he’s gay, but he’s got a girlfriend.

Which makes him bi in my book.” All of a sudden she tilted her head, her eyes wide.

“Oh my God—she could just be a beard.” Mark gasped and Sonia’s eyes sparkled.

“What—you didn’t think I knew what a beard was?

I told you, I have a few gay friends apart from you.

” She bit her lower lip. “Do you think Rebecca knows she’s just a cover? ”

“I don’t give a fuck what Rebecca knows.” Mark spat out the words. “I only know she has Sam and I don’t, and it’s killing me.” He hated the plaintive whine in his voice. “God, just listen to me. How sad am I—in love with my best friend.”

Sonia nodded, her eyes never leaving his. “And that’s why you need to pull the plug, sweetie. Before you get in any deeper.”

Mark snorted. “I think I’m in as deep as it gets.” He gave himself a mental shake. “Anyway, I have to take Kathy her coffee.” He reached for the cup, but Sonia stopped him, laying a hand on his arm.

“Let me do that. You pull yourself together in here for a sec.” She gave him a tight smile and walked out of the kitchen with the coffee.

Mark wiped his eyes once more and blew his nose.

He knew Sonia was right, of course. This was doing him no good at all.

But the thought of walking away from Sam wrenched at his heart.

I don’t think I can do it .

Only thing was, he couldn’t see any other way out of this mess. Someone’s heart was bound to get broken in the process—and Mark could lay money on it being his.

Sam was beginning to wish he’d ignored the doorbell, except that wasn’t an option.

He wouldn’t put it past Rebecca to hammer on the door and annoy the hell out of his neighbours.

He was still fuming that she’d derailed his third Sunday in a row. And if it turned out to be yet another occasion when she’d cancel it right at the last minute, he was going to….

What, Sam? What will you do? Say something? Yell at her? Tell her enough is enough?

Yeah. He wouldn’t do any of those things. But there were days when the prospect of subjecting himself to his dad’s explosion and consequent fallout was better than a future with her, even a limited future.

Except you have no idea how long this will continue, do you?

“So where is it we’re going tomorrow?” he asked, unable to keep the weariness from his voice.

I am so freaking tired of this .

Rebecca sat on the couch, nursing a mug of tea. She rolled her eyes. “Dad’s having a party on the boat.”

“Is it a special occasion?”

She chuckled. “He doesn’t need an excuse to throw a party.”

Sam frowned. “How come he isn’t the one inviting me? He has my number.”

Her eyes flashed. “Because he asked me to? Because he’s too busy? Because he assumes I’d probably be seeing you?”

The likelihood of her dad cancelling a party was pretty remote.

So it looks as if I won’t be spending tomorrow with Mark.

“You could stop working and pay some attention to me, you know,” she said with a pout. “I didn’t come over here to drink tea while you work.”

“And maybe if you’d called first, I would’ve told you I had a job to finish. Which is now even more time-critical seeing as I won’t be working tomorrow.”

It was a lie, but she wouldn’t know that. He’d got everything done ahead of time in order to have a whole day with Mark.

Her face tightened, but she said nothing.

That was a bad sign. Trouble brewing.

His phone buzzed, and he glanced at it. A message from Mark.

Mark: Why do elephants paint their toenails red? So they can hide up in cherry trees.

It was a dumb joke, but so Mark, and his timing was impeccable. Sam needed a laugh right then.

Then another came hot on its heels.

Mark: Why do elephants paint the bottom of their feet yellow? So they can hide upside down in bowls of custard.

He smiled as he typed. You have a ton of elephant jokes, don’t you?

All he got back was a grinning emoji.

“Who’s that?” Rebecca’s sharp tone shattered his improving mood.

“A friend.” He went to put the phone in his pocket, but she was off the couch and at his side in a heartbeat, her hand held out.

“Let me see.”

He blinked. “Do I ask to see your phone? My messages are nothing to do with you.”

Apparently, Sam was reaching the end of his tether.

Rebecca narrowed her gaze. “What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

“It’s that Mark, isn’t it?” Her eyes glinted. “You think I don’t notice? The texts, the little smiles, the way you light up when you get a message from him?”

“I think you’re seeing things,” he said through gritted teeth.

“I see you spending way more time with him than you do with me.” She cocked her head to one side. “Are you in love with him?”

For the life of him, Sam didn’t know how to answer that.

There was that flash again. “You’re cheating on me.”

Sam threw his hands up in the air. “How, exactly? Am I having sex with him? No, I am not. But then again, neither are we.”

“You bastard.” Her hand twitched at her side. “Fine. Run off with your little boyfriend. Because if you leave me, Sam, I’ll tell your father everything. I’ll make sure he knows exactly what you are.”

Sam was numb.

Heavy.

Empty.

“Then do it,” he said in a quiet voice.

Rebecca stared at him, her mouth open. Then something shifted in her eyes.

Like a fuse snapping.