‘Which island would that be?’ Images of me surrounded by a tropical paradise, drinking from coconuts and bathing in waterfalls, far, far from any marking piles, swim pleasingly into my mind causing pangs of excitement.
‘Mexico.’
Call me old-fashioned, butas far as land masses go, that is not an island.
‘Does Mexico have actual islands though?’
‘Yes, but we’re not allowed to go on them.’
‘So, it’s more likeLove near the Island?’
He doesn’t look a bit flustered by my interrogation. He gives me an amused smile. ‘We thought about it butLove similar-to-but-not-quiteon the Islandjust hasn’t got the same ring.’
He’s funny.
‘Can I check what name you’ve decided on? I believe you mentioned Lulu, Lala and Lolo to our researcher.’
Lois has always regretted not having a more exotic name. She has the good grace to look sheepish.
I watch Cam efficiently flipping through papers on a clipboard. He must have quite a few contestants to get through. ‘To be honest, I can’t find your real name on here.’
‘Erm, Olivia Jackson. But I’d like to be called Libby on the show.’
‘Are you a big fan of the show, Libby?’ he asks smiling encouragingly at me.
I’m completely thrown by his easy confident manner and extreme good looks and in a panic, I say the first honest thing that springs to mind. ‘No, absolutely not.’
His eyes widen in surprise.
‘I mean, yes. Absolutely, yes. It’s the best show that’s ever been made.’ My voice breaks halfway through because I am so rubbish at lying. In my peripheral vision, Lois is mouthing, ‘Do not do this’ to me.
Too late.
I laugh nervously. ‘So, Cam, whereabouts in America are you from?’
‘Canada.’
Touché.
‘But I live in California,’ he says. ‘That’s on the west coast of America.’
It sounds so sophisticated.
‘Ah, yes. California.’ My recent Year Three Geography project springs suddenly to mind. ‘The Golden State. It’s the third largest and most biologically diverse of all the states.’ I say, nervously trotting out some impressive stats. ‘It’s the pistachio capital of the world.’
Lois is shaking her head.
‘Someone has done their homework,’ Cam says in a playful tone, even though his eyes are wondering if he’s made a huge mistake. ‘Although, I think you’ll find California is theavocadocapital of the world.’
Cripes. He’s correcting me. Me, the teacher. But he’s so ridiculously good looking I’m going to have to let it go.
‘And the show?’ he says. ‘Any last-minute reservations about taking part?’
Here it is. My get-out-of-jail card.
Am I in or out?
It’s decision time. I’m known in primary education circles as being impressively decisive, yet here I am, beating about the bush, all because he is as handsome as fudge.
