Page 47 of What Happens in Dubai
I strolled towards the airport exit, my cheeks hurting with happiness, and took a long, deep breath of the cool, damp air. Fuck me, it felt good to be home!
Chapter Sixteen
Heading to work the following day in the cool, moist weather with a loaded WhatsApp chat stuffed with Cameron’s sweet words and cute selfies felt invigorating. I hadn’t heard from Ashley since leaving the airport, but I knew she’d been so desperate to see Dave and catch up with him that they probably ended up shagging the entire night. I couldn’t wait to spill the juice on my airport date and night of non-stop messaging. I’d only had around two hours of sleep, but still, I managed to spring out of bed, keen to start up our conversation once again.
As I jogged across the busy road to the clinic, I saw Raj was opening up. His timekeeping was habitually as poor as mine, and I wondered where Ashley was.
‘Hey, morning!’ I buzzed as I bolted through the door behind him.
‘Where’s Ashley?’ he replied, glancing at his watch.
‘I haven’t heard from her. I assumed she’d be erm …busywith Dave.’
‘Hmm, weird, though. She’s the only one among us with good timekeeping. Maybe she’s slept in from jet lag. I feel totally done in too.’ Raj stretched his arms in the air and let out an exaggerated yawn. I leapt up jokingly behind him and tickled his armpits. We both burst out laughing, crouching over one another, him slapping my arms as I continued to annoy him.
The front door swung open behind us, and in burst Ashley. Her face was scarlet as she sobbed, wearing a bright pink velour tracksuit with a leather jacket thrown on top and wheeling her Dubai suitcase after her.
‘Ash, what’s up? Are you OK?’ I ran over to console her.
She was nodding her head, whimpering into my shoulder.
‘Me and Dave are over. I told him about Dubai. Please can I stay with you, Zara?’ she bubbled. ‘Just for a wee while.’
‘What? Of course, you can! Please don’t cry, Ash. We will fix this!’ My heart agonised for my best friend as I felt her pain. Raj stood with his hands on his hips, looking sympathetic.
‘Take the day off and get some rest, Ashley,’ he offered.
Ashley lifted her tearful face from my shoulder. ‘What? Are you sure?’
‘Of course!’ Raj replied.
‘Wouldn’t you mind? I could go get some make-up on at Zara’s, square myself up and come back in an hour or two?’
‘No, I insist. Go to Zara’s! I can drive you if you like.’
‘I’ll be fine walking. It’s only round the corner. I’d better go before the clients come.’ She sobbed again.
‘I’ll pop up at lunch if I can. Oh, here.’ I delved my hand into my jeans pocket and handed Ashley my house keys.
‘Thanks. I’m sorry, Raj.’ She attempted a smile and left the clinic.
As the door shut, both Raj and I paused for a rare moment.
‘God, I feel terrible for her.’ I was in shock. I couldn’t believe Ashley would own up to her escapades. Part of me felt proud of her, but part of me wondered why she’d be so fucking stupid. Her and Dave had been together for five years and I didn’t think he’d break things off so abruptly.
‘What did she expect to happen, Zara? She blew a guy off in the middle of the desert! She’s not a wee lassie anymore.’
Raj was heading into a full-blown lecture, and I rolled my eyes.
‘Yes, she made one mistake. But it doesn’t make her a bad person. Besides, she didn’thaveto tell Dave,’ I shrugged, trying my best to defend my friend.
‘I know it doesn’t make her a bad person; she’s a great person. Fantastic, in fact. But her actions still have consequences. It’s that simple.’
‘Right, Da,’ I snapped back, and he sneered.
‘Come and get set up, Zara,’ Raj said. ‘We’ve got Ashley’s job to do today now too.’
I went through to my clinic room, changed into my scrubs and got straight to work.
