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but something wasn’t right. I couldn’t work out if it was the memory of the death of the little dog that was unsettling me, or the memory of Max’s touch. My fingers felt as if they were burning where his had held mine.

Although it seemed to be asking for trouble, I started watching Max and the others kite-surf every day. Max was getting seriously good and was looking more and more as if he was one of the locals. Every afternoon we went to the beach bar and most nights the four of us ended up in the town. Both sets of parents had insisted that we got back to the hotel at a reasonable hour, but we still had time to dance and talk and laugh, and every night I tried to ignore the growing interest in Max’s glances. And each day I tried to pretend that I wasn’t intrigued by him, and flattered by his interest.
    On the Saturday night we negotiated that we could stay out a bit later and managed to get into a party on the beach. It was held at one of the bars along from the hotel. There was no moon, and away from the road the only lights were from the fantastic array of stars and the twinkling lights on the horizon. I couldn’t quite believe that I was looking at Africa: the lights were in Morocco, just a few miles away over the Strait of Gibraltar. The wind had dropped and as we approached the party the music thudded out into the dark. It seemed really bright after the darkness of the beach, and I could feel myself blinking as we looked around. All the cool and beautiful people were there, lounging about or dancing in the small area where the tables had been pushed aside.
    Max’s kite-surfing instructor was with some friends and we were immediately invited to join his group. The friends were allfantastically fit and I could tell that Josh felt slightly intimidated. Max, though, was looking perfectly at home, flirting with the girls. I spent hours dancing with Sabrina and the others from her surf class, but I couldn’t help stealing the odd glance in his direction. After a while he disappeared from view, and it wasn’t until I went to the loo a bit later that I saw him, deep in conversation with a gorgeous brunette. She was obviously a kite-surfer, tanned and athletic, with a sleek short crop that showed her long and elegant neck to full effect. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but she was using her hands to describe something to him. He was smiling and nodding, and as I watched he leaned towards her and…
    “Alex, are you OK?” Josh had appeared and was standing right in the way.
    “Yes, I’m fine. It’s a great party, isn’t it?” I moved to one side so that I could see behind him. Max and the girl had gone. I quickly scanned around, and finally saw him. Max was leaving the party, following her away from the lights and into the gloom beyond. For some reason that really annoyed me and I couldn’t work out why. What Max did was really none of my business, and there was no reason why he shouldn’t pick up a girl at a party. I just didn’t want him to, I realised. I wanted him to be there so that I could talk with him and laugh about the music and the terrible dancing of the guy in the fluorescent shirt.
    Josh had followed my gaze. “He fancies you, you know.”
    “Really? I’d not noticed. Anyway, it looks as if he’s got over it.” I tried to cover up the slightly regretful tone in my voice.
    “Come on, it’s your turn to get me a drink.” Josh slung his arm around my shoulders as he manoeuvred me to the bar, giving me a quick squeeze as we walked. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Alex. I mean, who’s to know?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Oh, nothing. Just enjoy yourself, that’s all I’m saying. You’re on holiday, after all.”
    I carried on dancing with Sabrina but I wasn’t as enthusiastic about it as before. I couldn’t get the picture of Max smiling at that girl out of my head. Eventually I forced it away by wondering what Callum was doing, and the more I thought about