Sunburnt

by Joey Jameson

  “Well. It looks like we have your attention now…”

  Chapter Four

  THEN

  That night, Lenox dreamed of white sand and peaceful vibes. In the morning, he showered quickly, finished the last of his packing, and set off in an Uber cab for Gatwick Airport.

  On the flight, he sat between Bambi and Bubbles, with Del Rey and Tulip occupying the seats across the aisle. They toasted their holiday with champagne and nibbles, despite it only being early afternoon. After polishing off two bottles of Moët between the five of them, they arrived in the Balearic Isles.

  To Lenox, it never felt real until he stepped off the plane and felt the dry, blistering air of the Mediterranean on his skin. That was when it hit him. He had arrived in his little piece of paradise.

  Ibiza.

  As he closed his eyes and breathed in, the stresses of the last few months began to melt away from his shoulders. His final project had been turned in and now that the incident with his ex was hopefully over and done with, he could finally relax.

  The tension that he kept in his back began to lessen as they boarded the shuttle bus for the arrivals lounge and he was filled with a newfound sense of ease and simplicity.

  Lenox had been coming to Ibiza for as long as he could remember. It was his parents’ holiday destination of choice. They would venture over as often as they could, claiming there was something about the energy of the small island that kept them coming back year after year. They taught their only son about the history of the island and how to respect it when he came, being sure to abide by the ways of the locals and to leave his accommodation in the same condition as he found it. Despite their connection with the land, they would fluctuate their stays between lavish resorts and hotels like the Grand Palladium or The Can Lluc, where they would receive five-star service and be waited on hand and foot, and more demure and quaint locations where it was just them, the sea, and the sand.

  Lenox quickly learned that authentic Ibiza lay away from the pampered experiences of the rich and famous, where you could mingle with the natives, swim on lesser-known beaches, and experience the real energy that Ibiza offered to those who walked on its shores.

  When he turned eighteen, he visited for the first time without his parents and saw the island from a new perspective. He remembered his mother’s words as he found his way among the windy hills and dusty roads, being sure to respect everything and everyone he came in contact with. Although he was no stranger to the wild nights that Ibiza had to offer, these days, as he approached the end of his twenties, he much preferred the chilled holiday experience.

  The temperatures in Ibiza were unforgiving. He and his friends made their way through Arrivals and collected their cases, then hopped in a waiting private-hire van and were off.

  Lenox’s phone pinged and he reached down to pull it out of his back pocket.

  “Did you tag us here already, B?”

  “You know it!”

  Bambi was never one to let anything be left to the unknown. She was what Lenox deemed to be a “social media hussy,” always posting lurid pictures of herself and all willing parties when out and about, and a holiday abroad was high time to show off to her thousands of followers the mischief she was bound to get up to.

  “Ugh, when did you take that photo?” Lenox scoffed at his iPhone screen.

  “What? Lemme see!” Bubbles demanded, getting closer to the screen.

  “What? It’s a candid photo!” Del Rey chimed in.

  “You can practically see the drool dripping from my bottom lip!” Lenox whined at the photo of him snoozing on the flight and the rest of the girls wrapped around him adoringly as he slept, completely oblivious to the selfie being taken.

  “You look lovely, my darling,” Del Rey added.

  “Fuck,” Lenox said under his breath.

  “What’s wrong?” Del Rey asked.

  Lenox turned the phone so she could see the comments below.

  In big capital letters, was the word CUNT.

  Lenox didn’t need to look any further to see who had written it. He knew immediately who the message was from.

  Del Rey looked from the phone to him and quickly, in the way that she was so well versed, went on the defence. “Is that from…? Shit. I’m deleting it.”

  “I thought we all blocked him?” Bambi said quickly.

  “Shit. I’m sorry. I thought I had…”

  The girls all checked their phones and searched for the relevant details to make sure he was on their list of blocked contacts.

  “I’m so sorry, Lenox.”

  Lenox’s eyes were unfocused as he stared out the window.

  “It’s done. There. Blocked and I’ve deleted the comment. It’s fine.” Del Rey’s usually calm tone was shaky as she put her phone back in her bag and crossed her arms over her chest.

  The van was quiet for a few minutes as the reality of the situation settled in, the vibe shifting from calm to tense in a matter of moments. Bambi put a hand on Lenox’s leg reassuringly.

  “It’s okay, Lenox. Really,” she said in hushed tones.

  “He knows where I am now, B…” Lenox whispered.

  But Bambi didn’t respond; instead, she squeezed his knee.

  Lenox drew in a deep breath, somewhat jarred and on edge all of a sudden. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled and his throat dried up.

  They continued on down the road for a minute or so before Tulip’s harsh tone interrupted the silence. “Bloody hell, I can’t believe how hot it is!” she stated from the front passenger side seat.

  “What did you expect, you saw how balmy it was in the UK, didn’t ya?” Del Rey countered, fanning herself with a foldaway fan as if she was a film star from the twenties.

  “I know, but I’m sweating my tits off up here. Any chance you can crank up the A.C., mate?” she asked the driver, who only looked at her eyes briefly before his gaze lowered to Tulip’s enormous cleavage which appeared buttery smooth in the early afternoon sun. “Hiya, mate. I’m up here!” she yelled, only half serious, clicking her fingers to divert his attention from her boobs.

  The whole group laughed heartily, thankful for the break in tension. Even Lenox eased up slightly, his face cracking into a wide grin as he took in the situation. There was nothing he could do to change what had just happened. He drew in a deep breath and tried to convince himself that it really would be okay.

  “What do you expect, hun? The girls are commanding everyone’s attention today,” Lenox said as he raked a hand through his thick black hair, sweeping it off his sticky forehead. “I’m afraid to say that I can barely take my eyes off them, and I’m about as queer as they come!”

  It felt good to laugh. This was exactly what Lenox needed and one of the reasons they had all planned this holiday in the first place.

  “Well, if you’re starting to zero in on boobs these days, then I’m thinking there is no better time than the present to find you some dick!” Tulip threw back at him, causing the car to erupt once more into a series of catcalls at Lenox’s expense. “And I mean some good dick. Not some crazy-ass dick like the last fool, but some good old-fashioned sane dick.”

  “Yeah, yeah, like I’d ever let a ho like you play matchmaker for me.”

  “Uh, excuse me? Who you callin’ a ho?”

  “I’m just saying. When’s the last time you had a boyfriend?”

  “Who said anything about boyfriends?” Tulip asked, twirling a finger through her short crimson bob. “I’m just saying it’s time we got you laid!”

  “She’s right, Lenox. Sometimes all you need to get over one guy…” Bubbles began.

  “Is to get under another one!” the girls chorused together, before erupting into a fit of high-pitched giggles.

  “Trust me, I don’t need to try to get over this one. I need to bloody forget about him,” he said, trying to make light of the situation.

  Lenox averted his gaze and peered out the window, knowing despite his retort that they were right.
After what happened he knew it would take a lot before he could trust someone again. Watching the rolling hills of the Ibizan countryside pass by outside his window, he inwardly castigated himself for not seeing the signs or taking notice of the red flags that had shown themselves so regularly in his last relationship.

  If he closed his eyes long enough he could still see his face with that look of rage plastered across it. If he concentrated hard enough he could still hear the crack of his ribs as he was kicked repeatedly, or the steely taste of blood in his mouth that he thought would never go away. Never had he experienced such anger and violence from someone before. Now all he could do was pray every night that it was over.

  Bambi patted his knee in a slightly condescending manner, bringing his attention back to the van.

  “Tulip’s right, actually. You have been spending quite a bit of time lately either holed up in your darkroom or surrounded by strippers and rowdy straight men,” she remarked, almost reading his thoughts. “Maybe it is time you got yourself back out there.”

  “What, on holiday?”

  “Yes, on holiday! Specifically, on holiday!”

  Lenox only shook his head. “A holiday romance isn’t what I need right now.” He returned his eyes to the views outside his window.

  “Uhhh, hands up if you disagree with Lenox.”

  He turned to see Del Rey raising her hand firmly in the air. The rest of the ladies raised a hand each in turn.

  “Oh, come on! What’s the point? Anything that happens while away isn’t gonna last…”

  “That is the point, my raven-haired friend! It’s the perfect scenario, because you know you’re leaving!” Bambi purred, flashing him a wink.

  “I believe what you’re referring to is ‘expiration dating.’”

  “There you go again with that dating crap,” Tulip argued, putting the word in-between air quotations. “It doesn’t have to be dating. It’s sex. Good old-fashioned holiday-abroad sex. Shake off that stalker-y mojo you’ve been dragging around with you.”

  Lenox returned his gaze to the window and tucked his hands tightly away in his lap.

  “Listen to your friends for once, Lenox. We’re on holiday. You never know what might happen!” Bambi proposed, planting a seed in the air around them.

  As the countryside began to disperse and the landscape became littered with resorts and billboards advertising club nights and DJs, Lenox let their words wash through him. He allowed himself to consider, just for a moment, if there was some truth behind them.

  Chapter Five

  THEN

  The villa belonged to Tulip’s uncle, who had purchased the property sometime in the early nineties, well before the recession and before Ibiza saw an influx of tourists attracted by the rave movement of the time. It was classically designed with whitewashed walls and a minimalist feel to its five-bedroom layout. Despite being relatively new compared to other properties on the island, it had recently been refurbished and modernised, including the addition of an enormous infinity pool which allowed for the most breathtaking view of the area between Figueretas beach and Playa D’en Bossa.

  The bedrooms were interconnected and simple, furnished with king size beds and walk-in wardrobes, and enormous bay windows that opened up onto a balcony that stretched the entire width of the apartment.

  On their first full day on the island, Lenox woke up to the warm early morning sun streaming in through the windows, caressing his face with its gentle movement as it swept slowly through the room. The windows were open, letting in a whistling gust of fresh air that ruffled the floor-to-ceiling white silk curtains. Lenox breathed in the rejuvenating early summer breeze, tossed back the thin cotton duvet, and practically leaped out of bed.

  As the years passed, Lenox had made a silent promise to himself not to waste the precious Ibizan days hung-over or strung out in bed, but instead to embrace his time on the island by taking in all of it he could. Within moments of being out of bed, he was dressed and feeling the soft caress of the bleached white sand between his toes.

  He loved this time of day in Ibiza. The sun was just starting to show itself in the sky above the tall lookout tower of the D’Alt Villa, its already warm rays heating up the sand at his feet. Here and there, he spotted the occasional local, out for their morning stroll along the otherwise deserted beaches, or swimming slowly through the warm waters. He smiled at those he passed, the skin crinkling at the corners of his dark eyes as he did, his feet treading through the surf where the water met the sand. He held out his phone to capture the pink sky before continuing on his way. His thoughts were slowed and his stresses few as he closed his eyes for a moment and took it all in.

  His blissed-out thoughts were momentarily disturbed as the soft sound of what he presumed was a guitar being played reached his ears. Lenox turned his head in the direction of the gentle strumming. As he took another few steps and craned his neck to see beyond the array of beach chairs and umbrellas, he spotted where the sound was coming from.

  A man sat on one of the long beach chairs, incredibly tanned legs outstretched and clutching what turned out to be a ukulele gently in his arms. The sight of him caught Lenox off-guard and he slowed his pace to get a better look.

  To say he was beautiful would be the understatement of the century. His skin was the colour of golden butter and appeared just as smooth. He was shirtless, wearing nothing but board shorts that rode up slightly and exposed the muscles in his thighs as he crossed his legs in front of him. He had neatly done sun-kissed dreadlocks that grazed just below his tanned and round nipples. As his fingers worked the strings on the ukulele, he hummed and murmured a beautiful accompaniment; something almost pained or tortured yet soulful at the same time, as if playing the instrument was his deliverance from whatever conflict he faced. The notes dusted the air gently as they danced all around him, hitting the waves and bouncing back towards where Lenox stood, dumbfounded and entranced by the sweet, melodic music.

  He could do nothing but stare, his mouth a little ajar and his heart picking up speed as his eyes drank in the sight of this tanned Adonis before him. He was like nothing Lenox had ever seen back in London, and the more Lenox stared the more he was filled with a sense of ease. The air around him was heavy with a mixture of sex appeal and desire. Lenox thought perhaps it was the gentle sound of the ukulele, or maybe the way the stranger’s voice echoed against the surrounding mountains, but he was certainly overcome with a sense of allure which manifested as a stirring in his stomach like a thousand butterflies, flapping madly to get out.

  It took a moment for the man to realise he was being watched but as he turned his aqua-coloured eyes turned towards Lenox, their pained expression gently relaxed into a slight smile that was at once a gesture of acknowledgement and thanks to his unexpected audience.

  Lenox felt very self-aware and didn’t know where to look. His eyes cast downwards to his toes and his body began to move awkwardly as if he was searching for something in the sand. The gentle humming and sound of the instrument continued as Lenox began moving away from it. He swallowed hard as regret and frustration flooded his psyche, the words of his friends repeating themselves in his ear.

  Maybe it is time you get yourself out there…

  But as he found himself wandering further and further away, the beautiful music growing dimmer and dimmer, he felt the moment escape him.

  LENOX AND THE girls spent the day sunning themselves on the beautiful Playa D’en Bossa. The sun was hot and the water not much cooler as they let the energies of the island filter through them, awakening their every nerve and invigorating their souls. The traffic and noise of London seemed a million miles away, as the lapping sounds of the turquoise waters wrapped them in a warm, protective cocoon.

  Bambi and Bubbles could lie in the sun all day, applying and reapplying Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil to their already deep hued skin, but Tulip and Del Rey got restless easily.

  “Can we go check out Bora Bora soon?” Tulip asked, the question comin
g out dipped in a childish whine. “I can hear the beats from here and they’re making me antsy.”

  “Gimme ten more minutes. I just need to turn over then I’ll be ready,” Bambi said, not once tilting her face from the direct line of the sun above.

  “Girl, you’re already the colour of a cross between an extra from The Real Housewives and freakin’ Donatella Versace!”

  “Good, that’s exactly the look I was going for.”

  “Bubbles, what about you?” Del Rey asked.

  “Why don’t you two go ahead and we’ll meet up with you?”

  “Lenox, what are you feeling?” Bubbles squeaked in his general direction, only to be greeted with silence. “Lenox? Oi! Lenox, you with us?” she repeated, gently slapping his arm to break him from his trance. He had his head inside his beach bag as he searched manically for his phone.

  “What you looking for, Lenox?”

  “Sorry, what?” he responded, coming back from where he was.

  “You all right, mate? You seem miles away…” Del Rey remarked.

  “Yeah, all good. Sorry, I can’t find my phone. What did you say?”

  “Did you leave it back at the villa?”

  “I dunno. I’m sure I had it in here. Can someone ring it for me?”

  Bambi picked up her phone and dialled. Everyone listened for a minute for the sound of it ringing, but there was nothing.

  “Fuck. I bet I lost it on the beach this morning.”

  “Don’t worry. You got a password on it, right?”

  “No. You know I hate having to punch it in every time.”

  “Seriously, mate? You don’t have a password on it?” Tulip mocked.

  “That’s really fucking helpful, Tulip,” he shot back.

  “Don’t worry, it’ll turn up. It’s probably back at the villa. We’ll check as soon as we get in,” Bambi said complacently.

  Lenox just sighed and looked out to sea, inwardly beating himself up for being so absentminded.