‘A Snickers and a cup of tea?’ Philippa asks him.
‘Coke please, Mum.’
‘Right. I’ll, um…’ She tiptoes away, frowning and biting her lip.
When she’s out of sight, Tom seems to relax a little. ‘There’s stuff I don’t want to tell her,’ he mutters. ‘I don’t want her worrying about me.’
‘She’s already worrying about you.’
‘I know, but…’
‘She’s going to find it all out anyway, one way or another.’ Eve searches his pale features. ‘You know that.’
‘I do know that. I’d just rather… Not all at once, y’know.’
‘I get it. So tell me.’
23
‘If you’re going to hang out with us,’ Buse says, carefully rearranging herself on her sun lounger, ‘we have to get one thing clear. You answer to us. Defne’s dad is a sweetheart, a total pussycat, but he’s not in charge on this boat.Weare. Me and Def. You cool with that?’
‘I’m cool with anything,’ Oxana says mildly.
‘So no telling tales behind our backs. No spying. No sneaky-beaky shit-stirring.’
‘Of course not.’
‘So we can trust you?’
‘You can.’
Buse darts a sly glance at Defne. ‘In that case, you’re going to have to trust us. I mean, that’s only fair, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, I guess so,’ Oxana blinks behind her Ray-Bans. After the half-dark of Inci’s cabin, the glare on the sundeck is overpowering. Light seems to pour from the blue-white sky. It’s as if she’s breathing it, swallowing it, drowning in it. Beyond the rail, now almost too hot to touch, the sea is glittering turquoise. ‘What’s the music?’ she asks, glancing at the mini speaker lying on Buse’s towel.
‘Soft Launch,’ Buse says. ‘You wouldn’t know them.’
‘It’s amazing being here,’ Oxana says, ignoring her superior tone. ‘I’ve never travelled anywhere like this. And being on a luxury yacht. It’s like a dream.’
‘Enjoy it.’ Defne spritzes herself with face mist.
Buse smirks. ‘Remember all this when you’re back in… Where is it you live?’
‘London.’
‘Oh my God. London in summertime. All those traffic fumes, and flabby white bodies.Sogrim.’ Buse applies sun-protective balm to her lips, then reaches behind her back and unclips and removes her bikini top.
‘Buse,’ Defne says. ‘Anyone could walk up here.’
‘Babe, they’re just tits.’ Buse reaches for her Dior Solar Creme. ‘They certainly cost enough. I might as well get my money’s worth.’
‘Your parents’ money’s worth, you mean.’
‘Whatever.’
‘Atlas, for example. You know how he suddenly appears out of nowhere. Like a ghost. Or one of the crew?’
Buse yawns. ‘What does it matter? Those people are just staff. Besides, Oxana will keep a lookout, won’t you?’