Free The California Club by Belinda Jones Page B

just some funny little quiz to amuse Helen but I don't want to miss out on the chance of having a wish come true. Just in case. But how can I write down what I really want – for Elliot to realize that he loves me, not Elise! I already wished for it on the plane and I don't want to negate that, and besides, I have a feeling these are going to be read out loud at some juncture. What then? I look around me our furrowed brows and open mouths.
    Elise is the first to scribble, somewhat aggressively, on her page. Then Elliot, with a casual scrawl, obviously not fretting too much over his choice.
    'Now what?' Elise asks impatiently.
    'We just sit quietly until the others are done.' Helen takes their pieces of paper and then Zoë's, closely followed by Sasha's reluctant offering.
    'I think my wish might be a bit of a lost cause,' she frets.
    'It doesn't matter,' Helen reassures her. 'Just as long as it's heartfelt.'
    Now everyone is waiting for me.
    This is obviously just some funny little quiz to amuse Helen but I don't want to miss out on the chance of having a wish come true. Just in case. But how can I write down what I really want – for Elliot to realize that he loves me, not Elise! I already wished for it on the plane and I don't want to negate that, and besides, I have a feeling these are going to be read out loud at some juncture. What then?
    I look around me for inspiration. I'd love to swim in that glittering sea or cruise the coast in a convertible but that's hardly original. Aware of the others' eyes upon me, I dig my toes beneath the dusty sand to the cool damp beneath.
    What do I want? Honestly? I'd be happy to stay around this fire for the next two weeks. Everything I need is here. I sneak a peek at the faces reflecting the flickering yellow light … It's been so long since I had the chance to catch up with everyone, I feel swollen with fondness for them all. Well, nearly all. If Elise morphed into a giant toasting marshmallow life would be just about perfect. So how can I phrase 'spending quality time with my 'beloved friends' without sounding a cheeseball?
    I take the pen, do my best to focus on the page and write, 'I wish I could have some special one-to-one time with each of my friends, enough to create a memory that would last a lifetime.' I can't believe I wrote that! Is that even a sentence? I'm just about to screw up the schmaltz and start again when Helen reaches over and swipes the page from me.
    'All done!'
    'But—' I protest.
    ‘It's best to go with the first thing that pops into your head!'
    'But, really, Helen!' I squirm, mortified. My first thought would be the Elliot love wish. Maybe I should've … Oh no!
    'Right!' Helen folds the pages and puts them back in her rucksack, zipping the bag closed with an air of ominous finality. 'Let's get you to the hotel.'
    'Is that it?' Zoë asks, as we all continue to eye Helen's rucksack, fearing for the future of our slips of paper.
    'For now,' she smiles.
    'Thank god!' Elise rolls her eyes. 'I thought we were going to be led in some weird pagan ceremony.'
    'Don't be silly,' Helen laughs, getting to her feet. 'That's tomorrow.'
    'What?' Elise blurts.
    'But Helen!' I scamper to my feet. 'You still haven't told us about The California Club – what is it?'
    'Tomorrow,' she says, steadily.
    Our five voices tangle in an exasperated squeal but frankly we're too tired to argue.
    ‘Tomorrow, you promise?' I need some assurance.
    Helen nods. 'Trust me, it'll be worth the wait.’

Chapter 7
    Sunlight slides under the curtains and creeps up to my eyes. I smile realizing I'm waking up in one of the most enviable scenarios known to man – in bed with Sasha.
    There's a light guttural snoring coming from the foot of the bed, which is something of a relief as there was no sign of Zoë when I turned out the light at midnight.
    'I'm just going to grab a hot totty at the bar!' were her last words to us.
    Sasha and I mused over whether she meant a 'hot toddy' but decided it