Despite the hungover start, Friday ends up being excellent. I guess food, sex and a little bit of honesty helped get it properly back on track!

We play around in our pool for a few hours, determined to make the most of the limited hours of sunshine we have left, and then we head downhill to Hersonissos, checking out some of the beach bars and working our way through a virtual encyclopaedia of cocktails (we clearly haven't learned our lesson, eh?). As the sun starts threatening to set, we make our way to the pizza place on the strip that I'd spotted days ago - back then, when we'd briefly discussed coming here at one point, I really had no idea we'd be actually ultimately visiting it as an actual couple. It's weird how life turns out sometimes, isn't it? We don't always see those twists and turns coming, what with all the hidden dips and blind summits thrown in along the road.

Playfully, we argue over what type of pizza to share: Lewis - in somewhat typical guy fashion - wants meat toppings, and I've always preferred a vegetarian pizza. We eventually reach a compromise . . . by deciding on a vegetarian pizza, of course! "So it's going to be like this from now on then," Lewis concludes ruefully, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

"It's easier to just let me have my way. Trust me," I joke. He threads his fingers through mine and squeezes my hand lightly, showing he's actually not remotely bothered about losing to me in this particular debate.

Spending time with Lewis is fast becoming my favourite thing. I love how affectionate he is, now that he finally feels free to show his true feelings. And the adoration evident in his gaze whenever I catch him watching me warms me from the inside like hot chocolate with marshmallows on a freezing winter's day - it's as if he can't quite believe I'm real . . . and I don't remember anyone looking at me like that before.

The pizza is excellent (even Lewis is forced to admit it), and I'm feeling full and content as we head back up to the hotel. I'd be happy to simply go straight to bed now - and not even for dirty stuff! - but we're briefly diverted by Milos and Maria, who are standing in the hotel's driveway with another male and female, and seem eager to catch our attention.

"Ruby, Lewis! We'd like to introduce you to Penelope and Nikos Giorgiou," Maria says. She sounds as warm as usual, but I can't help but notice the slightest of edges to her tone. For whatever reason, she doesn't like these people, and my spider senses immediately start tingling: who are they?

There's a coldness to them, I immediately note, as we shake both their hands. A ruthlessness, even? I don't know why I'm feeling this way. They just don't have the easy friendliness Maria and Milos both possess. Like they're missing that gene somehow.

"Penelope and Nikos own the Crete Marine Hotel just outside of Hersonissos," Milos explains. "Probably the second best boutique hotel on the island. Ours, of course, is the best." His mouth curls up in a mocking smile, and I instantly realise why there's an atmosphere here - they're business rivals! Interesting . . .

Penelope scoffs slightly in response to Milos' words before focusing fully on me and Lewis. "So you two are the 'happy couple' who won the 'big prize'," she states slowly. And yes, the air quotes are employed here, bony fingers topped with sharp red talons curling into speech marks in front of her icily beautiful face. She seems to scan us both from top to toe with her cool blue eyes, making me feel extremely uncomfortable under her scrutiny.

"We are indeed!" Lewis either isn't picking up on the same strange mood as I am or is choosing to ignore it completely. With him, it really could go either way! He sweeps an arm around me, tucking me carefully into his side. Instantly, I feel protected, like he's formed an invisible shield to prevent us absorbing the full power of Penelope's glare.

I'm extra glad for that armour a moment later as Nikos then takes his turn to metaphorically X-ray us. "Yes. We will see," he says as he finally dismissively looks away. He turns back to Milos with what almost sounds eerily like evil villain laugh. Is it really evil, or am I just projecting that onto him? "Anyway, we just wanted to say hello - and check in on our competition, of course." I guess he's continuing to speak in English for our benefit.

Lewis and I eyeball each other, psychically discussing if it would be terribly rude if we just sidled away now, and ultimately deciding it probably would. So we continue to stand there awkwardly as a little bit of passive-aggressive English morphs into incomprehensible animated Greek, and eventually, the gruesome twosome finally exit stage left. "It was good to meet you, Happy Couple!" Penelope throws over her shoulder as she opens the passenger door of their car. "I'm sure you will hear of us again very soon!"

"That was . . . weird." I look at our hosts, feeling a bit discombulated by the whole encounter. "Frenemies of yours?" I ask.

Maria merely laughs. "Penelope and Nikos cannot accept the fact that our hotel continues to better theirs at every chance," she replies, confirming my theory. "We spotted them - how do you say it? - skulking around here like spies." She rolls her eyes. "And they do not make good spies!"

"Well, she's wearing a fur coat in May, so she probably stands out a bit in amongst all the beachwear," Lewis agrees with a chuckle.

Yeah, our girl Penny is definitely giving Cruella vibes. And something about the way she kept saying "Happy Couple" has completely unsettled me. As if she sees through us somehow.

But . . . we really are a happy couple now; no capitalisation or air quotes required. So it shouldn't bother me at all. Right? As we head back to the suite, I force myself to put my sudden unease to one side; I don't want to ruin the last couple of days of my holiday with excessive worry.

I'm just changing into my pyjamas in the bedroom a few minutes later when I hear Lewis speaking. I poke my head out the door, assuming he's talking to me, but then I realise he's on the phone.

"Yeah, it's actually going really well with her. I'm really happy, but . . ." he says, going silent as he listens to the other end of the call. His voice lowers. "I know, it doesn't really matter now in the grand scheme of things. But I still feel I need to say something."

I duck back behind the doorframe, my heart pounding. My mind flips through possible scenarios, trying to work out what he's talking about. Is it something to do with me? Or am I reading too much into things?

"Ruby," he calls a moment later. "Do you have a minute?" I pop my head back around the door as if it was my first time doing so. Check out those acting skills kicking in again - seriously, where is that Academy Award? "What's up?" I ask, a study in nonchalance. (And, unlike Joey from Friends, I know what "nonchalant" means!)

He bites his lip, looking apprehensive. "I was wondering if . . . Do you want to meet my mum?" He gestures to the phone in his hand, and I realise that's who he's talking to. Then I instantly go into panic mode - I can't remember how long it's been since I last officially "met A Mum"!

"Is it not . . . Too soon?" I ask nervously.

"Is it, though?" His dark eyes flash a challenge in my direction, as if asking what I'm afraid of. Daring me to deny this is maybe what I've wanted all along.

"Okay," I agree, swallowing hard. I wrap a robe around me and walk over to the couch, joining Lewis on the sofa as he switches the call to video.

"Ruby, this is my mum, Joanna." Lewis tugs me closer, holding his phone out so I can see his mum smiling at us from the screen. She's blonde and pretty and barely in her fifties - she must have had Lewis really young, which makes her tragic love story somehow even sadder. I realise she couldn't have been much older than we are now when she lost the love of her life.

"It's lovely to finally meet you, Ruby," she tells me warmly. "I've heard so much about you!"

"You have?" I'm taken aback - I wasn't expecting that! I shoot a teasing glance at Lewis, who is blushing furiously now and probably seriously regretting inviting me to join the call. "You been talking about me, Sheridan?"

"Are you kidding?" Joanna laughs, not even giving him a chance to respond. "He's had a massive crush on you for such a long time - thank goodness you finally put him out of his misery!"

"Mum!" Lewis wails, burying his face in his spare hand. "Can you not? You promised you'd be cool!"

"Oh, leave me alone, I'm just happy for you, son!" Joanna waves him away dismissively before turning her attention back to me. "I hope I can meet you in person soon . . . Maybe you could come over for dinner once you're back home? I've heard you like to revel in my son's discomfort, so I'm thinking you might like to see all of his embarrassing childhood photos?" She smiles wickedly, and I realise something: Lewis may look nothing like her, but I feel like he might have inherited his sense of humour from her. And his evil grin!

"Seriously, Mum?" Lewis rolls his eyes. "Why did I think it was a good idea to let you speak to her?" He's smirking, though, and I low-key love their dynamic. They're almost more like siblings than mother and son, and their obvious closeness is adorable.

"Oh, be careful, Lewis . . . Don't forget I have stories as well as pictures!" Joanna warns him, but at that point, a massive black snout eclipses her image, sniffing frantically at the screen.

"I can't believe you haven't taught Cassie how to video call properly yet," Lewis chuckles. "She's like one of those old folk who can't work out where to put her face."

"Hey, you're the expert in that stuff, not me!" his mum protests. After a moment of apparent wrestling, Lewis' dog is sitting on the couch next to Joanna, and the big ball of golden fluff is just as adorable as I imagined she'd be. She cocks her face curiously in Lewis' direction as if asking "How did you get inside there?", a delighted lopsided smile on her face, and the fond grin Lewis gives her in return does squiggly things to my heart.

"Is she behaving?" he asks his mum, and Cassie barks enthusiastically in response. It's unclear if that's a yes or a no, but I'm going to assume it's probably the latter.

"Is this the first time you've left your dog?" I ask him later, as we lie in bed. He nods.

"For an extended period of time, yes. She's stayed with Mum for a few days if I've went on a work trip or away on a weekend break but this is the longest I've been away from her since I first got her. I think my mum likes looking after her, though."

"Is your mum . . ." I hesitate. "Did she ever find love again, after your dad?" I've been wondering this, ever since he told me the whole story. 

"Yeah." His voice is quiet. "It took her a long time before she ever considered even dating again but she eventually got back into it . . . And she's been seeing a guy for a couple of years now. He's nice. He . . . makes her happy. I don't think she'll ever love anyone as much as she loved Dad, though."

"It must suck," I say. "Falling in love with someone when you're so young, thinking you have a whole lifetime together and then . . ." I trail off, realising suddenly it seems like such a brutal thing to say. He sighs heavily.

"I've asked her about this before and she said she'd rather have had any time with him than none at all. Better to have loved and lost, right?" He turns to look at me and his expression is suddenly teasing. "Plus, she got me out of the deal, so she really can't complain."

"Hmm." I wrinkle my nose. "I'm surprised she didnt put in a complaint about that!" And I can't help but giggle as, huffing with mock-indignance, he tumbles me into my back and attacks me with kisses, turning me into a squirmy bundle of sensitive nerves, and making me temporarily forget everything else.

And it's only after he's drifted off to sleep, and I'm still wide awake that I begin to dwell on the part of the telephone conversation I accidentally eavesdropped on earlier. What doesn't really matter now? What did he mean when he said: "I still feel I need to say something."?

What isn't Lewis telling me?

We're edging ever closer to the end . . .

That was actually a longer chapter than I anticipated. Hope you enjoyed it.  ❤️ Any thoughts or theories?

Just wanted to say how much I appreciate all of you have been reading along, whether silently or with comments. The support I've had from so many of you is just so lovely!