set for four, complete with a white tablecloth and a large bowl of fresh fruit in the middle. The windows faced Circular Quay, and I was sure I could see the same ferry we’d been on earlier heading back over to Manly. There were two doors off this main room and I guessed those would be the bedrooms. I’d dreaded this moment—when we’d decide who got what room. But Claire saved me further anxiety when she opened the door to the room on the right.
‘This one will be ours,’ she said as she pulled me into the room with her. Letting go of my hand, she flopped onto one of the beds, flat on her back, laughing as she said, ‘I love this room!’
~~***~~
A few hours and several kilometres of walking later, we found a little Italian place where we ordered a couple of large pizzas and a big bowl of salad to share. Although I’d been told pizza was perfect man food, both Tom and Sam just picked at it. Claire and I, on the other hand, devoured more than our share.
After dinner, we walked over to The Rocks, an old part of the city with lots of interesting shops. We went into the open ones and looked through the windows of those that weren’t. Most of the time, Tom and Claire walked ahead of us; Tom had his arm casually draped around Claire’s shoulders. Every now and then he’d lean into her possessively and whisper something into her ear. I couldn’t help but think what a cute couple they made, but doubted if anyone looking at me and Sam would think the same thing.
Sam didn’t have his arm around my shoulders, and he didn’t whisper anything into my ears, but he was definitely more relaxed. Maybe it was something about Sydney. I couldn’t explain it, but it was like he was a different person. It was nearly impossible to believe this relaxed, friendly man was the same one who had stammered about not ‘mixing’ with people just a few days ago. Was I going nuts? Or was he? Whatever it was, I was enjoying every moment, and wishing that the short weekend didn’t have to come to an end tomorrow.
By the time we got back to the hotel it was nearly eleven o’clock, but I was still way too excited to feel tired. Claire must have felt the same way, because as we walked through the door, she grabbed Tom’s hand, and started to giggle.
‘Tom, there’s something I need you to help me with,’ she said, leading him into our room. Then she gave me an apologetic smile as she closed the door behind her.
Sam shook his head, and made a noise that was close to a laugh. Then he sat down, pointing at the sofa and indicating for me to sit beside him.
I plunked down and crossed my legs, and flinched slightly as my knee touched the side of his leg. But it was okay—actually, it was more than okay. It felt wonderful and exciting and … natural. It was like all the awkwardness between us dissolved and he was as happy in my presence as I was in his.
Then, just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, Claire screamed.
~ C HAPTER S IX ~
Sometimes, when something bad happens, time seems to slow to a crawl.
Like that time I was running to visit my friend who lived down the street. I was only about ten at the time, but it seemed like it was yesterday. I remember exactly how it felt as I ran down that street toward her house. And how, when I was only part way there, I stepped on an acorn and my foot rolled out from under me. As I fell, the pavement got closer and closer to my face—in horrible slow-motion. I hit the ground with my hands stretched out in front of me, scraping the skin off both palms. They barely bled but man they hurt like crazy.
Yes, I could replay that memory like a slow-motion movie in my head even now—years later.
But this … well, this wasn’t like that.
What happened next was like a series of still photos. Tom flew out of the bedroom in a blur, but stopped just long enough for the image of his face to be burnt into my mind. His eyes were no longer soft brown, but were instead a glowing red, and
‘This one will be ours,’ she said as she pulled me into the room with her. Letting go of my hand, she flopped onto one of the beds, flat on her back, laughing as she said, ‘I love this room!’
~~***~~
A few hours and several kilometres of walking later, we found a little Italian place where we ordered a couple of large pizzas and a big bowl of salad to share. Although I’d been told pizza was perfect man food, both Tom and Sam just picked at it. Claire and I, on the other hand, devoured more than our share.
After dinner, we walked over to The Rocks, an old part of the city with lots of interesting shops. We went into the open ones and looked through the windows of those that weren’t. Most of the time, Tom and Claire walked ahead of us; Tom had his arm casually draped around Claire’s shoulders. Every now and then he’d lean into her possessively and whisper something into her ear. I couldn’t help but think what a cute couple they made, but doubted if anyone looking at me and Sam would think the same thing.
Sam didn’t have his arm around my shoulders, and he didn’t whisper anything into my ears, but he was definitely more relaxed. Maybe it was something about Sydney. I couldn’t explain it, but it was like he was a different person. It was nearly impossible to believe this relaxed, friendly man was the same one who had stammered about not ‘mixing’ with people just a few days ago. Was I going nuts? Or was he? Whatever it was, I was enjoying every moment, and wishing that the short weekend didn’t have to come to an end tomorrow.
By the time we got back to the hotel it was nearly eleven o’clock, but I was still way too excited to feel tired. Claire must have felt the same way, because as we walked through the door, she grabbed Tom’s hand, and started to giggle.
‘Tom, there’s something I need you to help me with,’ she said, leading him into our room. Then she gave me an apologetic smile as she closed the door behind her.
Sam shook his head, and made a noise that was close to a laugh. Then he sat down, pointing at the sofa and indicating for me to sit beside him.
I plunked down and crossed my legs, and flinched slightly as my knee touched the side of his leg. But it was okay—actually, it was more than okay. It felt wonderful and exciting and … natural. It was like all the awkwardness between us dissolved and he was as happy in my presence as I was in his.
Then, just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, Claire screamed.
~ C HAPTER S IX ~
Sometimes, when something bad happens, time seems to slow to a crawl.
Like that time I was running to visit my friend who lived down the street. I was only about ten at the time, but it seemed like it was yesterday. I remember exactly how it felt as I ran down that street toward her house. And how, when I was only part way there, I stepped on an acorn and my foot rolled out from under me. As I fell, the pavement got closer and closer to my face—in horrible slow-motion. I hit the ground with my hands stretched out in front of me, scraping the skin off both palms. They barely bled but man they hurt like crazy.
Yes, I could replay that memory like a slow-motion movie in my head even now—years later.
But this … well, this wasn’t like that.
What happened next was like a series of still photos. Tom flew out of the bedroom in a blur, but stopped just long enough for the image of his face to be burnt into my mind. His eyes were no longer soft brown, but were instead a glowing red, and
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