Chapter 6
Lounging on the day bed by our pool, Adrian lies across me with his head high on my stomach. Bridget and Abbie are sprawled down the other end as we all stare at the sky. The mood is sombre with two of my friends down and out.
“What did he say at the airport?” Bridget frowns. Adrian took Nicholas to the airport last night, and we are catching up on the goodbye activities.
“That he loved me. That he would stay if he could.” He sighs sadly.
“What a load of shit,” Abbie snaps.
“I know, right?”
“Why is he fucking leaving then?” Abbie snorts.
“Just wait to see if you hear from him,” Bridget replies softly as she puts her hand reassuringly on Adrian’s foot to reassure him.
“He rang me when he landed, then again this morning.”
“What did he say?” I ask.
“I didn’t answer.”
“Oh, man,” I reply sadly.
“I’m looking forward to getting home this week, actually,” Adrian murmurs.
I feel my stomach flip. I wish I was as excited. I’m dreading it.
“Guys, about that…” Abbie sits up onto her elbows to look at our faces.
“I think I’m going home to Australia.”
“Why, Abbs?” I frown, where is this coming from?
She shrugs. “I’m homesick. I miss my…” she hesitates.
“What?” Bridget pushes.
“My Tristan.”
I roll my eyes. Army guy. God, get off it. She hooked up with Brock two days ago.
“You don’t seem to be missing him,” I reply deadpan.
Adrian smiles and holds his hand back over his head for me to high five and I slap my hand against his.
“What are you referring to?” she asks, annoyed.
“Um, Brock. What else would I be referring to? He is our brother, in case it slipped your mind,” I answer coldly.
She puts her hands over her face in shame. “I thought you didn’t know.”
“We don’t want to know,” Bridget snaps. “How could you?”
“H-how could I not?” she stammers. “It just happened.”
“Is he why you are leaving?” Adrian asks.
She blows out a defeated breath. “I just want to go home and–”
Adrian cuts her off. “What about your finger prints?”
“As if I am going to get fingerprinted.”
“You might,” I warn her.
“Ben said the case has gone cold. Please remember this was a prostitute who was bribing copious amounts of men. They don’t finger print you for traffic offenses and I’m sure as shit not going to get arrested.”
We all stay silent for a moment.
“I have already asked Victoria, and we are going to take a commercial flight together on Friday.”
I frown. “You’re serious. You’re actually going?”
“What have I just been saying? Do you fucking listen to me at all?”
“Not if we can help it,” Adrian mutters.
I smile, my hand falls to the top of his head and I run it mindlessly through his hair.
“Didge, you can stay with me,” states Adrian.
Bridget eyes the two of us. “I don’t want to impose.”
“You are not an imposition. I would love to have a housemate for a while.”
“Really?” She smiles as she rubs her hand on his foot. “I want to go home, too, if I’m honest, but I want to wait until Tash is feeling better.”
My stomach sinks. I want to tell her that I’m fine, but I’m trying to take Nicholas advice to stop pretending. And besides, the longer I drag out Didge staying with me, the more chance she has to patch things up with Ben.
Joshua comes out the back glass doors. “Murph, the scanner is broken,” he calls.
We all look over to him standing with both hands on his hips. “Yeah, so?” Adrian answers.
Joshua frowns. “So… do you know how to fix it?”
“How would I fucking know how to fix it?” Adrian sighs. “You’re the computer geek.”
Joshua blows out a frustrated breath and I smile to myself. Adrian is clearly not in the mood for taking shit today.
“Ben has one in his office,” Adrian calls.
Joshua turns and goes back inside, returning moments later with the papers he has to scan. “Don’t mind me,” he says sarcastically. “You keep lying there with your head on my wife’s tits.”
“Ok,” replies Adrian.
I give Joshua a cute little wave and a smile, but he shakes his head, unimpressed, and keeps walking.
“What happened with Nicholas the other night?” Abbie suddenly asks.
Adrian shrugs.
Abbie sits up to look him in the eyes. “You blew his mind, didn’t you? Please, tell me you blew that stupid prick’s mind.”
Adrian smiles broadly. “I gave him a night that he won’t forget in a hurry, put it that way.”
I smile and pat him on the forehead. “Good boy,” I whisper. We all fall silent again as we think.
“I think he will come back for you, Adrian,” I offer quietly.
Adrian sits up. “Yeah, well, I’m not going to be here. This was his last chance.”
My stomach drops. Oh no.
“Didge and I are going on a man hunt when we get back. We are sick to fucking death of being fucked over.”