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My heart lifts. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen when we got back to Christchurch. “You wouldn’t rather spend New Year’s Eve here?” I know Damon and Belle aren’t leaving for their honeymoon until the end of the first week of January, and the family is seeing the New Year in together.
But he says, “I’d rather spend it alone with you. We’d have some quiet time to talk.”
My gaze drops to his mouth. “Just to talk?”
“Well, you know… It has a huge bed that looks out over the sea. It’s pretty impressive.”
“And we would just talk in this bed?”
There’s a lamppost behind me with a Narnia-style lamp that comes on at dusk. Alex moves me up against it and lowers his head. “We needn’t get up for two whole days,” he murmurs.
“Oh… I like the sound of that.”
He touches his lips to mine. “Uninterrupted orgasms. As many as you can handle.”
I sigh. “You’ve talked me into it.”
He chuckles and kisses me properly, then moves back. “Okay, I’ll call back and book the villa. Do you want to ring Finn?”
“Yes, will do.”
“I hope you don’t mind that he called me. We… had quite a chat.” He smiles.
I don’t know what that means, but I’m encouraged by his smile. “You don’t mind that he called you?”
“Of course not. I was quite touched.” He kisses me. “Tell your mum that I’ll pick them both up in the helicopter and take them back to Christchurch tomorrow. We’ll wait for Robbie’s parents to pick Finn up, then we can head off to Akaroa.”
“Sounds like a plan. Do you need to set five alarms now?”
He gives me a wry look. “Every time you mock me, I’m making a note.”
“Ooh.”
“I’ve still got the spatula. That’s all I’m saying.” He lifts an eyebrow, then walks off, taking out his phone to make the call.
Chuckling, I take my phone out of my purse. I’ve got another few days alone with him! I don’t know what a luxury villa is, but I’m very interested to find out.
I call Finn and let him know that he can go to the beach with Robbie, and have a chat with Mum and explain what’s happening. Then I return to the party, filled with excitement at the thought of the next few days.
*
It’s a great party, and I spend several hours drinking champagne, dancing with Alex, with some of the other guys, and with the girls on our own. I also talk to as many of his friends and family as I can. I chat to Gaby and Tyson for a while, and then Mason asks me to dance. I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to him yet, so I accept, and we move slowly around the dance floor.
He makes me a little nervous, I don’t know why. He’s a secondary-school teacher, and it shows—he’s obviously used to keeping groups of teenagers in order, and he’s quite no-nonsense.
But he says, “I’m so glad Alex brought you to the wedding. He’s been talking about you for a while, and it’s great to finally meet you.”
“Likewise,” I say. “It’s been amazing to meet all his friends and family.”
“So you’re a primary-school teacher?” he asks.
“Yes, and you’re at Maldon High School?”
“That’s right. We’ve just had an ERO inspection.”
“Oh, you poor thing!” It’s easy to commiserate over our shared dislike of government inspections, and we spend the rest of our dance together talking about how teaching has changed over the last five years, and what we think of the curriculum.
When the music finishes, Mason’s smile holds genuine warmth, and he says, “Thank you for the dance, Missie. It’s lovely to meet Alex’s girl. I think you’re going to be very good for him,” which is a nice compliment, and it’s a relief that both Alex’s parents seem to like me.
