Frank:I’m just trying to educate the group here.
Sarah:God, can you two not do this now.
Melusi:Agreed!
Charlie:Tell the self-appointed herpetologist here.
Frank:
Sarah:Why don’t you two take your snake argument elsewhere. We are trying to find out if Ash is going to have sex with Max?
Ash:I don’t know. I think I just need to cool down. Dunk myself in cold water or something.
I turned and looked at my suitcase. My swimming suit was sticking out of it and Max was sleeping, so I could probably grab a cool moment alone in the plunge pool.
Ash:I’ve got to go, guys.
Charlie:Wait, you can’t leave us hanging like that.
Melusi:Hanging.
Yo:No stop!
Charlie:You realize that was a teenage boy joke. I expect way more from you.
Sarah:Wait, has she seriously just left us on that cliffhanger
I slipped into my swimming costume and went back to the pool on the deck.
“Oh my Goooood,” I moaned out loud as I lowered myself into the water. The sun was setting and this was actually bloody ridiculous. This was stupidly, insanely and unbelievably beautiful. To be submerged in a small plunge pool on the deck of a boat while huge herds of elephants, giraffes, buck, and baboons came down to drink on its shores. There’s a magic to Africa. A feeling you get nowhere else on earth. It cannot be explained, or quantified. The air feels different here; it seems to vibrate with an energy that cannot be described. This moment was perfect, especially when the barman brought over a cool, icy drink for me. Just when I was convinced this was the most perfect moment of my life, a familiar voice greeted me.
“Seems like we had the same idea. Mind if I join you?” he asked.
Yes, I do mind, I wanted to say, even though I wasn’t totally sure I believed that. I managed a feeble, “Sure,” and shuffled up on the seat to give him room. There was not much space in this jacuzzi-sized plunge pool, though.
I tried not to look at his naked thigh as he stepped down beside me. Tried not to look at his naked stomach, as the movement made his six-pack tense, and then seriously tried not to look when he climbed into the water. I had wanted to avoid him today, and the inevitable, awkward conversation he was not letting go of. But it was impossible to avoid him now in this small pool, especially when he hadn’t sat next to me, but rather opposite me, stretching his legs out so each one came up along my sides. He’d almost locked me into this position. In fact, if I moved and he didn’t want me to, he could simply tighten his legs and clamp me in place. And I hated how much that idea thrilled me.
“The view is that way.” I pointed over his head, ignoring the leg situation and not making eye contact.
“Depends on your definition of view.”
I tutted loudly. “Trying to show me your flirting abilities again.”
“Not at all. Like I said before, you willknowwhen I’m flirting with you, Ash. And that was not flirting.”
“When did you become like this?” I asked.
“Like what?”
“You’re very confident, in this weird way I can’t quite put my finger on. You never used to be.”
“I was a boy back then. You’re also more confident.”
I didn’t answer him, because I wasn’t feeling all that confident right now. In fact, the opposite. Exposed, vulnerable. I sipped my drink and watched the river as hippo emerged and yawned.
“It’s beautiful here,” Max said. The setting sun had painted the world orange, and Max had put his head up and was looking at the sky, drenched in an orange glow himself.
“It’s perfect here,” he said, still looking up at the clouds, which were now pink.
