Page 37 of Lying Is My Love Language

My cheeks flame, Ella looks proud, Dax looks impressed.Luke looks – let’s not go there – and Abbey looks personally betrayed.

‘When were you planning on telling me?’

I shrug, half floating, half fleeing.‘I don’t know.Maybe never.’

The corner of her mouth twitches.‘Fine, keep your secrets.But I want a full debrief the minute we’re back in Sydney.’

‘Deal.’And then – because I can feel Luke’s eyes on me again and need an escape hatch – I ask, ‘So, who found this place?’

Darcy perks up.‘Luke and I used to come here as kids.’

I glance at Luke, who’s smiling like the memory is soft and sun- faded.Huh.So they do go way back.

‘No chopper back then,’ Darcy adds.‘We had to hike in.Took a week one way from the station.’

Ella swims over and loops her arms around him, the picture of newlywed bliss.‘I bet you used to bring all your girlfriends here.’

‘Not anymore.’He kisses her temple.

I turn to Luke, and, as casually as I can manage, I say, ‘Got any girlfriends stashed in these caves?’

His lips curve into a slow, dangerous smile.‘Why?You jealous?’

Somewhere behind me, Lauren asks if anyone has the time.I ignore her.I’m having a moment.

‘We should start heading back,’ Dax says, glancing at his watch.‘We’ve an hour of light left, and the southerly is meant to pick up.’

Darcy waves him off.‘I’ve flown in worse.’

Ella gives him the look.The one that says,I love youbut also,We’re not having this argument today.He sighs.‘We’ll leave soon.’

I want to stay longer.But I also don’t – because I jumped on a crocodile today and if I stay in this dream too long, I might start thinking life is always supposed to feel like this.Magical.Wild.Not mine.

But still.I jumped on a crocodile.What did you do this weekend, Debra from Accounting?

We swim beneath the glow-worms a little longer before hunger starts winning the war.We climb out and head back through the waterfall, water cascading off our limbs, the air cooler now, wind tickling across our skin.

Ella grabs both me and Abbey into a hug, squeezing tight.‘I love you both so much,’ she says.

‘We love you too,’ I reply.‘How are you feeling with, you know, everything?’

Ella looks around and then shrugs.‘Honestly?I feel great.We’re due for another scan this week so I’ll keep you posted.’

‘In Darwin?’Abbey asks.

Ella nods.

‘If you need anything at all,’ I say seriously, ‘you’ll let us know, okay?’

Abbey adds, ‘Even if we have to pay for express shipping.You name it, it’s yours.’

Ella pulls us into another hug.‘Promise me you’ll visit more often.’

We promise – easily, without hesitation.Once a year, minimum.Pending no farm work.

Ella grins.‘Maybe.’

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