Page 53 of People Skills

‘No,’ I can’t help shrieking, and I dive under and swim away from him and he paddles after me on the board. When I get to waist-deep water, he jumps off the board and sends it into shore on a small wave, and dives under. I swim away, still laughing, but he comes up closer and dives again. He gets his arms around my waist, and he looks at me for a moment, as if trying to discern whether I want him to keep going or not, and I take his moment of hesitation to push him down in the water, and he pulls me with him.

We surface laughing. He still has one arm around my waist, and I turn and press my hand against his chest, as if to push him away, but I don’t, not for a few seconds. We are, effectively, in an embrace, and I don’t like how much I like how it feels.

Danger, danger.

I twist away from him and splash to shore.

We walk home together, barefoot and cold and wrapped in towels over our wetsuits. He carries the board, and he lets me have first hot shower.

After we’re dressed, he makes coffee at the coffee machine, which he likes more than I do.

There’s a knock at the door, and Xavier looks at me.

‘Expecting someone?’ he asks. I shake my head.

‘Are you?’

‘No,’ he says.

He’s even less likely than I am to have a visitor in this town.

Rex beats me to the door. He loves trying to escape, and he has to know exactly what’s going on. I pick him up, because he has a habit of acting disinterested in the outside world but then quickly shooting out when you relax, and I open the door. There on the other side is a face I know, even though I’ve never seen it before in real life.

It’s James. Xavier’s older brother.

He’s a few inches shorter than Xavier, and broader, more muscular. His hair is lighter, and his face is slightly softer, more boyish, but their handsome brotherly similarity is undeniable.

‘Hi,’ he says.

I can see him noting Rex, although he doesn’t reach out to pat him.

‘I’m James. I’m wondering if my brother is here.’

‘Hi,’ I say. ‘Charlotte. And yes, Xavier is here. Come in.’

He walks in behind me, shutting the door.

‘The famous Charlotte,’ he says, and I don’t really know what to say to that.

‘Xav?’ he calls.

This annoys me in a way I can’t explain. It’s my house, I should find Xavier or announce the visitor. He’s taking away my authority.

Xavier walks into the lounge room holding two coffee mugs.

‘Oh,’ he says, when he sees James. ‘Hi.’

‘Hey mate,’ James says. And he takes one of the coffees out of Xavier’s hands and sips it. Xavier looks at me for a beat and then hands me the other coffee. I take it and sit down at the dining table. James remains standing, which cements my annoyance.

‘This is cosy,’ he says, looking around. And suddenly, I’m seeing the situation through his eyes. The couch with a blanket and cushions across it, the chess board set up, books everywhere, Xavier and me having breakfast together—a scene of domestic bliss. Add Rex to the picture and it’s like I’m playacting at being Lana. I inwardly cringe.

‘To what do we owe the pleasure of a Saturday morning visit?’ Xavier asks.

‘I wanted to see where you’ve been hiding out.’

‘I’m not hiding.’

James turns to me. ‘What’s it like living with Xav by night and working for Hillary by day? I can’t even imagine. What a combination.’