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Amanda and Stuart joined us for an hour with a glass of wine, talking with Harry’s friends, and answering Mum’s barrage of questions. Ryan fell asleep in an armchair, exhausted from driving over ten hours from Sydney.
Harry groaned as eleven o’clock chimed on the grandfather clock and we snuck into the hallway.
“I should round up my friends and get them back to the hotel and make sure they drink a lot of water before bed. I’m amazed what you did with that room.” He paused. “And that you also graduated with an interior design qualification, too.”
“Thank you.” Pride bloomed in my chest.
“Is there anything you don’t do? Harry beamed.
I basked in his admiration before I kissed him, hot and urgent. We were interrupted too soon by someone clearing their throat.
“Doctor Tradie, extract your tongue from down her throat and let’s get going.” Steve waved Lorraine’s car keys at Harry, smiling. “Thanks for having us tonight, Stacey. Unless you’re coming too?”
“I can’t. Farm duties beckon early.”
Mel hugged me, followed by Andy, and then Mum wished everyone well.
I followed them all out to Lorraine.
“We’ll get time alone soon, I promise.” Harry kissed me again, deep and slow, taking his time. “Family is important, and your sis just got back. Let’s see if we can catch up tomorrow before this lot leaves.”
I reluctantly said goodbye and watched Lorraine disappear up our drive.
The next day, Harry and his friends played what they called hangover golf while I moved sheep. I found myself caught in the middle of wedding prep with Amanda and Stuart, and then planning for Amanda’s welcome back party next week. By the conclusion of Sunday family lunch, Harry’s friends had left for Brisbane.
On Tuesday night, I watched Harry and the footy team at their practice session and afterwards we made out against one of the fire trucks in the shed. On Wednesday night, after dance class, we made out again for over an hour in Lorraine before I’d eventually headed into my house. Later, I called him, unable to sleep and the call turned into my first experience of phone sex.
After work on Thursday, we closed the practice and ended up in the patient records room yet again, our hands all over each other, stroking, teasing, climaxing together again. Harry gave me a lift home again, and insisted he’d help me in the shed with feed for the sheep. He’d kissed me senseless against Lorraine before he left. I’d walked back into the house grinning, Mum grinned back, calling out ‘young love’ after me.
My body ached for Harry all the time. When he wasn’t around, I missed him.
Was this how Amanda felt for Stuart? Sometimes I caught sight of the two of them when they thought no one was watching. The way Stuart looked at my sister, with such tenderness and straight up desire, and she for him. They always touched, like they craved each other.
I’d even typed a DM ready to send to Amanda asking what it was like to be in love.
Love? How could this be love if …
I was a fool. Making out in Lorraine, fooling around in the records room at work—it was all leading to one place. Spending the night together. Waking up together. Naked.
I knew Harry wanted that. God, I wanted that. I longed for it, dreamt about it. What normal couple didn’t want to be skin-to-skin? To feel closer, to feel worshipped all over?
The more I was with Harry, the more I liked him.Reallyliked him.
But our relationship had an expiry date: Harry would go back to the city to his hospital job in just weeks and I had no desire to move to Brisbane. Mel might have had ideas about what happened after his time in Ballydoon but Harry hadn’t said anything further.
I couldn’t shake the fear our relationship was a house of cards and any day now it could come tumbling down.
23
STACEY
Group chat for #STAMwedding:
Amanda 1.14 p.m.:
I’ve emailed tonight’s run sheet and I’ve given the DJ a playlist. Decorations arrive at 3 so I’ll meet you there to pretty up the pub xx
The #STAMwedding group chat constantly pinged with notifications.
