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Me: Your dad wants ribs. We’re heading into Airlie Beach for dinner.
Her reply wasn’t as quick this time and when it finally did arrive, her tone had changed.
Despair sank like a rock in my belly.
Neri: Airlie Beach is full of transient travellers. Who knows? You might find a fellow countryman...or woman. Enjoy your dinner, Aslan.
I didn’t message her back.
Chapter Twenty-Five
*
Aslan
*
(Moon in Italian: Luna)
TEN FUCKING THIRTY P.M., AND NERI’s LOCATION still showed her in some bar in Port Douglas.
What the fuck is she doing?
How could she lie to Jack when he called her after dinner, saying she was at home, doing a sketch of the latest whale calf, when she was definitely not at home and definitely not doing something as innocent as drawing.
“All done here?”
My head snapped up, and I shut off my phone screen.
The pretty waitress that’d served us all night gave me a wide smile. A smile that tipped upward with invitation and interest. A smile that said she liked the look of me and wasn’t afraid to show it.
“I’m good. Jack? Anna?” I cocked my chin at the two giggling marine biologists. Considering they had a sixteen-year-old daughter at home, they’d flirted and drank as if they were newlyweds.
My temper soothed a little watching them. Watching their ease. Their love. Their desire.
My own parents came to mind again and the happy relationship they’d shared.
Nothing like these two, though. My father and mother were more reserved in their love. Meanwhile, Jack and Anna’s had caught fire thanks to decadent food and a substantial amount of alcohol.
“Nah, think we’ll get the check, please,” Jack said, winking at the waitress as he brought Anna’s knuckles to his mouth and kissed her.
The waitress laughed under her breath and leaned closer to me. “I have a feeling you’re about to be dumped for the evening.”
I caught her pretty green stare. Her accent hinted she was from Europe. Greece, perhaps. Spain, maybe. I was never good with accents but her honey-brown skin and striking black hair said wherever she was from, she was unique in her beauty.
“I disagree. We have an early start in the morning so they’ll have to sleep it off.” I helped her stack the dirty dishes and gave her an impressed smile as she balanced them all on her forearm.
“Well, if that changes, my shift ends in thirty minutes. We can go get a drink if you want.”
I froze. “You’re...you’re asking me out?”
“For a drink, not marriage.” She laughed. “I’m here on a twelve-month work visa. Gotta play hard while I work hard, you know?”
I nodded. “Right.”
“You’re not from around here either, though, are you?” Her ponytail swung over her shoulder as she cocked her hip.
“He’s from Turkey,” Jack piped up, winking again. “Best guy I know.” Shifting in the booth where he and Anna had steadily worked their way through a few starters, mains, and drinks, he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and tossed me his credit card. “You know the pin. Pay for us, will ya? Anna and I are going to get a hotel for the night.” His voice lowered as he stood up and placed his hand on the curve of his wife’s hip as she stood next to him. “Feel free to sleep below deck on The Fluke. Or...explore Airlie Beach and have a good night.” He grinned. “Just be back at the pier by seven a.m.”
