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Dear God, what have I done?
I take a last slurp of noodles and stand up from my chair so fast that my chair falls back. My chest heaves, and I look around the hostel kitchen, frantically trying to work out where I can find Maddox.
I look to the other travelers, mostly college kids that are looking at me like I’m a deranged grandmother. Hell, to them, I probably am. I’m over thirty. I don’t dwell on it and raise my finger to a group of college-aged men at the end of the kitchen counter. They’re wearing t-shirts with fraternity letters and baseball caps in various positions. “You there,” I say, jabbing my finger at the tallest man. “If you were an upset rich guy that just got told off by a dumb ass woman, where would you be?”
The guy crinkles his nose and looks at the ceiling. “I’d probably be in an expensive hotel room being blown by three hookers.”
Silence fills the room until Dian snorts behind me. “Fine. Let me clarify,” I huff. “Pretend you’re aniceguy in his thirties and you’re upset because you were told off by a dumb ass woman. Where would you be?”
The guy bites his lips as his fraternity brothers behind him look thoughtful. I’m not sure they can speak, though. “After thirty, I’d probably just want to chill. But I’d still be getting blown by a hooker. Just one, though. No use giving myself a heart attack.”
I pinch my nose and sigh. My shoulders slouch. Unfortunately, he’s probably right. Even though I don’t see Maddox the hooker type, he could woo any woman he wants. He’s probably sitting front row at a fashion event right now and looking for his next girlfriend as models stalk down the runway. Has he even left the area to go back to Sydney or Alaska?
“He’s probably just at a bar getting shit faced,” Dian says from behind me. She slurps another noodle into her mouth and smiles at me, tucking her straight hair behind her ear.
I snap my finger and point at her. “You done eating?”
“Yes. Why?” she asks.
“You and I are going to go check out some bars. Let’s find my dude!”
“Have you seen this guy?” I hold up my phone to the bouncer, and I hear the desperation in my own voice.
The bouncer, a stocky man with tattoos covering every inch of his skin, including his face, sports a beard down to the middle of his chest. “Nah, love, I’ve not seen him. Too pretty for this place, he is.”
It amazes me that some Australian men phrase things like Yoda, but that’s research for another day. I glance behind the bouncer and squint into the pub. I only see pool tables with a few guys that look like the bouncer around them and bar stools with ripped upholstery. It’s probably not the type of place a billionaire frequents.
“Are there any other pubs that would be more his speed?” Dian asks. Thank fuck I brought her. At least one of us can think straight.
“Not a lot of pubs in Yulara. Most are attached to the hotels.”
Dian nods, and I turn around, already walking to the next block and the mid-priced hotel chain. “He has to be at one of them,” I mumble.
Dian breathes heavy behind me as she follows me. “Why are you helping me on this?” I ask her. We’ve been to three free-standing pubs, and tackling the hotel bars isn’t going to be easy.
“I didn’t have anything better to do.”
I stop suddenly and face her. “If I forget to tell you later, I want you to know that you’re awesome. I don’t have a lot of friends I’ve known for years that would go on a bar hunt for a man with me. I’ve known you for three hours.”
“Five actually, but I’m a loyal friend when I like someone. Are Americans not used to good friendships?”
I turn and stride toward the hotel again. “I’m beginning to think that the rest of the world has very different priorities than my countrymen. You’re happier in your relationships. More at ease.”
“You’re very interesting to talk to, and I kind of dig how you’re so in love with this guy.”
I spin around again. “Is it obvious? Is it written all over my face that I love him?”
“You’ve been walking around in a rural town in wedges for two hours with no end in sight so you can talk to him. You’re either in love, or he’s in desperate need of stalker police intervention.”
I laugh, and it feels good. I haven’t laughed since I walked away from him. The laughter turns to sobs, and tears threaten to run down my face. “I’m totally nuts for this guy. I have to find him, Dian.”
“Why didn’t you tell him you love him?”
“I’ve only known him a few days.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Let’s say it doesn’t. Let’s say it’s perfectly acceptable to fall head over heels for someone after a few hours. If you suddenly found out he’s a billionaire and then told him you loved him immediately after, you’d be a gold digger, right?”
