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“Yeah. Still smells like Pop, you know?”
Ari laughed softly. “That smell that grandparents have.”
“Yeah, like talcum powder and soap or something.” I inhaled a deep breath and smiled. “Like a hug. Like Christmas.”
Ari sighed. “Did you have happy memories at your pop’s house?”
“Yeah, as a kid. Christmas day here. Cold ham, always prawns, salad. Swim in the creek if there was water. Presents, of course.” I paused and then blurted, “I’ve invited my folks and brother to have Christmas at the house.”
“That sounds really nice, Jet.” A comfortable silence settled between us before Ari added, “Were you worried I’d not talk to you because of some dumb thing you did when you were fourteen?”
“A little?”
“I think a lot.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, don’t be, Jethro Cummings. I think we have a lot more to talk about. Do you want to watch a movie with me?”
“I liked watching that Bond movie with you in the van.”
“Ha, I didn’t do much watching.”
“How does this work? Watching a movie while you’re in Cloncurry and I’m here.”
“We find the same movie across all our streaming options and hit play at the same time. Oh, I’ve gotStar Wars.”
I foundStar Wars: Episode Von a streaming service while Ari bought takeaway, thanks to the new modem. Sprawled onmy grandfather’s old couch, we watched the movie together. Ari went off about the Han and Leah’s ‘I love you, I know’ exchange, and we settled in forEpisode IV, texting back and forth what our Ewok names would be, with both of us falling asleep before the end.
8
Ari
Spicy question: How do you like to flirt?
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Oh, hey, you.” Jet’s voice was deep, sleepy, all sex and twisted sheets.
“Did I wake you?”Oh God, had I interrupted him with someone else?
“No, babe. I just … had my eyes closed while I had a bath.”
Warmth diffused throughout my body at hearing Jet call me ‘babe’, especially when he didn’t realise he did it, usually when he was exhausted.
“Big day?”
“Yeah, sheared some alpacas. They were a little feisty.”
A ute full of guys drove past. Some of them yelled at me, and one threw a rum can over my head.
“Ari, what’s wrong? What’s going on?” Water splashed as Jet continued. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Totally fine. I went to the rodeo and small world; I saw Emma Woodhouse from Stanmore here.”
“Who’s Emma?” Jet asked, his voice husky.
“Stanmore’s reigning rodeo queen. I’m just walking back to Bessie, and I wanted to call you while I did.”
