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The conversation falls to Ben up the other end of the table. As he answers, I pick up my phone to try to stop myself from hanging on his every word. I can’t believe he’s here.
Impeccable timing.
I notice a little number ‘1’ on the microphone picture on my phone and I frown. What the hell is wrong with this stupid phone? Why does it keep doing that?
Without realizing it, I frown and try to clear the damn thing.
Adrian frowns across the table, in question, sensing my frustration.
I shake my head, confused. “This stupid phone keeps recording things,” I reply.
“Huh?” He frowns.
I shrug. “I don’t know, it just randomly comes on and records stuff.” I pass it to Adrian and he studies it carefully while I sip my margarita. My nerves are shot with Ben here. I need to be careful and not get drunk, or tell him what I really think. Although, what that is I just don’t know. You’re hot, you’re an asshole, you look completely fuckable. Oh, let’s just start with Bridget is an idiot!
My thoughts are interrupted.
“And you don’t turn it on?” Adrian asks.
I shake my head. “Nope. It’s got a mind of its own.”
He frowns as he clicks into my settings to try to work it out.
“It’s annoying because it’s using up all the battery and it keeps running out.”
“Joshua?” Adrian asks across the table.
Joshua looks up from his conversation with Ben, unaware what we’re talking about.
“Have a look at this,” Adrian says as he passes my phone up to him. Joshua is our resident tech-head. Being an app developer and all, he can usually work out most things.
He takes the phone from Adrian and starts to fiddle with it.
“What have you been up to, Abs?” Cam asks across the table. “Still banging like a barn door?”
The table erupts into giggles and I choke on my drink. That is such a Cameron thing to say. Cameron is Joshua’s younger brother, and someone very dear to us all. He’s never serious for a moment, and it’s hard to believe he’s a doctor in L.A. He’s cheeky as all hell and keeps us amused with his wicked one-liners and sense of humour. He has every woman he meets eating out of his hand.
“Cameron!” Abbie snaps, feigning shock. “For your information, I do not bang like a barn door.”
He smiles into his beer. “I beg to differ.” His eyes dance with delight as he teases.
“You wish you knew if I banged like a barn door, Cam,” she replies flatly.
He raises his glass with a grin.
Joshua frowns. “I think you might need a new phone, Didge.” He narrows his eyes as he concentrates. “The engage seems to be disabled.”
I roll my eyes. “Will you speak English? What does that even mean?”
He looks up at me and raises a brow. “It means it’s fucked.” He hands it back over the table to Natasha, who hands it to me, and I set it on my lap.
“Great,” I mutter under my breath.
“God, will you look at this place?” Tash smiles excitedly as she looks around in wonder.
We all look to our backdrop. I forget to look at it sometimes.
“This is the most beautiful city in the world.” Tash sighs. “There’s just no place like home.”
I smile and raise my glass to her. Abbie joins me, and we clink glasses in celebration.
We’re at the Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House, sitting outside on the water’s edge at one of the hundred tables. The lit-up Sydney Harbor Bridge is behind us and the reflective lights from all the skyscrapers dance on the water. White circular lanterns line the water’s edge. The music has a trendy low beat, and the place is buzzing with eclectic people. This is our hangout. It seems surreal that this is where Abbie and I come for drinks at least once a week. We’re truly blessed.
Life is busy, with me being a travel agent and Abbie being a PA for a law firm, but we always catch up at least once a week, no matter what. I came back to Australia just over two years ago. I went to L.A. with Natasha when she moved to be with Joshua, and then sort of fell into the L.A. lifestyle. I love it over there, too. I could easily settle in the States and be happy forever, but I missed my mum and Abbie, and with Tash being out of town on their property in Willowvale, and Adrian being so busy at work—he’s the CEO of Joshua’s app development company—my time was up. It was good while it lasted, and I’m lucky enough that Joshua flies me back and forth whenever I want on his private jet.
In Stanton Land, money is no option. Natasha married into money, big money, and it has flowed into all our lifestyles. Designers send Natasha clothes, hoping she’ll wear them, and she sends them to Abbie and me. Adrian spoils me rotten and buys me everything he thinks would look good on me—the perks of having a gay best friend with impeccable taste and a love of shoes and handbags. Joshua does everything he can to ensure that Natasha is happy living in the States, and if that means flying me, Abbie, and Mum over whenever we want, so be it.
