Lizzie
Sometime later, although Lizzie had no idea how long – seconds, minutes – they drew apart, leaving her suddenly aware of the numbing chill of her legs in the water, and how wet the bottom of her shorts had become.
‘I’m totally crazy about you.’ He spoke in a husky voice full of desire and intent. ‘I didn’t contact you after I left England because I thought that’s what we’d agreed. That it would make it harder if we tried to stay in touch. I wanted to call you so many times, you know?’
Had they agreed that? Lizzie couldn’t recall a conversation along those lines, but at that moment all her brain seemed capable of remembering was the feel of Harrison’s body next to hers and the parts of their brief relationship that, up until that moment, she’d forgotten; like the soft groan he’d emitted when she ran her hands down his bare back, and the way her skin tingled from his touch.
‘Anyway,’ he said as he pulled her into the crook of his arm and guided them back towards the shore. ‘I have something else a little crazy to tell you, which I hope you’ll be OK with.’
‘What?’ She grinned. After the intensity of their kiss, Harrison could suggest skinny-dipping and she’d agree.
‘Well, when I got back to the office today my boss was in fits. He accused me of wagging, even though I’d cleared it with him ages ago to have this week off. Then he said, because of my “casual relationship with timekeeping” –’ Harrison raised his voice, Lizzie guessed to mimic that of his boss ‘– my holiday request for the next week has been denied.’
‘Oh, that’s all right, we’ll work around it. We can always see each other in the evenings.’
‘No way. No way am I missing out on spending time with you. Which is exactly what I told him. Which is when he said, “If you don’t show up for work tomorrow, don’t bother coming in any other time, either.” So I was like, “Bonza!” because now it means that I can spend more than just your week in Sydney with you. I can come to the East Coast, too.’
‘Wow, I’d love that, but what are you going to do when we leave? Will you be able to find another job?’
‘I reckon. I’ve got some irons in the fire, as you Poms say.’
As her toes touched the dry sand, Lizzie looked up, her eyes finding the angular waif before anyone else. She was standing on her own in the orange flickering glow of the bonfire, staring right at them. Lizzie smiled but the girl had already spun around and was gliding off in the opposite direction. With the glow of the flames on her features, Lizzie thought for a moment that she saw anger etched onto the girl’s sharp face. Before she could think any more of it, Jaddi and Samantha strolled towards her, both holding cans of lager and laughing about something. Just beyond them stood Ben, his face obscured by the camera.
Lizzie tried to ignore the heat burning in her cheeks as her conversation and kiss with Harrison replayed in her mind, just as it would be replayed on millions of television screens the following week. She wanted to call Ben over and coax the camera away for a little bit, but she didn’t. Why was she suddenly lost for words to say to him? Lizzie pulled in her bottom lip. She wouldn’t let Ben or the documentary change her behaviour or her relationship with Harrison. The thought of a relationship sent a warmth radiating through her.
‘I’m just going to catch up with Lance for a mo,’ Harrison said as Jaddi and Samantha reached them. He planted a kiss on her cheek before striding away.
‘How was your … swim?’ Samantha asked, her voice giddy with alcohol and mischief.
‘It was good.’ Lizzie laughed.
Jaddi stepped forward. ‘What’s going on then? You two seem to have hit it off quickly.’
‘Just like the last time then, I guess.’ Lizzie smiled. ‘He says he’s crazy about me. And he wants to spend time with me whilst we’re in Australia.’ She paused as a thought struck her. ‘Is that OK with you two? Sorry, I should’ve checked first.’
‘What do you think, Sam?’ Jaddi said, looping an arm around Samantha.
Samantha shook her head. ‘I’m not sure.’
‘Me neither,’ Jaddi said. ‘It’s just, you look so … so happy, and as your very best friends, we have to put a stop to that.’
‘Absolutely.’ Samantha nodded.
‘Very funny,’ Lizzie said, grinning. ‘Seriously, are you all right with this? I know it’s not what we planned.’
‘Definitely.’ Jaddi laughed. ‘Stop worrying.’
Lizzie smiled until her cheeks ached. They’d skipped a few steps again, just as they’d done the first time, but it felt right. Yes, it was ridiculously fast, and she couldn’t begin to contemplate what saying goodbye to Harrison again would feel like when they left for America, but at that moment she didn’t care. Her future would be full of goodbyes.