Strike! The word flashed up on the screen for the third time in a row. Alex high-fived me and I cheered. All the years of sipping slushies with Kat at the local bowling alley were paying off.
‘Those pins are copping it. Angry about last night, much?’ Alex asked, selecting a hot-pink bowling ball.
‘Hands off my lucky ball.’
‘Maybe it’ll be lucky for me too.’
We watched the ball shoot down the lane, then veer suddenly to the left, only knocking over one pin.
I laughed and reached for another ball — a bright yellow one with red flames on either side — and that’s when I saw her. I ducked down behind the seat. ‘Oh! Oh crap!’
‘What?’ he said, sipping on his cherry cola (he’d bribed a bellboy for one).
‘It’s her. Look, it’s her.’
‘Her being …?’ Alex turned to see who I was freaking out over.
Maxxy. She was politely signing a pair of bowling shoes and a pale blue ball for the manager.
‘Sweet, at least we know she’s not sick,’ he said. ‘You can relax now.’
‘Should I try to lure her over here?’ I asked.
‘Lure?’ Alex laughed. ‘Cut the creepiness. She’s a normal chick — surprisingly down to earth. Go up to her like you would anyone else.’
‘She’s famous, not normal.’
‘Yeah, she is, and the sooner you realise that, the better you’ll be at your job. Stop putting the Maxxys and Edwinas of the world up on these inaccessible pedestals. They fart, burp and wee as much as the next person.’
I snorted. ‘Ew.’ But I didn’t need to be a whiz-kid to know he was right — well, about the pedestals anyway. (I could hardly imagine Edwina clearing her throat loudly, let alone the other stuff.) But I couldn’t shake the fact that Maxxy was in one social circle and I was in another. She was respected and recognised around the country for her music; I was lucky to remember to squeeze in a shower on a particularly sleepy Sunday. We had as much in common as a snowman and a frog.
But none of that mattered because I had a job to do. I needed to take the emotion out of it. I needed to earn my spot at indi.
‘I’m not scared,’ I told myself. ‘I’m a professional. A professional writer. A professional writer from the city who’s —’
‘Josie. You’re trying to convince the wrong person.’
‘Fine. I’ll do it.’
Boom-boom, boom-boom … my heartbeat quickened as I walked towards her. She was already on her way out the door, waving goodbye to the manager. My arms ached and I looked down to see I was still clutching the bowling ball. I searched for something, anything, to say to attract her attention. ‘Hello’ didn’t seem enough. My eyes took in the vending machine, the pool table, the lanes, the bumper bars —
‘Bumpers!’ I blurted out.
Maxxy turned to see me standing there like a loon, clinging to the bowling ball, which seemed to be growing heavier by the millisecond. ‘What? Oh, hey … it’s Josie, right? From last night?’
‘Yeah. You remembered.’
‘Gold star to me,’ she said. ‘Were you saying something about bumpers?’
I had no idea what I was saying. No idea at all. ‘Er, I wanted to see if you were keen for a game … with or without bumpers?’
‘Right now?’
‘Yeah, with us.’ I pointed to Alex, who gave a wave. I held my breath; could I pull this off?
‘Sure, why not. I’ve got time for a quick one before my flight,’ she said, and walked with me towards the lane. ‘By the way, I read some of your stuff last night after the gig. The story on virginity? Very smart take on the subject. I flicked it to a friend who totally related.’
‘She did?’ I couldn’t hide my shock. I’d never had a celebrity compliment my writing before. Well, except for Billy from Greed, but he’d had other intentions.
‘She did.’ Maxxy smiled.
I was starting to realise there may be more of a thriving population on Planet V than I’d thought. I gulped. ‘Actually, speaking of indi, I wanted to talk to you about Saturday …’
‘Did Darlene lock in the details?’
‘Um, she hasn’t yet.’
‘She’s your gal. Trust me, she sorts out all my media requests,’ Maxxy said. Before I had a chance to continue, she’d moved on. ‘Alex, my main man!’
‘Maxx-ay!’ he hollered. ‘Help! Save me from Josie. I’ve never had my arse kicked so hard by someone so small.’
‘I’m not that small,’ I said.
Maxxy looked at the screen, taking in the scores. ‘You’re smashing him! Looks like he might need the bumpers.’
Alex passed Maxxy a bowling ball. ‘That’s it, you’re playing with me. Hey, where’s Mirabella? We could play in pairs.’
‘Poor thing’s gone home sick, texted me something about bad fish,’ she said. ‘Lucky I’m vegan.’
‘This place isn’t so lavish after all, is it?’ Alex joked. ‘Jose, you’re up.’
I walked to the lane and swung the ball. Six. Alex cheered. Typical: I was back to being average the moment the pop star stepped onto my turf. We played on, and somehow I managed to beat them. (The fact that Alex consistently scored three or less helped swing things my way.)
Maxxy snapped a selfie of the three of us pulling silly faces while holding our bowling balls. She uploaded it to her Instagram page with the hashtag #mybowlingbiznitches. I was sure Kat would confirm this as my highest life achievement to date.
‘Another game, m’lady?’ Alex asked Maxxy.
‘Sorry, guys, it’s been fun, but I better finish packing. Josie, I’ll see you soon, though … Saturday, right? Thanks for the game.’ She gave us a quick hug and walked out of the bowling alley.
‘Five, four, three …’ I muttered.
Alex furrowed his brow. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Two … one,’ I said, and let out a huge yelp of glee. ‘I did it! It’s official! Maxxy loves indi! Liani loves Maxxy! Therefore Liani is going to love me! I schmoozed! I freaking schmoozed!’
Alex laughed. ‘Yeah, you did.’
‘I have to tell her,’ I said, and whipped out my phone to send Liani a one-liner email: Maxxy loves indi and is keen for the launch. Losing it!
‘Well, Miss Schmoozer, the only thing that could top what you’re feeling right now is a ride on that merry-go-round,’ Alex said. ‘Let’s go find it.’
‘It’s not a merry-go-round, but I think it’ll do nicely,’ Alex said, too surprised at what lay in front of us to play it cool for once.
We’d got completely lost in our search for the merry-go-round after detouring to take a ‘shortcut’ through the maze (which, of course, only got us more lost). And at its centre was one of the most breathtaking things I’d ever seen: a hexagon-shaped pool surrounded by palm trees, lush green plants and colourful flowers. It was private, enclosed, serene and mysterious, the kind of place where I imagined hundreds of secrets being told.
Alex looked at me. ‘What do you say?’
I sat down on a sun lounge and placed my phone next to me. ‘You want to go in? If I can find my way out of this maze, I’ll go and get my —’
‘Your what?’ He laughed, scooping me up and carrying me towards the water. ‘Your what?’
‘Stop, I don’t have my swimmers on!’ I screeched, but Alex didn’t listen. He threw me into the pool and I plunged beneath the water.
Floundering around, I burst through the surface gasping for air and splashing droplets everywhere. Today’s outfit — a tropical playsuit, courtesy of Sia once again — was now sopping wet and clinging to every curve of my body. I folded my arms across my chest.
‘Is it nice in?’ said Alex, who’d stripped off his T-shirt to reveal his muscular torso. He sat on the edge of the pool, splashing his toes in the water.
‘What’s the matter with you?’ I coughed. ‘Do you take anything seriously?’
Alex splashed me. ‘Sure.’
‘Like what?’ I said. ‘This trip’s meant to be for work, and now Edwina hates me, the other girls are spreading rumours about me — about us — and people are sick, and you’re laughing it all off.’
‘I’d rather laugh than whinge,’ he said. ‘Look … I take things seriously. I do. But this drama with Edwina and her army of mag hags? It’s not my scene … and I’m not sure it’s yours either.’
‘This is my job — this is all I can do — so it has to be my scene,’ I muttered, shivering as goosebumps erupted on my arms, across my chest and down my legs.
‘Yeah, that’s my problem too,’ he nodded. ‘Hang on, are you cold? How is that even possible? I’ll get you my towel.’
‘No, I’m fine,’ I replied, plunging below the water again.
‘Alright then,’ he said, and lowered himself into the pool, running his fingers through the water.
‘What?’ I asked, trying to decode the expression on his face.
‘Nothing. It’s just … girls don’t usually act like this towards me.’
My eyebrows shot up. ‘I’m not acting like anything towards you!’
‘Exactly,’ he said, grinning.
‘Are you used to girls ogling the tattoo on your bicep or —’
‘You noticed my bicep?’
I shook my head. ‘Does Steph know how annoying you are?’
‘Steph’s like my sister — everything I do annoys her. But that’s not what I meant before. Sure, you’re not throwing yourself at me —’
‘I know that.’
‘But you’re sending vibes, so it’s confusing.’
‘No, I’m not.’
‘Oh yeah, your vibes are coming at me left, right and centre,’ he said. ‘Look, there’s one now!’
I splashed water at him. ‘I am in complete and utter control of my vibes, thank you, and I have it on good authority that not one is being sent your way.’
‘Yep, there goes another,’ he said. ‘You’re cute when you’re angry.’
‘I’m not angry. Or cute.’
‘Searching for compliments?’
‘You are the most frustrating person I’ve ever met, and I like most people!’ I blurted out. ‘You know those annoying types who everyone gives up on? Well, I don’t. But you are on a whole other level of frustrating. I’m here, surrounded by merry-go-rounds and mazes, trying to do a good job and you’re ruining it. You’re a great writer — you should know better!’
‘Nice speech. You think I’m great?’ Alex took a step closer.
‘I didn’t mean it.’
‘Oh, really?’ he said, so close now I could see the water clinging to his long, dark eyelashes. ‘I think you’re talented too. Josie, I …’
But he didn’t finish his sentence. He was too preoccupied with lowering his lips to mine.
For a split second, I couldn’t think about anything other than the fact Alex’s lips were smooshed up against my own. It was the flash after the split second that stung me. All I could taste was chlorine. All I could see was James.
‘Stop … you can’t, we can’t,’ I said, pulling away.
‘You didn’t like it?’
I took a step backwards. ‘Don’t ask me that.’
‘Why not?’ he said, stepping towards me to close the gap. ‘I liked kissing you. Although it was over a little too fast.’
‘Alex … I have a boyfriend,’ I said, pressing my hands against his chest to form a barrier between us. I felt a stabbing pain in my stomach as guilt threatened to overwhelm me.
‘You’re kidding? Well, now I feel like a tosser.’
We bobbed in the water in silence, listening to the soft breeze whistling through the palm trees.
‘Ah man, I’m sorry. Is he the guy who was supposed to come on the road trip with us?’ he asked.
‘Yeah … It’s been a complicated few weeks,’ I said, tears stinging my eyes. ‘I’m sorry … things have been kinda crazy … but I love him.’
Alex burst out laughing.
I splashed water in his face. ‘What are you, a sociopath?’
‘No!’ he said, splashing back. ‘I’ve just never kissed a girl and had her confess her passionate love for someone else before.’
I let a small chuckle slip out, but stopped myself the moment I remembered the kiss. The feeling of his warm mouth against mine. The touch of his fingertips on my upper back. The taste of cherry cola from our trip to the bowling alley. Alex had initiated it, the whole thing had lasted less than two seconds and didn’t mean a thing to me, but there was nothing I could do to erase it. No reboot or undo button to press. It was a messy blob on my life, on my relationship, and I had no idea what to do about it.
Getting out of this romantic pool sounded like a good first step.
‘I can’t be here with you, alone,’ I said. ‘I’m going back to my room.’
‘Jose, let’s talk about this.’
‘What’s to say? I’m the worst person in the world. I’m going to go drown myself in that giant spa in my suite.’
I pulled myself from the water (luckily no one else was around to witness my wobbling upper arms, which had the strength of a bowl of jelly) and wrapped myself in Alex’s beach towel.
‘For the record, I don’t want to be using your towel,’ I said, placing myself down on the sun lounge. ‘It feels sort of wrong considering the circumstances, but —’
‘Stop worrying,’ he said. ‘I misread the signs, that’s all. It was just a kiss! People brush body parts all the time and it means nothing. Think about it: two hands shaking, patting someone on the back, cheek-to-cheek kisses.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘I’m saying, don’t let this two-second nothing ruin everything. I’ve gone further with my 93-year-old grandma’s bingo caller than you — she tried to slip in her tongue when she greeted me at the Christmas party last year!’
‘Oh god!’ I said, failing to shake the visual. ‘Well, you say it means nothing … but what do we do now? Are you going to tell Steph?’
‘About what?’ he said, pulling himself from the pool with ease. ‘No idea what you’re talking about.’
‘Alex, you can’t kiss me and then —’
‘We’re friends. That’s it. Stop trying to crack onto me. I know you’re a dirty little perve, but no means no.’
I punched him on the arm. ‘You’re a little … Look, I don’t want things to be weird,’ I said, my voice cracking. ‘For my career, for Steph … especially for me and James.’
‘I’m the king of the friend zone and I’m fine with that,’ he said.
I didn’t know whether it was his gentle tone or the quick way he’d apologised when I’d mentioned James earlier, but I believed him.
But I had another concern. ‘I can’t have Edwina thinking there’s anything going on here. It can’t be awkward. It just can’t.’
Alex shrugged. ‘We broke up ages ago — we don’t mean anything to each other.’
‘Get real,’ I said, rolling my eyes. ‘Don’t you mean you broke up with her, and she doesn’t mean anything to you?’
He looked at the ground. ‘I’m not sure. Maybe. It wasn’t working, we had nothing in common besides … you know, so I ended things. People break up every day. I didn’t want to lead her on, and it wasn’t love or anything.’
Yeah, for him.
‘Besides, she’s got nothing beneath that gorgeous face — no kindness, no heart. I couldn’t be with someone like that. She plays people and I’m pretty sure she’s a full-blown evil supervillain these days.’
I smiled. ‘Yeah, she’s full-on.’
‘If “full-on” means “total bitch”.’
‘Yep, definitely one of those,’ I admitted, thinking of Edwina’s countless backhanded compliments and snarky remarks; she hadn’t earned queen-bee status without mastering how to sting people. ‘Anyway,’ I continued, ‘let’s stop wasting our time talking about her. I want to focus on my job and the launch, that’s it. Nothing else matters right now. Especially not Edwina.’
‘Good thinking … friend.’ He grinned.
‘Well, friend, have you seen my phone?’ I said. ‘I want to see if Darlene’s emailed yet.’
‘Yeah, no worries,’ he said. ‘No idea where your phone’s gone though.’
‘I had it with me …’ I muttered, standing up and looking around. ‘You know, before you lobbed me into the pool. Unless it’s in the water and —’
‘Ah, here we go!’ Alex said, fishing it off my sun lounge. ‘You were sitting on it.’ His eyes widened as he stared at the screen. ‘Something tells me you’re not meant to be calling Edwina?’
No, I wasn’t. But apparently I was in the middle of a conversation with her.
‘Hang it up!’ I shrieked. ‘Oh no, what were we talking about?’
Alex ignored me and held the phone to his ear. ‘Edwina?’ He waited for a second — a second that felt long enough to run a few laps around an oval — and repeated her name, before hanging up. ‘Yeah, so I’m pretty sure we’ve left her a whopping long phone message.’
‘Shit!’
‘If it makes you feel better I once butt-dialled my dentist while I was … Never mind.’
‘She’s going to kill me. Kill me! Maybe even bring me back to life just so she can kill me again! We need to delete that message!’
‘I vote we play dumb,’ Alex said. ‘She probably never checks her voicemail anyway. I have about twenty-six new messages on mine.’
I sighed.
‘Besides, the phone was under your butt — our conversation was probably muffled. I betcha it’s a whole lot of static.’
The idea was comforting. ‘Yeah? You think so?’
‘I do.’
‘You’re lying to make me feel better, aren’t you?’
He grinned. ‘I am. And it’s not our only problem.’
I pulled the towel even tighter around me. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I have no idea how to get us out of this frigging maze.’
I groaned and put my head in my hands. So much for Alex turning things around for us today.