“She can’t forgive herself. She never missed a day of school. She never did anything at less than one hundred percent full speed. She punishes herself every day.”
“But you forgave her. That must count.”
“I love her. If it hadn’t been for Rie, I’d have just drifted. I didn’t want anything bad enough. She just kept kicking my ass til I got with the program. I forgave her. It could just have easily been me that caused it, or Dad or the semi driver. We’ll never know for sure.”
“I can’t imagine you drifting. I can’t imagine you that way.”
“I changed. Of course I changed. I had to grow up fast. Rielle thinks people can’t fundamentally change. She still thinks she’s a fourteen year old killer, but she’s wrong. Stuff changes us.”
They watched as a family, mum, dad and two kids—a boy and a girl—threw a ball, their dog barking excitedly. “I don’t think I can face the beach.” Rand pulled the car door closed. “Can’t do the fan thing tonight. Do you mind if we go back to the hotel?”
“Room service and an early night, sounds good,” said Harry, hand on the ignition, but she didn’t start the car—she needed to know. “Am I just a distraction, Rand?”
“Why would you say that?” he responded sharply.
“Like Jake says he is for Rielle, am I just—” she couldn’t finish the question.
Rand put his hand to her face. “Jesus no, Harriet Young. You’re not a distraction; you’re the main game. If we hadn’t come back, I’d be without you and I can’t bear to think about that.”
Harry tilted her face into his hand and watched him. The colour had come back into his cheeks and he was smiling gently when he said, “I’m not going to be without you until the day you decide you’ve had enough.”
She turned her head and put a kiss to his palm. “I hope you’re good at waiting.”
His smile broadened. “Don’t be so sure about what Jake says. He’s something more to Rie. I’m not sure she knows it yet, but wait and see.”
This time when Harry drove down Campbell Parade and up Bondi Road towards the city, Rand was watching the passing scenery with interest and tapping his foot to the song playing low on the radio. She snuck a look at him when the traffic allowed. This was the man she’d come to know and didn’t want to be without. He wasn’t so unrecognisable from the boy she knew. He was still smart and honest, still compassionate and thoughtful, still strong, but now wiser, more centred, and a determined survivor.
39. Bounce
When Jake woke up, the place beside him in bed was empty, and the suite was ominously quiet. He scrambled upright. Her nightmare was still in his head. God, where was she? “Arielle!”
“What?” She appeared from the bathroom, a quizzical expression in her green eyes.
He slumped back down. “Shit, don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?” She bounced on the edge of the bed.
He reached for her but she shifted away. She was Gym Girl; her blonde hair slicked back from her face, her bare skin flushed and healthy. She was Arielle; dark circles under her eyes still evident but not as prominent. And she was his.
“Don’t scare me.” He lunged for her again, but she moved just outside his reach.
“Man, you scare easy.”
“Only when it concerns you.”
“And heights.”
He groaned. “Low blow. Kick a man when he’s naked in your sheets.”
She struck a pose, balanced on the edge of the bed on her knees, and poked her tongue out at him.
“Why are you dressed like that?”
“I’ve got a plan.”
“I’ve got a plan too.” He lunged for her again. “It involves you and me, breakfast, a hot shower and this bed.”
On her feet now, she said, “My plan is better.”
Jake folded his arms behind his head, stretched back against the headboard, the sheet puddling across his lap. “Oh yeah—convince me.”
She took a step forward and he gave her an ‘I’ve won this now grin’, so she said, “Oh no, you have to get up.”
He scrambled back down into the bed and pulled the sheet over his head.
“Is that designed to make me want to wrestle with you?”
He laughed. If he played this right, she’d be under here with him.
“I’m waiting.”
Muffled by the sheet, he said, “Me too.”
She stepped up onto the bed and stood across his hips, like the day when he’d been under the amp stack. He flipped the sheet back off his head and