How to Date a Millionaire by Allison Rushby Page A

before. We say the dumbest things, trip over the silliest words, drip mustard down our chins and ice-cream down our shirts and neither of us seems to care. Seth just isn’t one of those people you have to watch yourself around, pretending to be someone or something you’re not.
    Like I said, without a doubt, it is the best date I have ever been on.
    Seth is no gas pump jockey. Seth is one of a kind. Like Marc said, ‘a great guy’.
    He really is.

‘I guess we’ve got time for one last thing and then we’d better head back.’ Seth inspects the map at about 2.30 pm. ‘How about the “edge of the reef” exhibit? Didn’t you say you wanted to see that one?’
    â€˜I did,’ I say, polishing off my macadamia ice-cream cone, then having another wipe at my shirt (of course it was me doing the spilling).
    We navigate the paths towards the exhibit and, when we get there, I’m glad we left it for last. It’s gorgeous – a raised pool about waist height that you can peer into and sticky-beak into the lives of its inhabitants. Meant to simulate the Hawaiian shoreline, the exhibit has sand dunes, a rocky tide pool and even a coral reef.
    Slowly, we move around the exhibit, pointing andtalking and eventually stopping for an extra-long look at the rocky tide pool. Standing close together, we peer in at something round, coloured a deep purple. A shingle urchin, the sign reads. Just as I’m pointing at its small spikes, something happens. From behind the urchin, a blast of water comes rushing in. Quickly, I pull my hand back and step back with a yelp. Once again, Seth is there to save me from falling. Except, this time, when I right myself, he’s laughing.
    â€˜I can’t believe you jumped! It’s a tide pool, Ness. It sends in a wave every three to five minutes.’
    â€˜I …’ I start, but then can’t help but laugh at myself as well. I can’t believe I’ve been talking about tide pools for the past fifteen minutes and never even thought there might be a tide. Um … duh.
    Like idiots, the pair of us stand beside the tide pool and laugh ourselves sick until everyone within a ten-metre radius is watching us and wondering what’s so funny. Um, tides! What else?
    Finally, we both calm down, gulping for air.
    And this is where things become awkward.
    Because it’s now that, at exactly the same time, the twoof us realise we’re both still holding on to each other. Facing each other. Gripping on to each other’s arms.
    I’m about to start to panic (either that, or pull away), because this is seriously starting to feel like Pearl Harbor all over again, when something completely unexpected happens. Seth pulls me in further.
    And kisses me.
    Oh.
    And, without a doubt, it’s the best kiss I have ever had.
    On the best date I have ever been on.
    When we step back again (I really try not to gulp for air this time – so unromantic), I’m not really sure where to look.
    â€˜Nessa, I’m sorry about yesterday. I just …’ Seth starts.
    â€˜No, it’s okay.’ I wave a hand, turning around and sitting on a nearby bench (I really do think I may need to crawl soon. My knees are like jelly today). ‘I know it must be difficult to talk about, um, you know …’ I don’t want to bring up the topic again.
    With a sigh, Seth sits down beside me. ‘It’s not that …’ He runs a hand through his hair. ‘God, I have to, but I don’t know how to say this …’
    I glance over at him. He looks worried. Like there’s something really playing on his mind. ‘What?’
    â€˜I …’ he starts again, then pauses. He looks like he doesn’t know where to start. ‘It’s just that there’s something I have to tell you …’ Again he pauses.
    Oh great.
    This doesn’t sound good.
    â€˜You know what?’ I say quickly.