of that sweet syrupy poison. Never again . “Just a Coke, thanks.”
Quade orders my drink and a light beer for himself. He hands me my glass and slips his free hand into mine, leading me over to a table with eight chairs, four of which are occupied, and a pram at the end with a pink and white-spotted blanket draped over it. Two faces I recognise from school. Tim and Jack look much scruffier than they did when I saw them last, Tim sporting a full-grown dark beard and Jack with his long wavy brown hair, tipped with blond from the sun. It looks like he rarely spends a day away from the surf. Tim and Jack light up with wide grins when we reach the table. The two girls beside them, who I don’t know, each offer a polite smile. All four of them, as if somehow choreographed by the universe, zero in on our hands clasped together.
I must pull away instinctively because Quade’s grip tightens. His blue eyes soften with a lazy smile. “Hey everyone. This is Lacey,” he says, his eyes not leaving mine. “Don’t bite her.”
“Very funny,” I whisper.
Jack rises and shakes Quade’s hand, says “G’day” and then shakes my hand too. “Good to see ya, Lacey,” he says with a wink. “This is my girl, Susie.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, and shake the hand of the curvy brunette who has boobs I would kill for.
“You too,” she says and sits back down, placing her hand on the pram handle. “Our little girl, Lila, just crashed. I’m sure you’ll get to hear her before your meal is done.”
God, I would have no clue how to be a mum at twenty-three or twenty-four. “I can’t wait to say hello when she wakes up.”
“Missed you, bro,” Tim says as he pulls Quade into a bear hug. Quade finally lets go of my hand to slap his friend hard on the back. Tim pats him in return and they enter into a gruff conversation that is clearly intended for only their ears. I catch the mention of “father” and “awesome” coming from Quade, which makes my heart melt. It’s lovely to see him with close friends like this.
The girl with freckles and tight honey ringlets stands and extends her hand over the table. “Hi, I’m Emma, and Tim here is shit at introductions. And I promise I don’t bite.”
A girl with a sense of humour. I like it. “Ha. Hi, Emma.”
“Let’s order,” Jack says, tapping the end of his worn laminated menu on the tabletop loudly.
After a quick look at the menu, we all decide we have to have the steak. Well, it is the best in town.
“Your brother back from overseas?” Tim asks me, and then takes a long pull of his beer.
“No, Ricky’s still working on the slopes in Canada.”
“Man, he’s been gone for ages. It’s been years since I’ve seen him. When’s he coming back? I’d love to catch up for a beer.”
“He met a girl, so it doesn’t look like it’ll be anytime soon.”
“Oh boy. She’s got him good, huh?”
“Yeah. He’s turned into a lovesick puppy and hasn’t been able to pull himself away. I can give you his Skype info and you can have a chat with him? Maybe you could convince him to come home for a visit.”
“Ha. I’ll do my best.”
“So are we expecting anyone else tonight?” I ask, focusing on the two empty seats and then on the faces around the table.
“Mr Unreliable,” Jack pipes in. “And whatever bird he happens to be fu—” Susie elbows him in the side. Jack coughs. “Dating,” he says through a chuckle.
I nod, not knowing whether I should dig for any more details, even though the name has me intrigued.
A short time later our meals arrive, halting conversation for a good few minutes.
“God I missed this scotchy,” Quade says around a mouthful of succulent steak.
“Best mushroom sauce ever,” I mumble, and then dive in for another bite.
When the plates are almost empty, a tall guy with a familiar face grips Quade’s shoulders. Mr Unreliable?
“You bastards didn’t wait for me?” he says and scowls.
“Pedro! You made it,
Quade orders my drink and a light beer for himself. He hands me my glass and slips his free hand into mine, leading me over to a table with eight chairs, four of which are occupied, and a pram at the end with a pink and white-spotted blanket draped over it. Two faces I recognise from school. Tim and Jack look much scruffier than they did when I saw them last, Tim sporting a full-grown dark beard and Jack with his long wavy brown hair, tipped with blond from the sun. It looks like he rarely spends a day away from the surf. Tim and Jack light up with wide grins when we reach the table. The two girls beside them, who I don’t know, each offer a polite smile. All four of them, as if somehow choreographed by the universe, zero in on our hands clasped together.
I must pull away instinctively because Quade’s grip tightens. His blue eyes soften with a lazy smile. “Hey everyone. This is Lacey,” he says, his eyes not leaving mine. “Don’t bite her.”
“Very funny,” I whisper.
Jack rises and shakes Quade’s hand, says “G’day” and then shakes my hand too. “Good to see ya, Lacey,” he says with a wink. “This is my girl, Susie.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, and shake the hand of the curvy brunette who has boobs I would kill for.
“You too,” she says and sits back down, placing her hand on the pram handle. “Our little girl, Lila, just crashed. I’m sure you’ll get to hear her before your meal is done.”
God, I would have no clue how to be a mum at twenty-three or twenty-four. “I can’t wait to say hello when she wakes up.”
“Missed you, bro,” Tim says as he pulls Quade into a bear hug. Quade finally lets go of my hand to slap his friend hard on the back. Tim pats him in return and they enter into a gruff conversation that is clearly intended for only their ears. I catch the mention of “father” and “awesome” coming from Quade, which makes my heart melt. It’s lovely to see him with close friends like this.
The girl with freckles and tight honey ringlets stands and extends her hand over the table. “Hi, I’m Emma, and Tim here is shit at introductions. And I promise I don’t bite.”
A girl with a sense of humour. I like it. “Ha. Hi, Emma.”
“Let’s order,” Jack says, tapping the end of his worn laminated menu on the tabletop loudly.
After a quick look at the menu, we all decide we have to have the steak. Well, it is the best in town.
“Your brother back from overseas?” Tim asks me, and then takes a long pull of his beer.
“No, Ricky’s still working on the slopes in Canada.”
“Man, he’s been gone for ages. It’s been years since I’ve seen him. When’s he coming back? I’d love to catch up for a beer.”
“He met a girl, so it doesn’t look like it’ll be anytime soon.”
“Oh boy. She’s got him good, huh?”
“Yeah. He’s turned into a lovesick puppy and hasn’t been able to pull himself away. I can give you his Skype info and you can have a chat with him? Maybe you could convince him to come home for a visit.”
“Ha. I’ll do my best.”
“So are we expecting anyone else tonight?” I ask, focusing on the two empty seats and then on the faces around the table.
“Mr Unreliable,” Jack pipes in. “And whatever bird he happens to be fu—” Susie elbows him in the side. Jack coughs. “Dating,” he says through a chuckle.
I nod, not knowing whether I should dig for any more details, even though the name has me intrigued.
A short time later our meals arrive, halting conversation for a good few minutes.
“God I missed this scotchy,” Quade says around a mouthful of succulent steak.
“Best mushroom sauce ever,” I mumble, and then dive in for another bite.
When the plates are almost empty, a tall guy with a familiar face grips Quade’s shoulders. Mr Unreliable?
“You bastards didn’t wait for me?” he says and scowls.
“Pedro! You made it,
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