by Siân James
Should I just slip it under the door and run? Andy had given it to me specifically because Matt needed it tonight. If I slipped it under the door, I could text him and tell him it was there after I was safely in my own apartment.
But would that be weird? Would it be obvious I was avoiding him? Yes. But was that a bad thing? Was I truly concerned about him knowing I was avoiding him? Or would he be grateful I'd saved us both the awkwardness?
While I hesitated, kneeling on the dirty cement floor and wasting precious time, I’d forgotten to listen for sound inside. The door handle clicked, startling me, and it swung open. I stood, awkward at being caught in a compromising and sneaky position. Guilt and panic warred within me, and I knew there was nothing to be done about hiding both emotions from my face. I didn’t want him to think I was creeping.
My eyes on the floor I opened my mouth, beginning my apology, “I’m so sorry, I was just—”
“Izzie!”
My eyes lifted from the floor to the doorway. Joy Carter, Matt’s mum was standing there. Her sapphire blue eyes lit with delight were simultaneously jarring and beautiful, at once reminding me of her son’s eyes, and surprising me that I hadn’t ever noticed how bright hers were before. She had a more crow’s feet at the corners than Matt did, naturally, but there was a tilt to them, which coupled with her smile, made them kind. I found Matt’s more disarming.
“What a pleasant surprise! I haven’t seen you in ages, but Matt has told me all about your new spot, and I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished. I saw your mother the other day, and she said you’re going to run some workshops. Is that right? I think that’s just wonderful, what a lovely thing for Emerald Cove, I’ve already had a word with my book club and they’re all excited about the idea of a flower arranging class. Sue said there’ll be champagne, will there be champange?”
I couldn’t help my smile at her hopeful expression.
“Yes, there will—”
Just then a voice came from inside the apartment. “Who is it, love?” Matt’s dad, Mick, was also here.
Without taking her eyes from me, Joy called out, “It’s Izzie Donovan!”
My heart dropped, surely this was the moment Matt came out, his thunderous expression with him.
“Oh, well, invite her in why don’t you!”
No!
Annoyance crossed Joy’s face. “There’s no electricity. I can hardly make her a tea can I? Plus, you said you’d be done in a few minutes and we’d go for dinner.” She mouthed to me, ”Sorry, love, I’d adore having a cuppa and a chat, but as I said there’s no electricity till something or other gets fixed, and that one”—here she threw her thumb over her shoulder into the apartment—“needs managing when he starts to tinker or before you know it, it’ll be ten at night, and we’ll still be waiting on tea.” She rolled her eyes and I couldn’t help but grin. She spoke about her husband in the same tone Mum used when talking about Jim, with loving exasperation. It was adorable.
A weird tugging sensation behind my ribs made my hand fly to my chest.
“Now, I take it you’re here to see Matt about something? Did he plan to meet you?”
“Uh, no-” I began.
“I only ask because he’d organised yesterday for Mick to do some work with him, but when we arrived, he was so distracted and agitated and took off for a run saying he’d need a rain check.” Motherly concern marred her features. “Do you know if anything happened at work today?”
I swallowed hard and shook my head, relief and alarm shooting through me. “No, I barely saw him at all today.” I had no reason to think what he may or may not have heard from Tash this morning would be affecting him so many hours later. Therefore, I had no reason to tell his mum I knew anything. Plus, how embarrassing would that be?
“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “I always thought he’d be back one day. But I just assumed he’d be bringing a girl home with him, you know? A wife and some kids maybe? There was that one girl—”
Her eyes drifted up to the right as she was lost in a memory, and my gut twisted unpleasantly. Apparently, it wanted to hear about Matt’s previous girlfriends as much as my ears, which had started ringing. Any moment now, Joy would screech in concern as blood started dribbling off my earlobes.
“She was lovely, and we really thought things would work out for them but”—she shrugged—“she was from the UK, and she wanted Matt to move back there with her. He went too, much to our horror—not that we let him know that, of course. We focussed on the positive, told him we were happy if he was, which is completely the truth, but—” She sighed. “It didn’t work out.” A faraway looked crossed her face.
I shifted, wondering if this was my chance to hand over the USB and run, but my movement drew her out of her reverie and back to her topic at hand.
“Anyway, I know he’s only planning on staying in town for a few months, but he has so much going on, he can barely fit in time to see us. And it’s not all work, work, work like in the city either. He has friends he spends time with here, he goes running and surfing and spends time with Jake at the pub. Mick and I went in the other night and he was behind the bar serving! Said Jake was short so he just stepped back for a few minutes.” She shook her head before continuing.
“And he seems to really be enjoying himself with the old cinema renovations, not to mention all the time he’s spending at Tom and Louise’s – you know our daughter don’t you?”
“Yes, we used to have some volunteer lifesaving shifts together.”
She nodded, “Well Matt’s been helping her husband, Tom with replacing their back decking. All rotted out and quite dangerous. I’ve been onto Tom to fix it for years.” She gave me a stern look as if I were to blame for the rotting wood before her face morphed into one of motherly concern, “Anyway, I know Matt’s work here will end at some point, but there are plenty of other places that need doing up around town. He’s got so much experience and skills I’m sure he could set himself up with some fun projects and a successful business. Then there’s this place.” She spread her hand back behind her to indicate the half-renovated apartment.
My participation in this conversation didn’t seem necessary, but I didn’t interrupt. I was getting a window into a different part of Matt, and it was intriguing.
“Anyway,” Joy continued, “he seems to love the beach so much, and the quieter life here. Oh, I know Sydney has beautiful beaches. But he never got to enjoy them. You know? He was too busy working all the time. He seemed so tired when he first arrived. Did you see him? Drawn, as if he hadn’t slept well in months.” She tutted and shook her head in concern.
I flashed back on my memories but couldn’t recall whether he’d appeared tired the first few times I’d met him. Other things about his appearance had captured my attention.
“And now look at him! Positively thriving, he is. Though I’m not sure about the beard. I think when it grows out a bit it might be better, we’ll see. His father never grew one because I’m not a fan of facial hair—too scratchy. But maybe he has a lady to impress who likes them?” She paused and I realised she wanted an answer.
I shook my hand in front of me, “Oh no, I have no idea.”
She pursed her lips. “You know, I said to Mick the other day, I feel like he’s settling back into life here, coming alive as it were. All he really needs is a good nudge to make the decision to stay. I think he’s wanting a reason and what better reason than a nice young lady?”
“Now, Joy, don’t you go putting ideas into her head.” Mick Carter came up behind his wife, all six foot plus of him, and while I could see Matt had his mother’s eyes, this close-up inspection of Mick assured me I’d been right the other day—he definitely had his father's everything else. Tall, broad and with the same quirk to the side of his mouth, he was essentially an older and slightly more weathered version of Matt. His hair was mostly white now, but it was thick, and his posture was one of a man who still used and worked his body despite his advancing age.
Mick kissed his wife on the side of the head. “I know my son, and he doesn’t want a nice young woman any more than I did, he wants a feisty one who knows her mind.” He winked at me, and Joy rolled her eyes in long suffering love.
“Are you single?” Joy eyed me hopefully, and that was my cue to leave.
I held up the USB. “Andy asked me to drop this around for Matt. Said it was important he review it tonight before they started on the work tomorrow.”
Mick reached around his wife and took the device. “Thanks, love. I’ll put it on the kitchen bench and let him know you dropped it around.”
“Are you sure it won’t get lost Mick? It’s such a little thing and the apartment is such a mess still. Maybe Izzie should keep it and bring it up later to give it to Matt in person?” The calculatingly hopeful smile could belong on an ad for Metamucil, and alarm bells rang in my head.
When I had single grown children would I madly pursue matchmaking them with such zeal?
“Um, no, really, it’s okay. I’m sure you’ll make sure he gets it. I have something on anyway, some online client meetings.” Which wasn’t a complete lie. I had a notification on my phone earlier that she’d cancelled, but I hadn’t officially read it and accepted it. So at this stage, I technically still had the meeting booked into my calendar. I backed away. “It was really lovely to see you both again. I hope you have a nice evening. Bye!” I turned and fled down the stairs before I could get called back or accidentally met Matt on his return.
I pottered around in my apartment for a few hours, unwinding from the day by watering my plants, showering and putting on my favourite comfy short-shorts with tears in the seat and hip creases, and a clean white singlet. For dinner, I ordered some Chinese takeaway from Silver Phoenix.
I ordered from there because the food was delicious and because the guy who delivered it was a hot German backpacker who was an experienced and outrageous flirt and while we both knew we wouldn’t go there, it was great fun and always made me feel good after having an encounter.
And I needed to feel good about myself tonight.
My phone pinged with texts indicating my delivery was on its way and would be arriving shortly, so I pulled my hair up into a messy bun on top of my head, swiped some shiny gloss across my lips and pinched my cheeks, grabbed a five dollar note for the tip and waited, glass of red wine already in hand.
A few minutes later, I heard feet on the stairs. When my bell rang, I sprang into action.
On opening the door, I felt a little flutter in my belly at the sight of Otto, a charming smile on his handsome face and Silver Phoenix take-out bags in hand. My stomach rumbled, and I wondered whether I was more excited about the food or Otto?
Honestly? I’d been enjoying flirting with Otto for over a year now, but the food was where it was at.
“Beautiful Izzie, how are you this evening?”
I grinned. “I’m very well, thank you, Otto. And how are you? Many deliveries tonight?”
“Just a few; it’s a quiet one.”
“Have you been busy today?” Otto had a day job picking fruit, but after a particularly long conversation one night, he’d admitted he was hunting for more permanent work in his profession as an environmental research scientist, specialising in insects. He wanted to stay in Australia, but he needed to be sponsored first.
“Still picking blueberries, speaking of which—” He pulled out the hand behind his back and presented me with a small punnet of fat blueberries. “For you.”
I took them. “Why thank you! Special treat for all your delivery customers tonight?”
He smiled shyly. “No, just for you.”
Inwardly, my smile faltered, but I kept it pasted on. This was new. “Well, that’s very kind of you. I don’t know what to say. Can I give you something for them?” I reached for my handbag which held my purse.
He shook his head and his hand. “No, no please. They are a gift.”
“Well”—flustered now, I held my smile—“thank you.”
He held out the Silver Phoenix delivery bag. “And this is for you too.”
I took it in my other hand. “Ah, yes, I remember ordering these.” We both chuckled uncomfortably.
Oh no! Do something!
My brain screamed at me, which made no sense at all because my brain was the bit that was supposed to fix this.
Our flirting mojo had been crushed. To be fair, I didn’t think it was entirely my fault. He was the one who had to go and ruin everything by giving me something not on my order. I did not ask for blueberries, damn it.
I decided to go for the safe route.
“Have you had any luck with the job hunting? You know, as an environmental researcher?”
He brightened. “Actually, yes. I’ve had two callbacks for positions. They’re both a little beneath my experience level, but at this stage I’ll take anything.”
“That’s great!” And it was. Otto was a great guy and a good member of our community. He was part of the surf club, regularly volunteering his time through the summer months, and through the winter, he was part of the soccer association. “When are the interviews?”
“In a few weeks.”
“Do you need a study partner?”
Otto’s grin was slow and charming. He leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his chest, golden tanned biceps bulging from under the sleeves of his tee. “Are you offering?”
Yes! Back on track.
I gave him a flirty smile back. “Maybe, depends what’s in it for me?”
“Oh, I’m sure I could think of something.” His voice dropped in a decidedly intimate way and waggled his eyebrows. “More blueberries?”
I faltered again. Blueberries? Were they some kind of German innuendo? His eyes dropped to my chest then back up.
Hey now!
Just wait a minute. I may not be super well-endowed, but I was definitely a B cup. They were more like … kiwi fruit. And what exactly was I getting from it?
I decided a flirtatious laugh was my way out of the debacle. Shaking my head, I gave my best attempt. “Maybe, maybe.” I took a step back, deciding tonight was a lost cause, and it would be up to Silver Phoenix take away and a tub of ice cream I had stashed in my freezer to cheer me up. “Good night, Otto.”
He stood, hands going to his pockets and eyes dropping to the ground a moment but not quick enough for me to miss the cringe. He knew it was a bust as much as I did.
“Good night, Izzie, enjoy your meal.”
He turned to leave just as Matt arrived on the landing fresh from his run. He glanced at me, our eyes meeting and he stopped.
Courtesy and a weird and admittedly self-destructive curiosity made me stand my ground.
The two men, eyeing each other like predators, gave each other chin lifts. Otto turned back to me, a more determined expression on his face. “It was great to see you again.”
I smiled, ignoring the holes I could feel Matt’s eyes boring into me. “You too, thanks.” And watched as he skipped down the stairs.
Then I turned back to Matt, who hadn’t watched Otto leave, but who’d stared at me the whole time.
His black running tank stuck to his body, no doubt drenched with sweat from his run, and the matching long running shorts were the same style I’d seen him in once before. Not too short but hitting a few inches above the knee to show off his muscular thighs. He appeared much more relaxed than he had when I’d last seen him this morning. And much more relaxed than I’d imagined he was when he disappeared from his apartment this afternoon. Apparently running was his stress reliever. I wonder if anything else worked as a good stress reliever for him …
Bad Izzie.
I mentally shook myself. It was bad enough I was night dreaming about the man; I didn’t need to add day dreams too. Regardless, I could feel the blush creep it’s way up my neck and to cover I raised a questioning brow. He was staring too.
In response, he lifted one hand in a fist, then curled his lower lip and
began to whistle through his teeth. It started at a high pitch, slowly descending as his fist moved diagonally across his body to his opposite hip where his hand opened, his fingers splaying out as he made the sound of a bomb going off.
“Eavesdropping is a nasty habit,” I replied.
Matt shrugged. “Couldn’t help but hear it as I was walking up the stairs to my home.”
“He was off his game tonight.”
“Really off his game.”
“And you’re such an experienced flirt, you’d know?”
He shrugged again not hiding his smug grin. “If I’m in the mood or the lady so inspires me …” He glanced down the stairs where Otto had disappeared. “I’m pretty sure I could do better than lover boy though.”
“He’s not lover boy,” I scoffed. “His name is Otto, and he delivers for the Silver Phoenix. We flirt a little, that’s all.”
“He wants in your pants.”
My mouth dropped open. Did he just say that? I mean, it’s one thing to bag someone’s flirting skills, and to be fair Otto kind did crash and burn … but so did I. Not that I’d admit it. “He does not.”
Matt nodded once, his hands back in his pockets. “He does. Very much so.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “How would you even know?”
He shook his head slowly. “A man just knows.”
Now it was my turn to look down the stairs where Otto had disappeared. Shit. Was Matt right? Did he really want in my pants? I mean, he was a nice guy, a really nice guy. And he was hot, but I wasn’t attracted to him like that. I eyed the blueberries in my hand. Why had he given me blueberries? We’d been flirting for almost a year during these deliveries. Not to mention if we’d run into each other in town. Were the blueberries a sign he wanted to take things a step further? Oh crap. Maybe it had something to do with his job interviews? Now he knew he was probably able to stay in the country … Had I led him on when I thought we were just having fun? I was such a cow.
“Hey, now.” Matt took a step towards me, his eyes creased with concern. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”