Lovestruck

by Bronwyn Sell

  ‘What? What time was that?’

  Amy’s face lit up, which was a sight to see. ‘Gotcha. Blimey, Hazza. I totally made that up. What were you getting up to at the homestead this morning with Sophia and the wine and the beer?’

  ‘Is that why you were late for lunch?’ Carmen said.

  Cody lost interest in the platter. ‘Bro, when you said you needed to fiddle with the plumbing, I thought you meant the house.’

  ‘Whatever this conversation is, I want in.’ Lena plonked down beside Amy, forcing Amy to nudge her chair right up against Josh’s. Man. It was like that magnet thing that Rosa was talking about. They just kept snapping together, whether they wanted to or not.

  Cody reached over Carmen and grabbed a piece of calamari, earning a slap on his hand. ‘Hazza finally found the balls to consummate the jilted bride’s honeymoon.’

  ‘Her name is Sophia,’ Harry said through gritted teeth.

  Well, well. Josh knew a guilty conscience when he saw one.

  ‘Yasss!’ Lena said, with a fist-pump. ‘I’m fully taking the credit. It’s exactly what I told Nan would happen if we—’

  ‘Told me what?’ Nan had materialised behind Harry.

  ‘Gold,’ Josh muttered under his breath. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. This family was everything, and he wanted in. Not just an insta-family but an insta-family tree.

  ‘It worked, Nan,’ Lena said. ‘Harry’s getting it on with the jilted bride.’

  Harry planted his palms on the table like he needed it for balance. ‘What worked?’

  ‘Oh, come on, Hazza,’ Lena said, leaning forward. ‘You know nothing happens on the island without Nan’s sixth sense lighting up.’

  Josh automatically looked at Amy. She elbowed him and he quickly looked back across the table, straight at Carmen, who gave a knowing smile right back, her focus dropping to where Amy’s elbow had connected. Way to make it obvious. He checked the other faces but all eyes were angled toward Harry, mercifully.

  Nan patted Harry’s shoulders. ‘That’s my favourite grandchild,’ she said, to protests from the others. ‘You had me worried when you ran away.’

  ‘I didn’t run—’

  ‘Onya, bro,’ Cody said. ‘Didn’t think you had it in you.’

  Harry stood abruptly, forcing Nan to rear back. ‘Sorry, Nan,’ he said, spinning and catching her. ‘Have my seat. You know what? I’m done here. Carmen, you can do my toast tonight, seeing as you rewrote the whole thing.’ His footsteps retreated toward the deck, and silence fell like a lead weight. Everyone stared at their plates or each other.

  Josh winced. He’d been enjoying the roasting as much as anyone. And it could so easily have been directed at him and Amy, which wouldn’t have been funny at all.

  ‘Oh, balls,’ Lena said eventually.

  27

  Amy stood. ‘I’ll go talk to Harry.’

  Josh wiped his hands on a napkin and stood too. ‘You want me to …’ To what? Go with her, like that would help? Amy’s eyes widened in warning. He was behaving like an overly attentive boyfriend, with everyone watching. ‘To … get that drink you said you wanted? I’m just going to the bar.’

  Her shoulders relaxed. ‘I’m good, thanks.’ Her mouth snagged on a grin. ‘But I’m sure everyone else is due a top-up.’

  ‘Bourbon and cola,’ Lena called.

  Josh bit down on his gums. He deserved that.

  ‘I’m outta here too,’ Cody said, looking at his watch and standing. ‘Aims, give me a few minutes to talk to Houdini? Then you can drag him back in.’

  ‘You’re going to give him a pep talk?’

  ‘I know my brother better than you think, and I know when he’s being a stubborn arse.’

  ‘Mum and I will have a bottle of chardonnay,’ Carmen said to Josh, her chin raised in a challenge. Blackmail now? All good, he’d pay a steep ransom to avoid the attention Harry had got. How much did Carmen know? She must have kept her mouth shut so far, otherwise it would definitely have come up in family conversation. He didn’t know her well enough to trust it would stay that way.

  And he knew Amy well enough to want to jump into bed with her? Not that he had to know a woman well for that. It was usually better when he didn’t.

  ‘Any particular wine?’ he said.

  ‘Cloudburst.’

  Rosa loudly sucked in a breath. ‘A house wine will do fine.’ She shot Carmen a curious look.

  ‘It’s cool,’ Josh said lightly, aware that Lena and Nan were paying close attention. ‘It’s not every day your dads get married.’ He felt a slap on his shoulder and started. ‘And speaking of,’ he said, turning. ‘Hey, Sanjay.’

  ‘All good?’

  ‘Josh was just buying a round for the table,’ Carmen said.

  ‘He was?’

  ‘It’s my turn,’ Josh said.

  Sanjay nodded. When Josh had finished taking orders, Sanjay offered to help him carry it all. ‘Haven’t seen much of you this week,’ he said as they walked to the bar.

  ‘I know. I’ve been bonding with the family. Seeing the island, going to beaches and stuff. With everyone.’ He couldn’t tell Sanjay about the dancing and he didn’t want to bring up Amy, which cut down the conversation options, as those were the two things that had occupied most of his time and thoughts. ‘You guys all ready for tomorrow?’

  ‘I was ready months ago, but it’s turned into more of a circus than I’d bargained for. I figured we’d stand on the beach for five minutes and it’d be done. But Carmen’s arranged everything short of a twenty-one-gun salute and a flyover, though with the military base, I wouldn’t rule it out. Not that I’m complaining. I respect that she wants to make her dad happy.’ Just before they reached the bar, Sanjay grabbed Josh’s elbow and pulled him aside. ‘Is Amy okay? She looked upset when I got to the table. Nothing to do with you, I hope?’

  ‘Of course not. She’s worried about Harry. He’s going through something.’

  Sanjay looked at him the way Sanjay always looked when he was assessing if Josh was telling the truth.

  ‘Ask anyone at the table,’ Josh said. Totally the words of an innocent person.

  ‘I don’t have to. Because I know you wouldn’t do that to me. Or Geoff. Or her.’

  ‘Do what, Pa?’

  ‘I can’t help thinking back to Gina Campbell.’

  ‘Gina? That was years ago. We must have been, what, nineteen?’

  ‘Yes, but her parents are still my neighbours, and they still refuse to talk to me, and make a point of calling the council and complaining about the noise if we as much as turn on the TV.’

  ‘They need to let that go. So do you.’

  ‘She still lives at home with them.’

  ‘Not my fault.’

  ‘Like it wasn’t your fault with Kelsey Gage? We never got invited camping with them again. And how about that poor woman you introduced me to at your thirtieth in Perth and ditched before the cake came out? And then there was—’

  ‘Thanks, Sanjay, but I’m familiar with my history. There’s nothing to worry about with Amy.’ Which was neither a denial nor a lie.

  Sanjay tilted his head. ‘I just found out from her aunt that you’re sharing a room. Apparently, you didn’t want me to know this.’

  Shit. ‘Because I knew you’d get the wrong idea. And it’s an apartment, not a room. Look, nothing’s happening, and can we please leave it at that? I haven’t even been hanging out with her all that much, not alone. The whole family’s usually there. I reckon I’ve spent more time making sand tunnels with Mika. And I didn’t get much of a choice in the sleeping arrangements—room arrangements. That was Viggo and Rosa’s idea, and I wasn’t about to get in their way just because my dad has a suspicious mind. I’m just trying to keep everyone happy here, including you. Especially you.’ He was almost convincing himself he was the innocent, aggrieved party. ‘Amy and I hardly see each other. I’m up late at nights and she’s up at the crack of dawn every day.’

  �
�The crack of dawn? Amy Lowery is up at the crack of dawn?’

  ‘Yeah. Yoga and laps in the pool and whatever. And you know me—I don’t get warmed up until midnight.’

  ‘That girl is famous for loving her sleep. Almost as much as she likes windsurfing.’

  Huh. ‘Stop looking at me like I’m doing something wrong. I want this to work out as much as you do. You have no idea.’

  Sanjay studied him for a full ten seconds. ‘I do know, Joshie,’ he said, relenting. ‘I know what you’ve missed out on all these years, what your mum and I were never able to give you. And of course I trust you. You wouldn’t do anything to mess things up when we’ve finally found a place we can belong—all of us.’

  Josh swallowed. His throat felt swollen. ‘I won’t, Sanjay.’ And he’d better make that the truth.

  ‘You always were the kid stuck in the middle, trying to make everything right. And I want everything to be perfect for us too.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘And for your mother. I’m hoping …’ He looked at a spot over Josh’s shoulder for so long, Josh had to check Pippa wasn’t standing behind him.

  ‘Hoping?’ Josh prompted.

  Sanjay rubbed his hands together. ‘Let’s get those drinks. But they’re going on my tab.’

  ‘I know I’m in the public service, but I can afford this.’

  ‘Son, you’re my personal contribution to society. You go out and save lives, and I get to feel good about bringing you into the world. You wouldn’t rob me of the chance to support you and thus boost my karma, would you?’

  ‘Sanjay, no.’

  ‘Take my money for once. I respect that you want to stand on your own two feet, and you always have, but I couldn’t have set up my business if my dad hadn’t provided seed money. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You don’t have to prove anything. I know you’re not interested in me for my money.’

  ‘You think I could afford to stay here if you weren’t paying?’

  ‘It’s not costing all that much. The resort is giving us an absurdly good discount on the accommodation, so I’m trying to spend as much over the bar as possible. So, please.’

  ‘Yeah, whatever. Thanks.’ Josh would object but he suspected Carmen’s drink order would push his credit card over the limit, and he didn’t want to dip into the bond money he’d saved for a flat—the flat he was supposed to be sharing with Amy.

  He glanced at the table, where Amy was playing stone families with her niece. Just how much was he prepared to mess up for a chance to get into her bed for a night or two?

  By the time they returned to the table, it had filled up, along with the restaurant. It was like the entire suburb of Hawthorn, Melbourne had gone on tour, with more to come on the morning boat. The deck tables had been reserved for the few guests not here for the wedding. Carmen went pale when Josh planted an ice bucket in front of her. ‘I was joking about the wine,’ she whispered. ‘I thought you’d see the price tag and laugh.’ She went to get up. ‘I’ll refund you.’

  Josh laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘Don’t stress, sis. It’s already open. Sanjay’s insisting on paying for pretty much everything on this holiday.’ He shrugged, as if to say, So let me get this.

  ‘Lucky you,’ Amy said as he sat beside her. ‘Not that I’m paying for it either, but it must be …’

  ‘Must be?’ Josh said. Sanjay continued on down the table, fortunately. The noise had amplified, giving their conversation a veil of privacy.

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘No, go on, finish your sentence.’

  ‘I was just going to say that it must be a relief knowing you can lean on your dad. You know, if anything goes wrong.’

  ‘He’ll give you money, if you need it, seeing as you’re about to be his kid too.’ Josh sure had a talent punishing himself with all these references to him and Amy being family. ‘He loves giving money away.’

  ‘No, I’d never take money from my stepfather.’ She sounded horrified. ‘I mean it’s nice to think that Dad’s going to be okay, financially, but …’

  ‘Then you’ll understand why I never take money.’

  ‘Never?’

  ‘Never,’ he said, looking at the bottle of wine.

  ‘But you know it’s there, right? That must take away any anxiety about your future.’

  ‘How so?’ he prodded, knowing where this was going and hating himself for not steering it away. But Sanjay had given him the solution. The you’re-only-with-me-for-my-dad’s-money argument never failed to work as an out, like with Gina and Kelsey and that woman at his thirtieth, whatever her name was, though he was pretty sure it’d been true. And he needed an out. He was getting in way too deep way too fast.

  ‘Well, he’s worth, what, twenty mill? And you’re his only child.’ She spoke with that cautious, even tone you took with people when you weren’t sure they were following your train of thought but were reluctant to insult their intelligence by stating the obvious, ‘and I’m guessing you’re his sole heir.’

  ‘You’ve done your research.’ He deliberately let the flint strike his voice.

  ‘I guess I heard it mentioned somewhere. Are you trying to insinuate something?’

  ‘I could ask you the same thing.’

  ‘Josh,’ she said after a pause, ‘did something happen with your dad just now? You don’t seem like yourself.’

  ‘This has nothing to do with my father. And how would you know what I’m like? You’ve only known me a few days.’

  Another pause. ‘You’re being weird. Are you picking a fight with me?’

  ‘Of course not,’ he said. Shit, she’d called him on that quickly. It was exactly what he was doing. And why was he trying to put her off him anyway? He still wanted her as a sister, if nothing more.

  She stood. ‘I need to go and find Harry.’

  She paused, like she was waiting for him to say something, to smooth things over after being such a jerk. He concentrated on pouring Carmen a wine, and eventually Amy walked away. So that hadn’t quite worked in the way he’d intended, but maybe sabotaging this attraction in any way possible wasn’t such a bad idea. Lose a battle to win the war.

  Trip Review: Curlew Bay

  Rating:

  Review: Too many women walking around in bikinis. My husband spent all day staring at them.

  28

  Harry

  Harry sat on the corner of the yoga deck, the soles of his feet brushing the sand. A fat cloud was rolling in from the horizon, snuffing out the stars into a charcoal smudge. It’d be raining in exactly twelve minutes.

  Why did he let them get to him? Carmen would always be Carmen, Nan would always be Nan, Lena would always be Lena, and Cody, unfortunately, would always be Cody. Why be surprised when they reverted to type?

  ‘How was the pep talk, Harry?’

  He turned his head. Amy was walking up the beach, shoes in hand. And Amy would always be Amy, fortunately.

  ‘The what?’ he said.

  ‘Cody said he was going to give you a pep talk.’

  Harry glanced in the direction of the helipad, where Cody had headed after a brief and baffling exchange of words. ‘That’s what that was?’

  ‘You all good, big cuz?’ she said, stopping just short of him and throwing her shoes onto the platform. ‘Not like you to …’ She gestured toward the pavilion. To throw a tantrum?

  ‘Apart from being a chauvinist, I’m great.’

  She tilted her head. ‘Was that his pep talk? He called you a chauvinist?’

  ‘Again. Ironic, huh?’

  ‘And a little harsh.’

  ‘Only a little?’

  Her nose screwed up, just visible in the dim garden lighting.

  ‘Aims, don’t tell me you agree?’

  She crossed her arms, jamming her lips together. She had to think about it? ‘You’re a gentleman, I guess.’

  ‘Bloody hell, really?’

  She laughed. ‘I mean, maybe you’re a bit old-school about dating and stuff, but not in a bad way.’


  ‘Just because I’m not juggling five different internet dating profiles.’

  ‘Well, old-school compared with Cody, who is possibly too, er, twenty-first century. But you’re a woke old-school. Anyway, since when did you care what Cody says? He also calls you “dugong dick”. I don’t know why.’

  ‘Cody’s never needed a reason.’

  She pulled herself up to sit beside him, also facing the water, swinging her legs. ‘You do like to be the hero, but that’s not a bad thing, necessarily.’

  ‘Necessarily?’

  ‘It’s your patriarch complex. You’re like a father figure. You’ve always looked out for all of us. I like that, but Cody? Not so much.’

  ‘Is this you trying to make me feel better? You’re making it sound like I should be smoking roll-ups with Reg.’

  ‘You’re like everyone’s big brother. You care. You’ve been looking out for me since I was in nappies. But yeah, maybe sometimes that makes you seem a little …’

  ‘A little?’

  She grimaced.

  ‘You’re killing me here, cuz.’

  ‘Well, a little …’

  ‘Shoot me now.’

  ‘Shut up!’ She whacked his shoulder. ‘I don’t know what I’m saying yet. I guess you can be a bit black-and-white. You see this clear solution to a problem and maybe assume that it’s one size fits all, that it’s the only solution. Does that make sense? Not sure what you want to hear, or why.’ She deepened her tone. ‘Or maybe I do know why?’

  Harry huffed. ‘Cody reckons he treats women better than I do because he respects that they know what they want, and he says I need to get over myself and not think I need to propose to every woman I do a double take at.’

  Amy made a suffocated noise.

  ‘Was that a scoff?’ he said.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You just scoffed. At Cody or me?’

  ‘Look,’ she said, shuffling to sit cross-legged, facing him, flattening her puffy skirt, ‘from what I see, both of you treat women well.’ She looked up at the palm tree above his right shoulder. ‘In different ways. You could probably both learn something from the other one. Is this where we acknowledge that we’re talking about Sophia? I’m guessing it’s not about Katie.’