Page 57 of Endgame

‘I hope those two get it together. How they haven’t already is beyond me.’

‘Honey has a lot to lose and Lara doesn’t. I can see why Honey is being particularly cautious, especially in her…cultural climate.’

‘She could at the very least tell her.’

‘Have you met my best friend, Lara? She’ll have Honey convinced that it’s fine to sing it from the rooftops. Singing it, however, could cost her more than her livelihood, belts and endorsements. Honey needs time and space to adjust – if she wants to…’

‘I’m not sure I can take much more of the fake-boyfriend thing, Aari. I’m getting to a place where?—’

The villa bell chimes.

‘I’ll get it.’

I open the door to my tittering waitress, who is carrying a platter of food enough to feed ten. She has also recruited a friend to bring over some cutlery, crockery, water, sake and red wine. I let them set up on the coffee table and, when they are done, I tip them heavily. The look of surprise and gratitude on Ariella’s face makes me feel like I’ve done a good job. Yes. That look is exactly what I was hoping for.

‘You can never eat at these things and it wouldn’t surprise me if room service has been shut down for the night, so…’

‘Thank you, Caleb, I’m starving.’

She lifts two plates from the stack and pairs each of them with chopsticks and a napkin before she invites me to dip in first.

‘Nah, I might have a nibble but I stuffed my face tonight. Especially with those.’ I point to a mini platter of smoked beetroot tarts and she dives in immediately.

‘Sake or red?’ I ask, pouring us both some water.

‘I’m a little warm, so water is great, but if you pick I’ll join you?’

I put the sake in the fridge to cool for tomorrow and open the red. When she is comfortable and eating, I dive in.

‘So how are you surviving Samir?’

‘Well, he keeps me busy. I’m learning a lot from him and it’s all useful, but I can’t wait to leave Singapore.’

‘I’m on the same page, Aari. I’m doing my time and then I’m out too.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. Really,’ I confirm.

‘What are you going to do afterwards?’

‘I haven’t really thought about that. I suppose I might be stuck too. I miss teaching the boys but Phillip does a much better job. Maybe I could go back to supporting him in some capacity?’

‘You could, and you’d love it.’

‘We should have more conversations like this. It’s nice to know what you’re thinking.’ I poke her in the ribs, making her jump.

‘We should. You’re doing so well, Caleb. I thought you’d want to stay.’

‘I can’t wait to leave, but I’m not going without you, Aari. Whenever and wherever you’re going, I’m coming too. It’s that simple for m?—’

Ariella’s mouth is on mine and she is climbing on top of me before I finish. She just fits. My mouth opens up to receive her while my tongue searches hungrily for hers. I inhale her exhales as she does mine, and nothing else matters.

‘I forgive you, Caleb,’ she whispers. ‘Do you forgive me?’

She places her open mouth on mine once again as she grinds down on me. How could I not? This is not going to end with me being decent. I’m past that point.

‘Ariella Mason, I am going to take your clothes off and?—’

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