Page 16 of Jump Start

I frowned, both my eyebrows coming together. I caught my reflection in my rear-view mirror. Yep, confused.

“Umm…” I couldn’t string words together.

“How about tonight? You won’t have any food in the house if you’re still driving back. I could bring some takeaway over?”

“You don’t know where I live,” I answered, not acknowledging his invitation.

“I will when you tell me,” he replied, not missing a beat.

I took a moment to consider his invitation. I guessed therewas no harm. I could test a little theory about what his face did to my nerves.

“Fine. I’ll text it to you. If you even so much as breathe in an asshole-y way, I’m kicking you out.” I hung up the phone, best to keep him guessing. As I was still at a standstill, I texted him a time, my address, and the foods I didn’t like, mainly seafood. I had no idea what he was into or what he might bring with him.

Arriving home, I begrudgingly walked up to my apartment with my bags and plonked them just inside my door. I felt instant relief at the sight of my apartment.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about Thomas being in my space, but I changed into some loungewear and tidied up quickly.

Was it anxiety or excitement I was feeling? Only time would tell.

Eight

Thomas

No seafood, she said. That wouldn’t be a problem, since I didn’t like it either. I decided to get Chinese from the best takeaway place I knew in Harper’s suburb. Sometimes, I wished I didn’t have this monstrous ute. These skinny inner-city streets could not handle my big girl.

The smell of the orange chicken and Mongolian lamb filled my nostrils and started to make my mouth water. I also tried not to think about the grease leaking onto my black leather seats.

As I shut the door to my car, juggling the bag of food, I realised the number of her apartment had slipped my mind. That meant I didn’t know how to get into her building. The front door had a silver number pad and a speaker, so naturally, I called her mobile. “How do I get into this bloody building?” I asked, without a hint of sarcasm.

She laughed on the other end. “Press two-two-three. Level twenty-two.”

I had been thinking about her all day, picturing her face looking up at me, those eyes piercing through my brain. I wanted her, bad. I knew that already, but I had been fighting it, arguing inside my mind that she wasn’t the right one for me.

It’s always been you, Harper, I thought.

Suddenly, I was quickening my pace through the foyer of thebuilding, keen to see that smiling face again. After a short lift ride, I was there, knocking on her door, chomping at the bit to get inside and see her.

There was the smile I’d been waiting for.

***

Harper

There were three harsh raps at the door. I turned the doorknob in anticipation, knowing who was on the other side. I couldn’t help but smile at Thomas, and his face lit up in response. He seemed happy, and I wondered if seeing me made him feel that way. If so, it was a feeling I could get used to.

“Hello, Thomas,” I said cheerfully, opening the door wider as he walked into my apartment.

“Harper,” he said as his smile fell into a smirk. He placed the plastic bag of Chinese takeaway on my kitchen bench and laidhis wallet, keys, and phone beside the bag. He then proceeded to check out my apartment.

Next thing I knew, he walked over to me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and pinned me to his side in a half hug, like he’d done on testing day. I noticed he was dressed nicer than usual in navy blue chinos, a white linen shirt, and white Vans.

“Have you just come from somewhere?” I asked, looking his outfit up and down, thoroughly enjoying what I saw.

“Oh yeah, I’ve been at Echidna. We had a team bonding thing today,” he responded, looking me up and down in return, making my face feel hot.

“Oh yeah? Tunnel ball, trust falls, a get in touch with your feelings type thing?” My questions made him laugh as he found a seat on my couch.

“Yes, Echidna are really into trust falls in particular.” Without warning, he reached over, grabbed my hand, and pulled me onto the couch beside him.

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