Page 23 of Jump Start

“My music taste is superior,” he replied. “Get on board, girl.”

I think I want to, I thought.

Sure enough, his music started blasting out of a speaker that was sitting inside his lounge room. Thomas started to dance around with tongs in his hands. I wasn’t quite sure what I was witnessing but I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re an idiot,” I laughed, and I took another sip of beer. I smiled as he walked over to me and planted the softest kiss on my lips before returning to the grill. That stopped me laughing in my tracks. He was trying to show me his softer side, and all I needed to do was enjoy it.

“Are you secretly a dork?” I asked as the dancing slowed down. His face relaxed into a smile, as he continued to tend to the barbecue.

“I wouldn’t say secretly.”

Suddenly, a sausage caught fire causing him to freak out momentarily.

“Shit!” I instinctively stood back and watched him as he turned the heat down and salvaged the sausage, mostly.

“Must have been some old oil. You know, I have no idea when I used this last,” he said casually as he motioned towards the grill with his tongs.

I laughed and perched on a chair beside the barbecue, the beer swinging between my thumb and index finger.

“So, what’s next for Harper Allenwright?” Thomas asked as the excitement of the burnt sausage simmered down.

I took a moment before answering.

“Hmm, well I guess I’ll go back to writing pieces about politicians and investment trends.” Thomas rolled his eyes.

“I know, must sound boring to someone who literally flies around a racetrack in a rocket.” He leant in a little closer to me.

“Well, the F1 guys are in a rocket, GT is a few ticks slower.”

I nodded in agreement, even though I didn’t understand the difference.Yet. The conversation fell short for a few moments.

“Are there many people your age at theDaily?” Thomas asked. I felt grateful that he was making an effort to keep the conversation going.

“It’s a mixed bag. I have one friend, Meredith, who writes the lifestyle pieces. She’s nice, but I wouldn’t say we’re particularly close.” I took a quick sip of beer as I noticed it was starting to get warm. I couldn’t remember the last time I drank beer.

“Yeah, I guess I’m lucky Echidna feels like my second family, sometimes my first, really.”

I nodded; I understood the feeling of loneliness.

“I know. You truly are lucky. With my dad in the Army, we moved around so often, I guess I just found it easier to learn how to be by myself and how to enjoy it. Every time I would get close to someone or have a small group of friends, we would move. It got to a point where I didn’t even try anymore.” I felt my face fall, thinking of all the friends I purposely lost touch with to save myself the pain of saying goodbye.

Thomas reached his hand out and placed it over mine, a small smile on his lips.

“That can’t have been easy, I’m sorry.” His sincerity was so genuine that I instinctively stood up and wrapped my arms around him. He didn’t resist, but he did rest his chin on my head.

I didn’t want this little moment to end between us. We were making a connection, getting to know each other on a new level.

“Well, I better finish up or we might be having toast forlunch,” he spoke, his voice vibrating against my cheek. My face was still pressed against his chest.

I reluctantly pulled myself away from him, and he smiled at me warmly.

Damn.

***

Lunch was delicious and I was definitely impressed by his barbecuing skills. We sat at his outdoor table together, not particularly talking a lot but finding new ways to touch each other more. He would hold my hand as I ate or brush the hair from my face. It felt nice. I had to keep reminding myself that moments like this with Thomas needed to be cherished, saved in a little part of my mind that could savour them for later when I was alone.

“How about the rest of the house tour?” Thomas asked as we finished up our lunch.

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