Page 73 of Toy Boy

15

Xander

Megan’s sister and her husband live in a beautiful, renovated farmhouse in a small, semi-rural village about half an hour’s drive away from Beachcastle Bay. But I suppose having two lawyers in the family means they have the money to splash out on such an incredible home, it really is stunning.

“Russell, can you make sure everyone has a drink?”

Laney’s the epitome of what a perfect dinner party host should be – friendly, welcoming, making sure her guests are being looked after. The food’s pretty decent too, and because the weather is so nice we’re eating outside on their spacious terrace at the top of their huge, sprawling garden surrounded by fruit trees, an assortment of shrubs and bushes, and a cacophony of colourful plants and flowers. Russell’s in charge of the barbecue, although I’m helping, I couldn’t resist. I’ve lived in Australia too long not to know how to barbecue meat and veg to perfection. It’s my thing. Accompanying the meat – chicken, sausages, and pork steaks – is an interesting cous cous salad, which is surprisingly tasty with just a hint of chili and lime, and baked potatoes that were finished off on the grill and filled with butter and cheese. There’s a lemon and lime cheesecake waiting in the fridge for dessert, too, apparently. We’re being spoiled with the food, to be honest.

Megan’s trying to relax, I can see that. She’s kicked off those heels that were making her so uncomfortable, and exchanged them for a pair of flat sandals. Laney’s, obviously. She’s enjoying the food, she’s laughing and chatting away to her sister, she seems comfortable enough, although she was quiet in the taxi on the way here. For some reason she’s worried that the lawyer in Laney will kick in and she’ll start some kind of interrogation; try to weed out every interesting fact, every secret I might be trying to keep, but there’s been no sign of that happening yet. Everyone’s just chilling out and having a good time.

“See? I told you it’d be okay,” I whisper to Megan as Laney goes inside to fetch another bottle of prosecco from the fridge. Russell’s back at the barbecue finishing the last of the chicken thighs and sausages, the garden smells like heaven, and I’m wondering how expensive the cuts of meat we’re enjoying tonight were. I reckon everything’s organic. Free range. I’d put money on that.

“It’s okay because she’s easing you in,” Megan says, leaning into me, her bare shoulder touching mine, and I just want to dip my head and kiss it, but I don’t. She smells amazing, though, her lemon-scented perfume filling the air around us. “Wait ’til she’s had a few more drinks. You think she’s bad sober, you’ve seen nothing when she’s slightly inebriated.”

I take her hand and bring it to my lips, kissing her knuckles, and it makes her smile, which was what I wanted to see. She has a beautiful smile.

“I think you’re worrying over nothing. Besides, she can interrogate me all she likes, I have nothing to hide.”

A slight lie.

“No secrets.”

Another lie.

“Anything she asks me, any question, I’ll answer it.”

“Don’t encourage her.” She smiles again and leans in to drop a quick, light kiss on my lips. “I’m just glad you’re having a good time.”

She lets go of my hand and sets her empty glass down on the table.

“I’m nipping to the loo. I won’t be long.”

I watch her head back inside, the floaty skirt she’s wearing swirling around her legs as she runs up the stone steps that lead into the kitchen.

I sit back and sip my beer; lift a hand to acknowledge Russell’s good work at the grill, and I close my eyes for a second and let the last of the late evening sun wash over my skin, it’s beginning to set now. And the garden is starting to see strings of solar lanterns kick into action.

“So, you’re not sticking around after the summer, then?”

My eyes spring open as Laney plonks herself down in the garden chair Megan’s just vacated, leaning back in it, her legs stretched out in front of her, crossed at the ankles, her fingers interlaced and resting on her stomach, her eyes fixed on mine.

“Well, it was never my plan to stick around. Ray’s coming back in a few weeks’ time, and I’m only really here to look after the shop, it was never meant to be permanent. I have a life and a job waiting for me back in Australia.”

She leaves a couple of beats before she responds to that. “So, you and Megan, it really is just some – what? Holiday romance?”

I smile and drop my head, shaking it slightly. “I wouldn’t put it quite like that.”

“What would you put it like, then?”

Okay. Maybe Megan was right. Laney’s line of questioning is certainly pulling no punches.

I raise my head and my eyes meet hers, a slow smile forming on her face. “I’m sorry, Xander, I didn’t mean this to sound like an interrogation, I just…” She sits up, crosses her legs, and leans forward, wrapping her hands around her knees. “I love my sister. And you’re the first man she’s shown even the slightest bit of interest in since Scott, and I know that neither of you are looking for anything serious, but… Don’t hurt her. Please. She doesn’t deserve that.”

Those words cut through me like a knife, I don’t want to hurt Megan. I don’t.

But I might…

“I know. And I care about her, too, Laney.”

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