Page 72 of That Island Feeling

‘As if you can wait.’

‘Try me.’

I last less than two minutes before I move between her legs.

It feels like a fucking movie as she lies in my arms afterwards watching the rain come down outside. The light pitter-patter on the tin roof. Crumbs on my pillow. A smile of yolk still dancing at the edges of her lips. I want to press pause and stay in this moment forever.

‘What film is this?’ I murmur into her hair.

‘Mm, let me think,’ Andie sighs, voice dreamy.

I close my eyes, ready to be charmed by some Andinese.

‘Ah! It’s Godzilla,’ she cries.

Not the movie I was expecting, and the alarmed tone is also a surprise. My eyes snap open to find Izzie rummaging through our shucked clothes.

I chuckle. ‘Andie, meet the other woman in my life, Izzie. The friendly neighbourhood water dragon.’

Andie sits up, pulling the sheet around her and casting a wary glance at Izzie.

‘There is no way that’s not a dinosaur,’ she breathes.

‘Haven’t you ever seen a lizard?’

‘Our class pet is an axolotl, I’ll have you know.’

‘So, a salamander, not a lizard,’ I reply, amused.

‘It’s lizard-like,’ she huffs.

‘But I take it you’re not a fan of said class pet.’

She pushes her fingers up into her curls and lets out a long breath.

‘Greg. And no, I’m not. I make the five-year-olds deal with him. Feed him his gross wormy stuff. They’re far braver than I am.’

I can’t help laughing again, and she screws her mouth into a tight line. If looks could kill! ‘So tell me – who would you prefer to encounter on a dark night: Izzie, Greg, Woof or Freddy Krueger?’ I ask bravely.

‘Freddy. Hands down,’ she says, her eyes fixed on Izzie, who has made a makeshift nest out of our clothes and is inspecting Andie’s bra, seemingly assessing whether the lace meets nest-building standards.

‘Right, that’s enough,’ I say to Izzie, springing out of bed to usher her out into the storm and closing the door behind her.

Thankfully, there are plenty of sheltered places for her to seek refuge. I briefly consider warning Andie about the possibility of Izzie making her way to Moorings, then decide against it. Explaining the reason would be too complicated.

Dating rule number five: Don’t share too much, too soon.

‘I’d love to hear more about your teaching job,’ I say instead, sliding back under the sheets beside her. The rain has brought a welcome cool change. As sexy as it was to be all matted hair and sweaty stickiness, there’s an indescribable comfort in being wrapped in this cosy cocoon with her.

Andie yawns and burrows further under the doona. ‘Do you mind if I rest my eyes for a bit first?’

‘Not at all.’

Before long she drifts off, her light snores keeping time with the tap of raindrops against the window. Eventually, I also succumb to sleep.

Some time later, I wake to the sound of Andie tiptoeing across the room.

‘Sorry,’ she whispers. ‘I was trying to be quiet.’ She’s already dressed, sandals in one hand and the bunch of lilies in the other. ‘The rain’s stopped. I should get back to the house.’

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