Page 9 of Set Me On Fire

He never spoke to me again, not even when I approached him in the hallway, the whole school looking on. He just shook his head and turned away, leaving me to stand there and bear the burden of people’s snickers and whispered comments.

I shouldn’t remember that so vividly, I knew that. It was ten years ago and time heals all wounds, yet somehow mine was still festering.

But maybe not for much longer.

“I knowyou hate dressing up and well, dresses of any kind, but I need you to come over and make suitably impressed sounds as I try to find the best revenge outfit in my wardrobe,” I informed my best friend.

“You’re going to stalk into the workplace of that freaking weirdo that tried to get you to not wear makeup on the first date?” she asked, instantly warming to the idea. “Or the guy who started walking you into the restaurant and then backed out and said he couldn’t do this?”

Ouch, that was the problem. I wanted to say that I got a whole lot better at choosing men after the whole Noah thing, but nope. The guy jinxed me.

I thought I’d be married now, have a couple of kids and be living in a house much like my mum and dad’s. I’d bring the grandkids over and my parents would spoil them rotten, giving me a break. I’d sit side by side with a man who looked at me like my dad did Mum, and he’d love me for the rest of my life. Instead of Prince Charming, I just kept finding toads.

“None of them. Someone worse.”

My voice wavered, threatening to crack, because it all wanted to come out. I didn’t think of Noah each time I dated someone new, didn’t moan his name when I came. I didn’t even dream of him when I slept. I rarely thought of him at all, except those quiet times between sleep and awake, when my defences were down. Inside my head, I kissed him that night, making the first move, claiming him and the connection I was so sure was real. We’d have broken up a month later, like so many of my friends at school did, but then I’d know.

What it was like to feel his mouth on mine, his hand in my hair.

Or was it Knox’s? Or Charlie’s? Felicity’s suggestion ran through my head now, unable to be pushed away by busy work, because tonight was the night of the Christmas party, and I was about to get into the spirit by giving myself the gift of revenge.

If Noah was going to have the bad taste of growing up and getting hot, well with the help of Spanx, a contour game that could put a Kardashian to shame, and a very cute dress, I wasgoing to give myself the gift of closure. Hopefully with Noah’s tongue lolling out of his mouth like one of those cartoon wolves.

“Who?” Jamie asked, sensing a story.

“Just get your arse over here and grab a bottle of wine on the way. I think I’m going to need some liquid courage for this.”

“On my way,” she said.

Chapter 6

Knox

“Hey…” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as Charlie sidled up the day of the party. We were having a slack one, transforming the conference room into a Christmas wonderland, and of course he decided that meant we had time to stand around and talk shit. “About tonight?”

“If you’re a very good boy and leave biscuits and a beer out for Santa, you might find a present under the tree for you,” I replied.

Charlie took in my even stare and then forged on, completely unfazed.

“So I was thinking we could work together to get Noah the best present ever.” I was thinking it wasn’t socks or jocks, but I stood up and crossed my arms, waiting for his explanation. “Millie. That Millie, she’stheMillie.”

“She’s the only woman I know by that name,” I replied, but I was just being painful. I knew. We’d all heard Noah talk about Amelia McDonald when his defences were down. He hadn’t looked at another woman once, despite some badge bunnies trying real hard to catch his eye.

“Woman of his dreams?” Charlie shook his head at me. “The one he’s been pining for all this time? Pretty sure he bulked up and joined the fire department to impress her.”

But he didn’t, I wanted to snap. Ten years ago he had Millie in his arms and he could’ve sealed the deal any time between now and then. I saw the hurt in her eyes, the wariness, and I’d been short with Noah since, because every time I talked to the bloke I’d grown to rely on, I saw her. Part of me wanted to thump my fists on my chest, say I would be the best guy for her, but I didn’t, because that’s not what mates did. Friendship was so fundamental to Australian culture a prime minister threatened to add mateship to the constitution, and I needed to be a good friend right now.

“OK, what’re you thinking?”

Charlie used that megawatt smile that had kids grinning and their mums flushing.

“Noah obviously doesn’t have the stones to make a move, so we… help him. I haven’t met a guy that needs a wingman more. Well.” His grin widened. “Except for you.”

“Keep talking like that, Blisters, and you’re on your own,” I growled.

Charlie said he earned himself that nickname because he burned his hands pretty badly during training, but really it was because he only came out once the work was done.

“OK, OK, maybe we need to work on getting you a woman too. Might improve your mood if you went on a date with someone other than Mrs. Palmer and her five daughters.” He wriggled his hand and I just stared. “So we need to talk Noah up, make sure Millie knows just how good a firefighter he is.”

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