Page 76 of Lime Tree Hill

She took a seat across from him and inhaled. “Yum. I’m so hungry.”

“You start. I’ll grab the wine.”

They ate between sporadic conversation for the first half of the meal, but as the wine warmed his blood, Mitch asked, “How come you never had a boyfriend before Hayden?”

Tayla shrugged and finished chewing. “I was too shy to approach guys, and worse on the odd occasion one approached me. The longer I stayed single, the more it became the norm. Boys never sat next to me in class, or gave me their hoodie, or asked me out. I didn’t ride around in cars or live at the beach all summer. I read, worked at the supermarket, and hung out with Tim.” Tayla smiled at the recollection. “I guess you gave your hoodies to lots of girls.”

“Nope, I never even knew that was a thing.”

“Really? I had this friend, Ava. She was sweet and popular, but she lost her virginity to an older guy with a Harley when she was barely sixteen. She wore his hoodie to bed every night in the winter. He’d drop her off at school on his way to work. I was soenvious. I went through a phase of wanting a boyfriend with a Harley too, even had a poster of a guy on a Harley on my bedroom wall.”

“And what happened to Ava?”

“They got married and moved to Western Australia after she fell pregnant at eighteen. I remember one day at school, she told me about their sex life. I spent the entire lunch hour with my eyes as wide open as my mouth.” Tayla chuckled. “Apparently he was quite the lover. We still keep in touch.”

“Do you ever feel you missed out?” Mitch served himself another slice of pie.

“Not really. I may have been painfully shy, but I was content. Some of my friends had no interests apart from boys and makeup and clothes. I found it rather shallow. But then, Lisa didn’t call me ‘Tayla Superior’ for nothing.”

Mitch chuckled. “Do you get on with your sisters?”

“Mostly. Ruby’s hilarious; she always makes me laugh. Lisa can be a tad judgmental. She told me I was mega-selfish for marrying you.”

“Yes, you said that.” He frowned. “Did it upset you?”

“No. It’s just the way she is. She doesn’t ask for details, just jumps to conclusions.”

“And would you tell her the reason if she asked?”

“Probably not.” Tayla reached for another helping of salad. “She loves to gossip. Not maliciously, but if she knew, so would everyone else on the planet.”

Mitch topped up her glass, and then his own. “I have a motorcycle.”

“What?” Her eyes widened. “You do not.”

“I do. A Ducati. It’s over in the shed by Ned’s place, currently in pieces while I wait for a part.”

“Will you take me for a ride when it’s back together? I’ve never been on a motorcycle.”

Mitch leaned over the table and kissed her. “I’d love to.”

Dinner over, he picked up her book, removed the bookmark, and started to read aloud.

34

ELLA STONE

Until now,Tayla had never fully understood the power of anticipation. Sure, she’d anticipated events in the past, many times. But the expectancy of what was soon to happen in the bedroom above the packing shed clouded her thoughts, making everything else pale into insignificance.

During the days following ‘Showergate,’ Tayla walked the beach every afternoon after work. Sometimes she’d hitch her dress up so she could wade into the cool surf, each time willing herself to take those few extra steps. But no matter how hard she tried to distract herself, thoughts of Mitch—his smell, his touch, his taste—were ever-present.

And now, it was Wednesday. With Mitch away for poker night, Tayla called Tim to ask if he’d meet her at the Surf Life Saving Club around five.

He arrived a few minutes after her, already wearing board shorts and a rash top. “So we’re going for a swim?” Tim said as he opened the car door for her. “You do realize it’s still winter?”

“But it’s been such a beautiful day. The water can’t be that cold.”

“Did you bring a wetsuit?”

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