Page 43 of In Too Deep

“Just let him know that you’re there for him,” Caro suggests.

“Am I?”

“You should be. He has no one. And you’re probablythe someonehe needs right now.”

Huffing, I exhale, and step one foot in front of the other, heading toward him. But as I do, Katie embraces him. He hesitates but hugs her back while my chest aches.

“Right, well, he obviously doesn’t miss me too much then,” I huff.

If there’s one thing I don’t want to see, it’s Coby with Katie.

Footsteps follow me, and soon, Caro is by my side. “It’s probably just a friendship thing. News would be travelling about his dad, Lace.”

“Doesn’t matter. He can hug whoever he wants. It’s not like we were ever official or anything.”

Caro sighs and wraps her arm around me as we walk back toward our unit.

Thunderous footsteps from behind make us turn around to see East bounding toward us. He beams as he picks Caro up, spinning her around in a circle. She giggles, and I smile as he leans up and kisses her. “I missed you,” he murmurs against her lips.

She laughs. “Careful… anyone would think you care.”

He pretends to gasp. “Yeah. Nah. Just missed the sweet taste of your puss—”

She presses her lips to his, halting his words—thank God—as I shake my head and chuckle.

“Right, I’m going back to my room. See you in… well, when you come up for air.”

Caro waves at me.

All I can do is roll my eyes and start walking off toward the Village. Some of the other countries are turning up, which is cool, so we can meet our competitors before the actual events take place.

I make it back to the Village alone. The English team arrives, and I’m so excited to meet them all.

Walking in, I catch a girl bossing another around about carrying her bags into the unit. Squishing my brows, I smirk slightly at just how incredibly rude she is. Her overly posh accent gives away that she’s from wealth and isn’t afraid to show it. But I figure I should go and say hi to my neighbour anyway.

“Anna, don’t be so daft. Lift with your knees… not your back, you silly little girl,” she snaps.

Anna picks up the last of the luggage.

Shaking my head slightly, I step up behind her, her short blonde bob framing her perfectly round face beautifully. “Um… hi,” I say.

She slowly turns to face me and curls her lip, eyeing me up and down. “Oh golly, you’re a convict.”

My eyes open wide, and I huff. “Excuse me?”

“You’re Australian, yes?”

“Right?”

“Right, so you’re a convict… below standard. Please remove yourself… you’re blocking my flow of pure oxygen.”

I’ve been called many things in my time, but never a convict. Sure, the first Australians sent from Britain were convicts, but that doesn’t mean we’re all criminals and heathens now.

And I thought Katie was bad!

Turning toward my unit, her screechy voice rings out through the Village. “Anna, get me a non-fat decaf soy latte.”

Anna rushes out of their unit and scurries off.

---