Page 5 of One Weekend in Sydney

Kelly raises her hand. “Do you mind if I ask for a clarification?”

“Sure,” I say.

“When you say that Mason is the kind of man you’d hate to date, you don’t mean how he looks, right? Because, let’s face it, the guy is a total hunk.”

“He is a total hunk,” I agree with a chuckle. “But you know what? I’m not fussed about looks anymore. As long as the guy is decent and honest, I’d go out with him.”

“Says the woman who’s been single for four years,” Odette teases. “You’re really quite picky. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

“Well,” Kelly interjects, “considering that the people she’ll meet tonight will be wearing masks, it’s a good thing she’s not fussed about looks.”

We all laugh.

“Speaking of meeting people,” I say, “I’m thinking of introducing myself as Juliet instead of Tara. That’s my middle name,” I inform Kelly and Anne.

Odette snickers before catching herself.

“What?” I ask. “You don’t think I should use any of my real names?”

“No, no. It’s a great idea. And you should get going. The queue might be long for your boat, too.”

“Enjoy yourselfto the fullest,” says Kelly meaningfully.

“Yes! Have lots of fun,” Anne says.

I grin. “Thank you, girls. Can’t wait to hear all about the strippers tomorrow morning. And you behave yourself,” I teasingly tell Odette, pointing a forefinger at her.

Odette snorts. “You know I’ll be all look and no touch. I’m too in love with my fiancé to do anything else. Besides, I’m more looking forward to watching my single friends go wild over the Wild Boys.” She wags her brows at Kelly and Anne.

“You girls won’t be back at the hotel until the wee hours of the morning, right?” I ask.

Kelly wags a finger at me. “I hope that will be the case for you, too.”

Laughing, I wave goodbye as I hurry away.

I don’t know what compels me to look behind, but I find myself twisting my torso and casting a glance back. My gaze lands right smack on none other than Mason.

And he’s staring at me.

I hurriedly face forward again, almost losing my footing from my whiplash-like reaction.

Why he still affects me so much after ten years, I have no clue. It’s not as if I’m not a forgiving person. I’m not someone to hold a grudge, especially after such a long period…

I shake my head. Despite the passage of time, I’m still very hurt by what he did. And I took his departure from our hometown—without a single word to me—as him never ever wanting to make things right between us.

I guess I should have processed and resolved my feelings ages ago, but because he left Moonstruck Cove, I just decided to bury them deep inside my chest. Looks like they’re still festering in there.

Mason was my first—and, so far, only—love.

And he never said sorry for shattering my heart into pieces.

ChapterThree

MASON

“Mason!” Odette calls from somewhere near me.

I hear her, but my gaze is firmly trained on Tara walking off. I can’t seem to take my eyes off her.

---