Page 30 of Ticket Out

He stepped into the light, and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.

His accent was Australian. Dominique was right about Earl’s Court.

“No, thanks, mate. Just getting the bus.” She kept walking.

“Oh?”

He swung into step with her, and she wondered how worried she should be.

“I’ll walk you to your stop.”

“Why?” she asked bluntly.

He gave a shrug. “Bored. My girl left the club early, and I don’t feel like going home just yet. Plus, I’m always happy to escort a fellow countrywoman safely to her bus stop.” He put out his hand. “Tony.”

“Gabriella.” She shook his outstretched hand, liking that he didn’t try to hold on too long.

“From?” he asked.

“Melbourne.”

“Ah. I’m from Sydney.”

“A surfer?” Gabriella asked him. He looked like one, wearing a colorful woven jumper and a leather necklace she associated with the breed.

“Yeah.” He shrugged. “I don’t like this place. I’ll be going back as soon as my girl finishes her semester at college.”

“Have you been down to Cornwall? I hear there’s surfing there.”

“Yeah.” He perked up a bit. “It was good. Cold, though.” He jammed his fists back into the front pockets of his jeans, hunching his shoulders as if remembering the bite of an icy wind off the sea.

They had reached Cromwell Road, and she pointed to the bus stop. “This is me. Thanks for the chat.”

“Sure.” He seemed a little uncertain. “I don’t like leaving you alone here.”

The wind had picked up, suddenly blowing cool with the promise of rain, and Tony ducked around the back of the bus stop to light another cigarette.

Gabriella looked down the road, checking for the bus, but it was nowhere in sight.

A white van cruised past on the far side of the road, and she watched it turn up ahead and disappear.

Add white vans to the green jaguar as vehicles she needed to be wary of.

Her life was a lot more exciting that she had imagined it would be.

Tony stepped back out from behind the bus stop, drawing on his cigarette as if it were a lifeline.

“I didn’t offer you,” he said, patting his top pocket in invitation.

She shook her head. “Never started.”

“Wise,” he said. “They cost the bloody earth and they make you crook.”

She grinned at him. “I miss the lingo,” she said. “My friend Dominique lives ’round here, and she says it’s chock full of Aussies. I hadn’t realized how nice it is to hear the sweet strains of home.”

Tony grinned back. “Well, happy to oblige.”

Gabriella glanced down the street again and went still at the sight of the white van coming back down the road, this time on her side.

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