Page 70 of Crazy Love

Anthony is staring at me. “What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Anthony’s blue eyes are wide with wonder as he edges closer to me again. “What did you say, Kali?”

“I didn’t…I don’t know, I was talking, and I said a lot of stuff.”

“You said you love me.”

My body locks up. “No, I didn’t.”

Anthony’s grin widens. “You did.”

“That doesn’t sound like something I would say.”

Anthony clucks his tongue, smugness oozing out of his face. “You said it because you love me.”

I throw my hands in the air in annoyance. “Okay,fine!I love you. You happy now? For fuck’s sake.”

Anthony’s eyes flare, his smiling fading. “Say it again.”

“I love you.”

“I win.” He grabs the back of my head and pulls me to his mouth, sucking the oxygen out of my body as I melt into him. “And I love you too, you absolute lunatic.”

38

KALI

“The flower peoplebroke down at the intersection in Broadbeach!” Meg screams.

The sun hints at breaking over the horizon and the studio is chaos. Meg appointed herself project leader and is barking orders to everyone, a headpiece on her head (yes, an actual headpiece connected to her phone) and a clipboard in her arms. With the studio set to open its doors for the ‘soft launch’ in under an hour, anxiety is at an all-time high for everybody in the vicinity.

“Anthony is racing to help them,” Meg explains breathlessly, running up to me. She glances at her clipboard with pursed lips, before waving her arms around the room. “The activewear girls are setting up in this corner and we’re laying the gift bags on this table. The protein guys can gohereand Reuben’s coffee van will be out the door and to the right. He’ll be here in twenty.”

“Thank God. I need caffeine,” Hazel groans, shuffling up to us with a box of candles. Patrick follows closely behind, holding another box. “Where are these going?”

“I want two near the sink in the bathroom,” Meg replies. “And two of the same scent, not a mixture. Patrick, your box needs to go to that corner. I’ve got a cute pattern I want to set up.”

Hazel heads off to the small bathroom at the side of the room and Patrick winks at me before turning away. Meg stands in front of me, her eyebrows pulled together in a serious frown. “Is there anything else you need? I’m going to start filming stories to post on the Gram.”

“You’re the best, you know that?” I pull Meg in for a hug and squeeze her.

My friends are supercharged this morning, running around and ensuring everything is perfect. I’ve gone over it a million times and finally feel like it’s fallen into place. If people are late or don’t show up, I’ll know it wasn’t for lack of trying by me or my amazing friends.

I release Meg and she looks at me with her most serious expression. “It’s going to be great. Bookings for this morning’s classes aresold out.Emma Parker will be here to share it with her fifty thousand followers. Your staff look amazing. There’s great coffee. It will be incredible.”

“Thank you. You’re a bossy pain in the ass, but I’ve never been more grateful.”

Meg gives me another squeeze before heading across the room to round up my newly hired instructors for photos.

I spin and take in the space, my heart singing with joy. It looks better than I ever imagined. Pot plants and white walls and the hanging lights set the mood. The mandala art piece Anthony created for me hangs above the sofa by the entrance, right where he suggested it should go.

I take a few seconds to plant myself firmly in the moment, to take a mental picture of what this space looks like and how it feels to have gotten here. To practice a bit of gratitude (my therapist says I need to get better at that). Naturally, as I sit in the sensations of contentment, pride and anticipation, my thoughts drift to my parents. I wonder what my dad would say. I wonder if my mum would be proud.

I think she would be.

I glance at myself in one of the ten full-length mirrors lining the northern wall. I’ve worn brand new activewear for the occasion. A bright pink crop and shorts with gleaming white shoes. I look every part the unbearable Gold Coast influencer and I’m so into it.

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