Page 109 of Ride the Wave

Admit what?

Flora

YOU KNOW WHAT

We’re boarding, got to go I’ll message when I land xxx

Flora

FLY MY FRIEND! FLY TO HIM!

*

Australia has fast become one of my favourite places in the world. I’ve only been here a day, but I totally get why people come here and never leave. Melbourne is such a stylish and cool city, and the people seem to be the friendliest in the world; everywhere you go, they’re giving off such a warm, easy-going, vibrant energy. We haven’t made it to the beaches yet, but I already know they’re going to be spectacular.

Ever since we got on the first plane, Mum has been living her best life. She sipped the champagne brought to her by the flight attendant, giggled her way through a couple of rom-com movies, and slept well thanks to her silk eye-mask and ear plugs. She had prepped and brought an entire flight skincare routine for both of us to abide by so that we descended from the plane with glowing faces, and when we landed early morning in Melbourne and headed to our hotel, she didn’t ‘give a hoot’ if I was tired and jet-lagged, she had booked a ‘fabulous’ place for brunch. She was really taking this whole grabbing-life-by-the-balls thing seriously. Apparently, there isn’t a moment to lose.

After a stroll through the streets of Melbourne, marvelling at the amount that’s going on here and the buzz of the city, we arrive at Top Paddock, the sophisticated restaurant she’s booked, and it’s there over cheesecake waffles and coconut, chia and almond granola that we discuss how best to play things with Leo from here. I haven’t yet told him I’m in Australia.

‘I think you message his dad and find out whereabouts he is, and then you can go there and surprise him,’ Mum advises after ordering her third mimosa.

‘But then what happens?’ I ask nervously. ‘I don’t want to interrupt his training routine or get in his way. Maybe he’d rather I message him and he can work out when it’s best for me to fit around his schedule.’

‘Iris, you’ve flown around the world to be here for him. He’s not going to casually message you back saying he’ll have to consult his schedule.’

‘I don’t want to distract him.’

‘Hewantedyou to be here. If anything, you’ll spur him on. The competition is a week and a half away: plenty of time to get his head in the game.’

‘Okay, I’ll message Adriano,’ I say, getting out my phone. My fingers tingling, I look up at Mum, a smile breaking through. ‘I’m so nervous, I feel a bit sick.’

‘Naturally,’ she says, gratefully accepting her drink from the waiter. ‘Nerves and nausea are classic symptoms.’

‘Of what? Surprising someone out of the blue?’

She shrugs, but doesn’t elaborate. I don’t push her for an answer either, afraid of what that answer might be. But I do take her advice and message Adriano to let him in on the secret. It was obvious before I left Burgau that he’d got wind of what was going on between me and Leo – since I’m here, it’s a matter of time before he gets firm confirmation.

He replies in a matter of minutes. I’m so jittery, I jump out of my skin at the vibration of my phone, and then relax, laughing at the intensity of his message, all capital letters that I hope expressed his excitement, unless he’s done it by accident:

WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA IRIS!

His next message buzzes through straight away:

Leo is going to be so happy

I feel warm and fuzzy, like a sparkler has been lit in my stomach, the excitement ever so slightly starting to overwhelm the nerves. Adriano gives me Leo’s address, a holiday house rental in Torquay near Bells Beach, and says Leo will be there this evening. He promises to keep his lips sealed about my being here.

‘Now, you mustn’t worry about me for the next couple of weeks; I want you to focus on whatever is going on with you and Leo,’ Mum insists, sitting back and giving me a stern look. ‘You have to be brave, Iris. You have to see where this leads.’

‘And what will you get up to?’

She exhales, her eyes gleaming. ‘For the first time in my life, I’m going to see where each day takes me. I’ll see the sights, do some exploring, a bit of travelling around. I have nowhere to be, no one to see, no one to speak for and no one to compromise with – it’s just me making decisions for myself.’ She hesitates. ‘It’s frightening, but I think I might enjoy it.’

‘You’re in the right place for that kind of adventure.’

‘Oh yes, where better to remember how to spread my wings than here in majestic Australia,’ she muses. ‘I think I’m going to like it here.’

*

---