Page 118 of Ride the Wave

‘When can I undo this thing?’

‘Not yet. You’ve been in it all of five minutes. Although…’ I hesitate, looking up at him beneath my heavy eyelashes ‘…you would look even sexier with it untied and your top button undone. I think I’d like to see that.’

A mischievous glint appears in his eye, his hand finding my waist. ‘That can be arranged. What are you doing after this?’

Giggling, I nudge his hand from my hip, glancing around to make sure that no one’s watching.

It’s lucky that Leo and I get on so well, since we’re left to our own devices for a while. We bide our time, reading through all the boards they’ve set up by the door that provide information about the project and statistics about the ocean.

‘This initiative is seriously impressive,’ I comment, sipping my champagne. ‘Your mum must be very passionate about the ocean. Also, as if there’s 1,625 different species of fish in The Great Barrier Reef! I can maybe name, like, four types of fish.’

‘Go on.’

‘What?’

‘What are the four types of fish you can name?’

‘Fine. Tuna, salmon, sea bass… and cod.’

His lips curve into a smile. ‘You’re naming the ones you eat, aren’t you.’

‘Goldfish!’ I add on excitedly. ‘And that Nemo one.’

‘Clownfish,’ he tells me. ‘Well done, London, you got five and a half.’ He gives me a stern look. ‘Only half a point for “that Nemo one”, since that’s not the actual name of the species.’

‘Bet you’re full of random fish facts.’ I roll my eyes. ‘Why is it that you have these random animal facts squirreled away in your brain?’

‘I like animals,’ he answers simply. ‘If I learn something interesting about them, I try to remember it.’

‘I still can’t believe you said I was like a meerkat,’ I sigh.

‘If I remember correctly, it was you who said I was making you out to be like a meerkat,’ he corrects all smugly. ‘I only agreed that it was a good animal to be compared to.’

‘I should compare you to an animal and see how you like it,’ I mutter.

He strokes his chin thoughtfully. ‘I think I’d be a manta ray.’

‘What? You don’t get to choose!’

‘Calm, curious, graceful – a creature that inspires a sense of awe and peace.’

I snort into my glass.

He continues, undeterred, shrugging in the face of my mocking: ‘It makes sense that I would be a fish.’

‘You just said you’d be a manta ray.’

‘Exactly.’

‘That’s not a fish.’

‘Actually, the manta ray is classified as a cartilaginous fish.’ He shoots me a grin as I stare at him, bewildered. ‘There you go. Now you know six and a half.’

*

We’ve been here half an hour and we still haven’t seen Leo’s mum yet, so we make the decision to work our way around the room to try to find her.

‘She’s probably got caught up talking to everyone she tries to pass,’ I say to Leo above the music, weaving around the glamorous guests. ‘When you’re the host, everyone is here to see you. She’ll be in a hurry to get to you, but she won’t want to be rude to others who catch her attention on the way.’

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