Page 33 of Forever Summer

I smiled, taking in the underlying level of stress Toby was emitting as he rubbed at the stubble of his jawline. He looked as though he had had a few sleepless nights to boot.

“You’re a good man, Toby Morrison, Tess is going to love it.”

“I hope so, otherwise there might not be a wedding,” he joked.

“It’s Tess, not me. I’m the diva of the group, remember?”

“Actually, I always kind of pegged Adam as the diva.”

“Well, clearly.” I smiled, thinking how completely and utterly true that was. I had a moment of weakness as I looked at Toby, thinking maybe I could ask him about what was going on with Adam, but in the same instance I shook the thought from my mind with how completely neurotic I was being about a brotherly blow out. Maybe I had simply removed myself from the drama of Onslow from being away for a few months. I had even thought it best not to broach the subject with Tammy, which was just as well, seeing as our intimate girls’ luncheon had now officially been gate-crashed by Toby.

Fifteen

Late in the afternoon the hotel was abuzz with excitement as the reality neared of the pending top-secret engagement party. This was it; this was the real deal. No dress rehearsal. This was the weekend of all weekends. And Sean had thought of everything, with the aid of some impressive accomplices, beginning with Tess’s mum who had taken Tess out of town for the day to minimise potential interference. It was like a grand-scale black-ops mission. Buses had been hired from the local RSL club to escort people out to the lake house, a house band, caterers (not Tess’s parents) were all lined up, as well as fireworks.

I couldn’t help but feel a little in awe of all the excitement and the lengths everyone was going to in order to make the party the best it could be. How could I have possibly snubbed my town for suffering from small-town syndrome with such deeply touching displays of camaraderie? I couldn’t help but feel pangs of jealousy at how lucky Tess was and could only hope someday I would be as happy as her.

I leant back, resting my elbows on top of the picnic table, sunglasses saving me from the glare of the afternoon sun as I sipped on my Coke and took great pleasure in watching Adam helping Chris load up his van with slabs of beer. There was something very rewarding about watching hot boys sweat it out; it was certainly a lot more appealing than them threatening to kill one another. They worked with silent determination, mainly because they were under the pump to keep the goods cold and stacked onto ice. I felt kind of ridiculous making such a big deal about this morning’s interaction. I tried not to think about the fact Adam was keeping something from me; ignorance really was bliss.

Adam had come back from the lake house throwing me a cheeky wink and a grin like the Adam of old. I merely saluted him with my drink and felt the edge of giddiness somersault in my tummy having spotted him making his way across the drive.

The very same feeling that now returned in this instance of seeing him make his way over to me now. Lifting up the edge of his T-shirt and wiping his brow and exposing the taut, tanned skin underneath. I had never been more grateful in that moment to be wearing sunnies as I let my eyes linger.

Without a word Adam stood before me, momentarily blocking the sun and taking my Coke from my grasp and taking a big thirsty swig as he moved to sit next to me, smacking his lips together in appreciation as he passed me back my drink.

Don’t think about the fact that his lips have been on my drink. His gorgeous, kissable…

“Thanks.”

“All done?”

“Pretty much. You should see Sean’s place, it’s like the circus has come to town.”

I raised my brows, thinking of scary clowns and popcorn; surely not.

“Don’t look so horrified, it’s a classy affair. No clowns.”

I laughed. “Always reading my mind.”

“Ah, yes, but can you read my mind?”

“I like to think so.”

“Okay, what am I thinking now then?” Adam mirrored my pose, resting his elbows on the picnic table.

“You’re thinking, how drunk am I going to get Ellie tonight, and I can’t wait to tear up the dance floor with her with our mad skills.”

Adam broke out into a brilliant grin; it was by far one of my most favourite features. It was the kind of smile that was contagious, the kind that lifted your spirits.

“Well, that’s a given. That’s the aim at every party, so I wouldn’t call it actual mind reading.”

“Okay, so let me try again,” I said, twisting around to face him directly, lifting up my sunnies and studying his face intently, like I was some kind of psychic trying to tell his fortune.

Adam looked at me expectantly, waiting with great interest on what I could possibly say. It was a moment that had begun with great confidence and an air of fun, but when I looked at Adam, really looked at him, his deep dark eyes that locked with mine, slightly creased with a glimmer of humour, I found it very difficult to think or to hurry in any way. I didn’t want to break away from his stare, to come back to reality.

“You’re thinking,” I started, pausing so as to slow down time a little. “You’re thinking …” I repeated, struggling to concentrate, even more so when Adam’s smile returned at seeing me struggle to form words. It was a smile that switched something on inside me, a new steely determination to take this more seriously. The typical pull and push of our personalities: the more he pushed the more determined I became.

He leaned into me, smirking an incredibly infuriating smirk. “Well?”

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