Page 42 of Meet You in the Waves
“Don’t sell yourself short, Dane. You wouldn’t have made it through the auditions if you weren’t any good,” I replied.
“I’m okay,” he shrugged. “Not your level good but I’m okay with being just okay.”
“Maybe we can all get together again when we’re back in Sydney and Ajay can play for me,” Hector said. “Lucky for me that’s tomorrow.”
“You don’t like it out here?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise. What was there not to like?
“Too much sun and sand for me,” Hector replied, taking a sip from his cocktail. “Reminds me of growing up.”
“There’s sun and sand in Sydney too.”
“Yes but it’s far more easily avoided than out here where it’s just soin your face,” he returned. “Plus, it’s always been far too small for me. You agree with me, Dane.”
“I do,” Dane said with a nod. “Give me concrete, skyscrapers and exhaust fumes any day of the week.”
I was about to launch a strong defence of their home town when the waiter returned with our drinks and the conversation paused. The waiter buzzed around us, setting down serviettes and glasses and hovering a little.
“Do you need anything else?” he asked, attention on me despite the fact I had not done any of the ordering.
“No, I think we’re fine, thanks,” I replied. The waiter smiled at me before turning and leaving the deck.
“Man, that waiter was seriously crushing on you,” Hector grinned, squeezing a drop of lime into his Tom Collins.
“What? No he wasn’t,” I returned, feeling a faint flush cross my cheeks.
“He so was. Don’t be surprised if he asks for your number before we leave. He might need to get in line though. Pretty sure I was here first.” He said it with a grin on his face that was casual enough I couldn’t quite tell if he was being serious or not. But Dane chuffed out a laugh as he looked at his old friend.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you’re barking up the wrong tree there,” he said. “Ajay’s straightandhe has a girlfriend.”
“Ah well. Worth a shot,” Hector just grinned back at me before lifting his glass and taking a sip. Not exactly heartbroken then.
“Ex-girlfriend,” I mumbled, needing at least that part of Dane’s statement clarified. The other part of it was, well, that part was still out with the jury being furiously debated as we spoke. What a day to be contemplating one’s sexuality.
Dane shot me a look but didn’t comment as he added to Hector, “Don’t worry too much. Boys always try and flirt with Ajay but he’s totally oblivious.”
“They do not,” I protested, feeling that flush deepen.
Dane just laughed. “They so do. Don’t you remember Jonno from year twelve band? Or Steve in Culture Studies? You literally crushed his heart when he found out you had a girlfriend.”
“Steve? I thought he was just really friendly,” I blanched.
Dane snickered again. “He was friendly because he wanted to get in your pants. I don’t know what it is. You’re like gay nectar or something. You just don’t realise it.”
“He certainly is that,” Hector added so suggestively that it was all I could do but laugh.
Except now I was wondering if that was true. And maybe, just maybe, there was a little part of me inside that was revelling at the idea that someone like Nick would think of me in that way.
Oh boy, what a day to be alive.
CHAPTER 15
ajay
Dane and I stayed out with Hector until early afternoon with the two of them promising to meet up again in Sydney. I didn’t know where I factored in that arrangement but I guessed my appeal had diminished after Hector found out I was straight. Or at least, straight-ish.
Ihadkissed a man very, very thoroughly just this morning after all.
Dane and I watched a movie after dinner. I let Dane choose without complaint, one of his artsy types that I knew would go straight over my head. But I was just switched on enough to know it hardly mattered what we watched. Because my mind was still a million miles away.
