Page 62 of A Home Among the Snow Gums
‘Hello. What’s up?’
‘Nothing much. Well, actually a lot.’
‘Start talking. I’ve got the Bridgestone rep due in about ten minutes and he’s easy on the eye. I need to find my lippy and check my butt for oil stains before he arrives.’
‘Do you remember way back when you told me what URST was and I pooh-poohed it?’
‘Yeeeees.’
‘I may have even said I was totally disinterested in romance and men in general and one man in particular?’
‘Like I fell for that pork pie.’
Hannah ducked her head as the trail took them close to a massive oak. ‘Yes, it wasn’t true, but I had convinced myself it was. I had just done such a great job of lying to myself that I couldn’t think straight.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘And then my lie to myself was like a dust bunny and it grew and grew and grew.’
‘You’re losing me. Let’s forget about bunnies and dust and cut to the chase. You’re trying to tell me in some randomly loopy way that you’ve finally noticed Tom Krauss is more than just your brother’s best friend, right?’
‘Er … right.’
‘So what are you going to do about it?’
‘Well, that’s where you come in. What should I do about it?’
‘Just be honest. With yourself and with him.’
‘He’s probably pissed off with me, anyway. I was supposed to be helping him sort out his dad’s event, and I haven’t been returning his calls since … Well, for a while now.’
Kylie didn’t say anything for so long Hannah pulled her phone away from her ear and checked the service bars to make sure she was still connected.
‘Hello? Are you there?’
‘I’m here. I’m just wondering if the kindest thing I could do would be to tell you to do nothing.’
‘Why would I do nothing?’
‘You’re rushing this.’
‘Kylie. How old am I? I am so not rushing this.’
‘Maybe you’re rushing Tom. Not all guys are idiots without emotions, Hannah. Some guys don’t want to get hurt, either. I mean, what if he does have feelings for you? And you’ve just been brushing him off like he’s nothing?’
‘I’m not rushing Tom. He’s like an ice statue! He’s impossible to hurt!’
‘And you’re the expert, are you, on what hurts or does not hurt guys? Just think about what I’ve said, will you?’
Kylie was right. She had no idea about what would hurt a guy.
‘Don’t go silent on me. I don’t wantyouto get hurt, either, Hannah.’
‘What happened to celebrating my year of being different? Of trying new stuff?’
‘Oh, honey. I’m just worried you’re out of your depth on this one. When was the last time you even had a fling?’
Hannah was so startled by the question she accidentally dug her heels into Skippy’s sides and he grunted in surprise. ‘Um.’
