Page 11 of Strength

“Yeah, I do. Its peaceful on the beach. The sound of the waves is relaxing and it’s a great way to cool off.” That’s how I remembered it, anyway. “I grew up in a coastal town called Cockatoo Cove, so the ocean is in my blood.”

“I feel that way as well. It’s probably why I joined the Navy, and why I live right by the beach.”

My eyes grew wide. “You were in the Navy?”

“Yeah, for ten years. I was a Navy psychologist and served on the USS Calino down in Australian waters for most of my time. We patrolled the waters between your country and South East Asia.”

At the mention of my home country, my heart ached. I missed Australia and the opportunities it offered—the high minimum wage, the free health care, the student loans you didn’t have to pay back until you were earning over a certain amount of money. If only I was able to save up enough money to go back there, things would be much better for Charlie and me.

“I haven’t been back to Australia for a very long time,” I said wistfully.

“It’s a beautiful country full of amazing people. I love that mateship thing you guys have going. Helping the underdog, the laid back ‘she’ll be right’ attitude. I guess that’s the reason why I settled back in California when I discharged.”

“Is that why you joinedSierra’s International Dating Agency? Because you like Aussies?”

I was surprised when Emmett blushed. “I mean, yeah, I guess so.”

“Well, I suppose it’s a good thing that I like Americans.”

We stared at each other for a few moments and laughed again.

“Let’s order, huh?”

“Okay.”

We summoned our server and he tapped away on his tablet. I ordered grilled calamari with salad, while Emmett had the smoked salmon. But for starters, Emmett surprised me by ordering oysters.

“I hope you don’t mind?” he asked.

“Are you kidding? I love them!” I picked one up. “I haven’t had an oyster in years!”

“Even better.” He picked one of his own up and held it in the air. “Bottoms up.”

Together, we tipped the flesh from our oyster shells down our throats and continued the pattern until all six were gone.

“So, tell me, Olivia, how come you haven’t been home in so long?”

Shit. I was dreading this part of the date. The part where I had to tell him about myself. I played with the stem of my wine glass. “Life happened.”

He looked at me intently, clearly waiting for more details.

I cleared my throat. “My dad is this big Hollywood producer. He met my mum when he was shooting a movie down under. They had a whirlwind romance, and she came back here for a while. I was born in this very city, but then Dad cheated on Mum and we went back to Australia. I was little when it all happened, but Dad stayed in my life, spoiled me rotten and everything. I came to visit him after I graduated high school and I ended up staying.”

The skin around Emmett’s eyes crinkled as he smiled at me. “So, you and your dad are close?”

I shifted in my seat. “Not these days.”

Emmett’s face fell and he looked at me with concern. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Thank God our meals arrived then.

“Bon appétit,” I said.

“Bon appétit,” Emmett repeated.

We ate in silence for a few minutes.

I needed to take the heat off myself. He was a stranger, and I didn’t want him to know too much about my situation, even if he was a kind stranger. “What do you do now that you’re out of the Navy?”

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