During week three she’d slept a bit more and turned her attention towards Christmas and her future, buying presents for her family and searching for work.
She wasn’t sure where she wanted to move.All she knew was she didn’t want to live anywhere near the ocean.
It didn’t matter that Australia wasn’t known for tsunamis.She couldn’t look at the ocean without her chest tightening and her heart racing.
A quick search of Perth and its surrounds showed there were plenty of jobs available, but she didn’t want to move there if nothing progressed between her and Dobby.
But Sydney wasn’t for her anymore.She wanted fewer people, more calm.
Somewhere she could get her life back on track.
In the end she’d applied for everything that caught her interest, most of the jobs in the not-for-profit area.Her time on Pulau Tengah had given her purpose—she wanted to help people.
By Christmas Eve she had nothing to do.She’d wrapped the presents, applied for every job available, and she was no longer of the age where she counted down the hours until Santa came.Instead she waited in her parents’ living room for them to get home from work and wondered what to do with her life.
“Why are you so glum?”
She whirled around to find Jared standing in the doorway in his army fatigues, his dark hair windswept.She glanced behind looking for Damien and then shook the thought away.She ran across the room and threw herself in his arms.“When did you get in?”
“This morning.”He hugged her tightly.“How are you?”
“Fine,” she said, waving her hand.
“Mum says you’re not sleeping.”
“When did she speak to you?”
He just smirked and waited for her to answer.
She swallowed her exasperation.“The waves are noisy.”
His expression darkened, and he hugged her again.“I’m so sorry you went through that, Milly.”
“Not your fault.I should have left when Damien told me to.”Not that she would ever regret saving those people’s lives.
“I promised him a bottle of bourbon,” Jared said.“I’ll have to see if I can get it delivered.”
Her heart leapt, but she tried to keep her tone neutral as she asked, “Are the team back?”
“Yeah.They shipped out with me.Good guys, all of them.”
Excitement shimmered in her belly.Had Damien asked for her number?Would he call?“I, ah, wanted to thank them again.Did you get their contact details?”
Jared smiled.“Yeah, I’ve got them somewhere.”He pulled out his phone.“Axle, Joker and Radar.”
He was teasing her.He knew exactly whose number she wanted.She glared at him.“And Damien?”
“Something go on between you two on the island?”he asked.
“That’s none of your business.”
He sobered.“Just taking care of my little sister, who’s been through a very stressful situation.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself.Damien and I didn’t have time to talk about… things before I left.”
“So you want to talk to him?”
“Of course I do.”God her brother was so annoying.“Do you have his number or not?”
