“Well, look at you.Mum said I can stay with her whenever I want, no issues, so I’ll split my time between the two of you.”
“Whatever is easiest for you.”
Liam turns to us, and I nod to him to start the tour.
He takes us around the house, pointing out where a few points have degraded more than expected, however, it isn’t as bad as other houses in the area, and his plans on how he’ll tackle the work.To be honest, I’m not really paying attention.This house is just a means to an end for me.A place to store my surfboard so I can hit the beach within a five-minute walk.And now?I’m at home wherever Rayna is.
I instruct Liam to do whatever he needs to do and take as long as he needs, keeping in mind that over the Christmas and New Year break, companies close down and not to stress too much and impact his own Christmas plans.To which, he is surprised at my instruction, but relieved to not be pressured.
“Do you need a lift anywhere?”I ask Aria as we wrap up with Liam and I motion towards the car.
“I was coming to see you before heading to Mum’s, but she’s gotten held up in Hobart, so I'm all yours.”
“Throw your suitcase in the car, stay at Rayna's there until your mum's home.”I put her luggage in the VW and head back.
Rayna pulls Aria into a long hug and adds more food on the table in the back patio, and grabs a glass for Aria to sit and catch up.It’s a gorgeous day, so outside is perfect.
Aria marvels at the changed space as Rayna takes her through to the back patio.Rayna tries to excuse herself, but Aria insists on her staying to catch up.Going through Aria’s season essentially running the enduro side on her own and some of her struggles.
After about an hour, Rayna stands to leave.
“I’ll give you both some time to catch up one-on-one.You’re welcome to stay here whenever you’d like over the break.We have plenty of space until everyone starts arriving.And even then, it’ll just be tight fits.”
“Thank you.I’ll call Mum and see how she’s going, and when she thinks she’ll be back.She is helping out a sick friend, and I don’t want her to rush back for me.I can always stay with friends too, so I’m not taking up room.”
“Whatever you’d like to do.We have the room; it’ll just be noisy,” Rayna offers and heads inside.
Aria watches her leave then turns to me.“Same caring Rayna.”
“Pretty much.Hasn’t changed since I met her.”
“Well, that’s adorable.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that.”
We both erupt in laughter.
Aria catches me up on the last few weeks on the enduro business and the meetings she was wrapping up with in Melbourne, and I discuss my new sportsbike team decision and the need to spend this next year looking for crew members, noting that Rayna owes me a few favours.
Rayna comes back out and says, “Aria, downstairs has an ensuite if you feel like having a shower.Feel free.”
“Thanks, Rayna!Actually, I might go and have a shower after the delays and flight in.Who has an eight-hour delay from Melbourne to Sydney!?”
Rayna shows Aria where the ensuite is before heading back out to sit with me.She goes to sit down next to me, but I reach out and grab her arm and yank her onto my lap, sitting sideways, her back towards the house.Her arm across my shoulders.Her hand finds my chin and runs through the short stubble.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Sitting down.”
“Not on the right seat.”
“I sit corrected,” she laughs.
Reaching my hand to her jaw, I pull her down to meet my lips.
Rayna spares no time getting up after sighing, putting a hand on my chest and sitting next to me, looking into the house to make sure we haven’t been caught out.I take her hand and bring it up to my mouth.My lips brush the back of her hand.She leans in close to me, but keeping an eye on the inside of the house.Making sure there is no incoming Aria to catch us.
Who are we?A couple of sneaky teenagers?Actually, yeah.Feels like it!Her chin rests on my shoulder to whisper.“Seeing how the rest of the family are here soon, do you want to stop by my room tonight?”
