“We were together for a while.” Harry’s lip quirked. “Nearly a year, actually.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to insult—”
Harry held up a palm and chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. Heisan arsehole, and you’re right; I never should have been with him in the first place. I think I was wearing rose-coloured glasses.”
“Smoke and mirrors?” It sort of made sense. John seemed the sort of guy who could put on an act when he wanted to.
“It’s a long story. Maybe for another time?”
Evan nodded. “Sure.” He grinned at Harry. “So you’re not together then?” He just wanted to hear the words again.
“No. Nope. Nada. At least, not outside of the show. I still have to put on the act while filming the segments but onceSea of Loveis done and dusted and the ship docks in Sydney, I’m finally rid of him, once and for all.”
“So what does that mean for us? I mean, why did you tell me this now?” Evan’s mind was running through the scenarios.
Harry shrugged, his head tilting. “What happens next, that’s up to you. But if it helps, someone once told me that you and I both deserve something special, and sometimes you have to take a risk.”
“I don’t suppose that someone is Amber?”
Harry tapped the side of his nose. “I’ll never give away my sources.”
Evan laughed. It looked like he owed Amber big time. “In that case,” he picked up his drink, “let’s toast to something special.”
They clinked glasses. Harry’s gaze over the top of the cocktail held so many possibilities, and the cruise suddenly because very special indeed.
12
After a week at sea,it was great to have a day back on land. The port of call was Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. It had been tempting to sign up for one of the shore excursions and take part in an organised tour, but in the end Harry and John had chosen to take a less formal approach. They decided to enjoy a walk around town, checking out the local sites. Personally, Harry liked the idea of doing their own thing, as he was sick of all the coordinated components of theSea of Lovefilming—be here at this time, wear that, stand there, do this, smile and look like you’re having fun…
As they queued to disembark the ship, Harry pulled the brochure for Papeete from his backpack and unfolded it. “There are a few things we can do while we’re here. We can take a walk along the waterfront esplanade, and we can go and see the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Papeete or maybe the Papeete Tahiti temple. I saw an awesome mural on the side of a building on Instagram that would be cool to see. And I’d really like to take a walk through the markets. It’ll be a great opportunity to pick up some souvenirs.”
“Hmmm.” By his tone and the wrinkling of his nose, John was obviously not keen on that idea. “I hate the thought of traipsing around in this heat; you’d have to be crazy to want to do that. There’s a French restaurant I’d like to try. It was highly recommended by the concierge here on the ship, and it’s won a number of awards. A lovely long lunch sounds much more appealing than walking around with the masses.”
Harry ignored the remark about his so-called craziness—in his mind, John was the one who was nuts by not wanting to explore this unique environment. “Is it traditional Tahitian cuisine?” he asked, looking for the bright side. “I’m excited to try that marinated raw fish dish? What’s it called?”
“I have no idea. And no, it’s not Tahitian. The restaurant is classic French fare.”
Harry looked at John and frowned. “We can eat French food anywhere. Surely it’d be better to try something different.”
“This is the top restaurant in Papeete, and it does have a French history.”
“If we were here more than one day, sure. But we’re on limited time. I really don’t want to spend it sitting in a restaurant; at least, not one that isn’t giving me a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” John’s lips pursed, and his nostrils flared, a warning Harry fully recognised. He wasn’t going to give in and do exactly what John wanted, but he would try to placate him—anything to avoid a scene and John being in a lousy mood for the rest of the day. “How about we check out the sites first, then we can stop for a quick lunch at the restaurant?”
“I guess,” John said as they scanned their cruise cards and stepped outside into the glorious sunshine. He raised his hand to shield his eyes. “The town doesn’t look that big anyway. We’ll probably see anything worth seeing by midday.”
Harry bit his tongue, considering it a win. The town looked interesting to him from their position on the harbour, and he couldn’t wait to get out and explore.
Once on ground level, they followed the crowd until the people began to disperse and they found a quiet place to stop. Harry referred to his map.
“Hey, guys!”
He looked up to see Amber waving and heading their way. His gaze automatically sought Evan, and he was rewarded with a smile as the two of them stopped alongside. “Hi. Are you off to explore the town too or going on one of the tours?”
“Amber’s wish is my command, and today we’re off to the markets, or so I’ve been told,” Evan answered.
“Don’t listen to him.” Amber clasped Evan’s arm and looked up at him before grinning back at Harry. “He loves shopping. Probably more than I do.”
“Hey!” Evan swatted her hand, but there was laughter in his voice. “But seriously, I do want to grab a few things to take back as gifts. My sister and mum would kill me if I returned home to Sydney without any souvenirs for them.”
