CHAPTER 1
IVY THOMPSON
“So, when I lived in Australia for three years, everyone warned me about the spiders and how big they’d be. But then I found this massive huntsman in the bathroom, it didn’t affect me at all.”
I stare back at my date, Adam, as I sip on my cocktail, wishing time would pass a lot quicker than it currently is.
“Wow,” I say with fake enthusiasm. “Sounds fun.”
“Oh, and the crocodiles. Don’t get me started on the crocodiles. They’re so much smaller than people say they are,” he says as he leans back in his chair. “People think Australia is this terrifying place with dangerous animals, but you cannot fear the animals. They should fear us. They?—”
“Have you been anywhere else apart from Australia?”
Adam pins me with a stare as his mouth presses into a thin line. “Why are you talking over me?”
My eye twitches at his hypocritical statement. “Sorry,” I say sharply.
When I take another sip of my drink, instead of tasting a mouthful of my strawberry daiquiri, I’m slurping from anempty glass. Great. No more alcohol to help me through this nightmare.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never been to Australia before?”
I shake my head. “But I’ve been to?—”
“Oh my god,” he cuts me off. “Australia is the best place on Earth.”
My back presses into my chair as I sigh silently.
If only he’d let me finish one sentence.
“I can’t believe you haven’t been,” he carries on. “You haven’t lived.”
My eyes almost roll into the back of my head when he moves on to how savage the excursions were. I might have been interested if he asked me something personal and didn’t make everything about himself.
“I’m going to go to the bathroom,” I speak over him—otherwise I’ll be here until tomorrow morning.
I drag my chair out from underneath me, and Adam blinks, bewildered. “But I’m not done talking?”
“My bladder can’t wait for you. Sorry.”
When he scoffs, I ignore him. Reaching for my bag, I head straight for the bathroom, needing a minute to take a breather. I rummage for my phone to call my friend so she can shove some sense into me.
“Ivy?” Erin’s voice echoes into my ear.
“Hi,” I murmur before pressing my thumb to the speaker and sliding it onto the counter.
“What’s happened? Is he a serial killer?”
A laugh slips past my lips. “Not sure how I’d be talking to you if he was a serial killer.”
She tuts. “Well, something must be wrong because you wouldn’t be calling me halfway through. What’s going on?”
“It’s not going to work out. I know I shouldn’t have done this,” I groan.
“Ivy, this is your first date in over three years. I’m not surprised you’re feeling a little anxious.”
I shake my head furiously. “No, this has nothing to do with my nerves, and everything to do with the fact my date is so far up his own ass that he has shit stains on his face.”
“What… really?”
