‘Where are we going?’she asks.
‘Just a place I like to visit.’
‘Where is it?’
‘You’ll see.’
I don’t exactly know what possessed me to go tonight, at this moment, and take her with me.This is a special place that I haven’t taken anyone to before.It’s the spot I come to when I need a moment to clear my head.When I need everything to be quiet.It’s not often that I crave the solidity of this place, but lately it’s been somewhere I’ve frequently visited.
The road is dead quiet as we make our way up to the cliff.She eyes me.
‘If I didn’t know you, I’d say this is the perfect place to take someone to—’ she pauses, dramatically slashing her thumb across her throat.
I chuckle.‘I’m not planning to—’ I repeat her barbaric gesture.
She grins.‘Good to know.’
It doesn’t take us long to get there, and as usual, there isn’t anyone else here.Cutting the engine, I jump out, and she does the same.Moving to the front of the car, I lean back onto the hood.Nora follows suit.The night air is cool, washing over us.
‘Wow,’ she breathes, peering out at the glittering buildings.‘You can see the city from here.’
‘Yeah.It looks amazing in daylight, but there’s something about being here at night, when everything is so quiet, that does it for me.’I gesture towards the trees off to our right.‘There’s a few good walking tracks down that way, if you’re ever up for some exploring.’
‘Sure!’She beams.‘Sounds good.It’s beautiful.’
‘It is.’
When she glances at me, I’m staring at her.I can’t get her off my mind.I keep repeating what happened earlier in the pool.I want to mentally shake myself.I’m not supposed to have any distractions.I’m not supposed to fall for my sister’s best friend.
Everything about her, and the timing of this, is off limits.
It only makes me want her more.
‘Do you bring all your fake girlfriends here?’she teases, nudging me with her elbow.
‘I’ve never brought anyone here.’
Her head whips towards me and she raises a brow.‘Really?’
‘Yeah.So if suddenly everyone knows about it, I’ll know who snitched.’
She snickers.‘Noted.How did you find this place?’
‘I ride and run a lot.I’ve found lots of good trails and tracks around this area.’
‘Ride?’she questions.
‘Yeah.I have a mountain bike.I do a lot of long rides.It’s just a hobby.’
‘You seem to have a lot of hobbies.’
‘ADHD,’ I say, pointing at my head.‘I have a new hobby every five minutes.It becomes my whole personality for a week and then I’m onto the next.Hence the random things all through my house.’
‘Oh yeah?What are some of your hobbies?’
‘Footy, mountain biking, running, golfing, fishing, hiking, motorbikes, skating, surfing.I also went through a musical stage.Taught myself to play the guitar.Then the drums.Convinced myself I could be in a band.Then I got into swimming and diving, but that didn’t last too long.Then I was into photography and drones.Got myself a drone and a GoPro, and was obsessed with that for a good three months.I still use them, but not as much now.Last month I got into rock climbing.Don’t know where that one came from.’
She releases a snort.‘Wow.Thatisa lot of hobbies.’
