Heat licks my cheeks and I sink into my seat, glancing around us, mortified that he can just say these kinds of things out in public without a care in the world.He grins in amusement, enjoying my reaction.
‘That’s right.’
‘So, am I correct in assuming that you don’t … play with yourself?’he asks, somehow looking innocent as he leans forward, taking a long slurp of his drink.
My throat suddenly feels paper dry.Nodding, I reach for my drink.‘You would be correct.’
‘Since a part of the deal is trying new experiences, I would like to do something, but I think it would be better if it was a surprise.’
‘Now I’mreallynervous.’
‘Do you trust me?’he asks, a coy smile playing around his lips.
‘I suppose so …’ I trail off.
‘Good.’
Our food arrives then, and I eye him suspiciously for a little longer before digging in.I don’t know what he’s up to, but alongside the nerves, I’m a little excited to be exploring new things.Especially with him.
He’s easy to talk to.We seem to talk about nothing and everything somehow all at once, the conversation never slowing or getting dull.At least that’s how it feels to me.After we finish our food, we stop by the supermarket to load up on snacks.During dinner, we made a list of movies that we want the other person to watch and are planning to watch one of each of our choices tonight when we get back home.
The carpark is fully packed out.Two girls sit beside each other on the bench out the front of the supermarket and each of them holds a copy of my book.The girl on the left is reading book one, the one on the right is midway through book two.
‘Holy shit,’ Zayden exclaims, doing a double-take as he walks past, obviously recognising the covers.I’ve seen him bring up my accounts more than once, still in disbelief that I’m ‘so famous’, or so he says.‘Are they your books?’
I nod.It still feels surreal that the books I wrote are out in the world.People in my own town, people in my class, are reading them.Yet no one has a clue that I’m the person behind the words.Each time I walk into a bookstore and see a section dedicated to me underneath ‘bestsellers’, I honestly need to pinch myself.
‘That is so fucking cool,’ Zayden shakes his head.‘You literally wrote that.’
‘Yeah,’ I reply, grinning at him.
‘What the hell?’Zayden mutters as we step into the supermarket.There are people everywhere and the shelves are almost bare.I slowly blink, taking in the lack of essential food and toilet paper.‘Is the world ending and we aren’t aware?’
‘People are panicking about the cyclone,’ a man replies, shaking his head, looking less than impressed about the bare aisles.‘They’re stocking up on everything in case the power goes out.’
‘What cyclone?’I frown in confusion.I haven’t been on my phone for the last day or so, since I’ve been with Zayden, but surely I would have heard about a cyclone.I feel as if I’ve been swept into an alternate universe when I’m with Zayden and reality melts away.
‘Cyclone Frederick.It was only meant to be up north but it’s travelling our way and they think it will hit late tomorrow, early morning.’
‘Oh what?’I ask.‘Are they predicting it to be bad?’
‘It’s been upgraded to a category three.’
‘That would explain the empty shelves,’ Zayden exhales, eyeing the lack of supplies glaring back at us.
‘They’re saying we could be without power for up to seventy-two hours.’
‘Shit,’ I wince, rubbing the back of my neck.
Digging around for my phone, I pull it out, realising that I’ve had it on Do Not Disturb mode all day and have completely missed all the frenzy on social media.
‘There better be some ice cream left or I’ll be pissed,’ Zayden says suddenly, taking off towards the back of the store like someone just shouted that there’s a fire.
‘Stay safe!’I say to the man and he wishes me the same.I hurry down the aisles, locating Zayden looming over the fridges, pilingpackets into his arms.‘Zayden … how much ice cream are you planning to eat?’
He glances up at me, looking unimpressed.‘A lot, thank you very much.’
‘And if the power goes out?’I question, eyeing the tubs.
