Page 25

“Don’t be mad. But your Mum told my Mum, who also heard from Jackie Wilson, that you’ve been seeing Sam Parker? Spill!” Serena demanded.

Hazel groaned as she took a bite of pizza. Serena gazed at her anxiously, waiting for the gossip.

“Who is Sam Parker?” Josie placed her wine glass on the coffee table, breaking Serena’s gaze.

“He is literally the hottest thing in Bells Bay.” Serena pretended to melt into her chair.

Hazel glared at her. “No, he isn’t!” She paused. “Well, actually, he probably is.”

Josie gave a small laugh.

“Anyway,” Serena continued, “he’s a builder, or like a handyman. He’s actually been renovating this house! Speaking of which, I would like a tour later.”

“Of course,” Hazel replied. “He finished the main bathroom last week. Mum said she wants him to start on the kitchen next.”

“Ooh, that kitchen hasn’t ever been updated, has it?” Serena asked.

“Nope, it’s totally original.”

“Anyway, tell us more about Sam.” Serena plucked a chocolate covered strawberry from the blue container.

“There’s nothing to tell. We went on a date. That’s it.”

“You’re seeing him again, though?”

“He asked me to come over tomorrow night,” Hazel admitted.

“Ooooh!” Serena squealed.

Josie laughed.

It was nice to see her enjoying herself, Hazel thought. “Oh, shush. He asked me for dinner.”

“Well, we all know what that means!” Serena cackled.

“No! I stayed over the other night, and nothing happened!” Hazel quickly retorted before she realised what she had just confessed. The squeals were louder this time. Even Josie gave a gasp.

“You did what?” Serena cried.

“Calm down. I had a few drinks, and I might have been a bit tipsy. He was telling me all about the renovations he had done to his place. It’s amazing, by the way, and I asked to see. We kissed a little, and then I may have fallen asleep on his couch,” Hazel admitted in a rush.

“You fell asleep on his couch? Who does that?” Serena laughed so hard her eyes began to well up.

“You must fall asleep easily?” Josie chimed in.

“Oh, she does,” Serena answered for Hazel. “There’s a running joke that that girl can fall asleep anywhere. She fell asleep getting her legs waxed once.”

“What? Really?” Josie exclaimed.

This was the most animated Hazel had seen her new friend, so instead of shutting the somewhat embarrassing topic down, she went along with it. “Yeah. I did. In my defence, the music in the room was really relaxing, and I’d had a bad sleep the night before!”

“Hazel, do you remember in math,” Serena snorted as she laughed. She was cackling so hard she couldn’t continue with the story.

Hazel groaned. “Yes. I remember.” Rolling her eyes, she turned to Josie to fill her in. “I fell asleep during a math test.”

“Wow, okay. Girl, you are a serious sleeper. I’m kind of jealous. That’s a skill you know.” Josie nodded her head, her lips curled in a smile.

“It has come in handy over the years,” Hazel confirmed.