Page 35 of Taking the Heat

‘Or just off somewhere using a strike?’

‘Do you think they’ll have cute babies?’

The night continued, but I began to lose track of it. I slumped back against the side of the spa, letting my head loll behind me, looking up to the stars.

The Russian girl, Mila, slid in beside me. ‘Hello, Australia.’

‘Hello yourself, Russia,’ I replied absently.

She began to run her finger up and down my arm, and all the men in the hot tub fell silent, watching her intently. ‘Just because we have no men to love, doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun,da?’

Her hands on my skin felt good, and I was almost drunk enough to let her do anything. As she moved in for a kiss, I said, ‘Da!I mean, don’t!’ I slipped away from her embrace, falling into the middle of the spa. The water sucked me down, and my motor skills were too impaired to do anything about it in time to stop my head from going under.

I emerged, coughing and spluttering, while everyone around me laughed. Babette had jumped in, and she pulled Mila close. ‘Bonjour!Maybe I can help?’

She and Mila kissed softly, their wet skin melding in the moonlight. Every man in the vicinity moaned and I was forgotten.

I clambered out of the hot tub, but it wasn’t until I stood up that I realised exactly how inebriated I was. I snatched a towel and threw it over my shoulders, weaving unsteadily towards the stairs.

‘Tara? Can I walk you home?’ Henry was beside me, his open shirt waving like a white banner in the night breeze.

I hiccoughed. ‘Hic. Sure.’

‘I’m going to go down the stairs first, in case you fall.’

‘What? You won’t just step aside and let me die?’

His face fell, hurt. ‘No. Not this time.’

‘Henry, I was kidding.’

‘Oh. All right, then.’

We made it down the stairs without injury, and Henry escorted me all the way back to my room. I nattered all the way, drunken nonsense, and he nodded politely.

‘… I just don’t understand why they do it, you know? You’re at the traffic lights, in a car! When you pick your nose, we can see you! You don’t turn invisible just because you’ve got a finger in your nostril. Although, I wish they did. Hey, what super power do you think is the coolest? Invisibility? Or speed? I like that Usain Bolt dude—’

‘Tara, I wanted to tell you something.’ Henry stopped at my door, his face concerned. ‘In case it comes out during one of those secret nights.’

‘Henry, Hen, Henny-Penny,’ I trilled. ‘I don’t care. It couldn’t be that big a deal, could it?’

He lowered his eyes. ‘Actually, it really is …’

Henry looked so serious, and I tried to sober up to be more supportive. ‘Okey-dokey. Big secrets. Um … do you want to come in?’

A camera crew I hadn’t even noticed had followed us back from the pool. They piped up. ‘That would be great. Give us five minutes to get the lighting set up, yeah?’

Inside my room, I flopped on the bed, limp. My buzz was beginning to wear off, but I really like Henry, so I wanted to focus. When the assistant director gave us a nod, I said, ‘So, what’s going on?’

‘It’s two things, I suppose. You see, I came on this show so my family will accept me. Well, my father, really.’

Henry sank down onto my soft covers. I rolled towards him and propped my head up. ‘Why would being here help that? God, I don’t want my parents to ever find out I’m here.’

‘It’s complicated. I’m, well … you see … uh … gosh, this is hard.’ He pulled desperately at his ears, trying to soothe himself.

‘Henry, just tell me!’

‘I’m not gay!’ He said it proudly; not that it had ever been a question in my mind.

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