Page 65 of Taking the Heat

‘Yes. No. I don’t know. I just know that I love you.’ He smiled at me, his sapphire eyes relaxed and content.

‘I love you too, coffee boy.’

***

A few minutes later, Callum knocked on my door and I felt my mood lift; I like the Irish bruiser, despite that fact that he’s caught in a horrible triangle with Megs.

‘This place has some bonny hills,’ he said. ‘Would you care to take a walk with me?’

‘Yes, I would.’

We ambled up the cliff sides around the beach, following sandy trails up and down, with Greg panting and trailing behind, trying to keep us in focus. The sea air felt delicious on my skin, and the morning sun warmed my bones. Callum and I discussed rugby and airsickness and a dozen or so light topics, steering clear of anything too personal.

As the path snaked inland, the hills grew steeper and my legs burned happily from the exercise. ‘It’s nice to walk. I mean, honestly, how often do you just wander? I’m always running for trains, or jogging to burn calories, but to just walk somewhere for the sake of it? Hardly ever.’

‘Walking has always been a part of my life,’ said Callum, his bright copper hair shining in the sun. ‘I left home at fourteen, with only the clothes on my back. I hitched and walked my way across Ireland, doing odd jobs and moving on when I got bored.’

‘That sounds quite lonely.’

‘It was at first, but then the ladies of the Emerald Isle discovered how good I am in bed.’ He winked at me, grinning. ‘After that, I could always find a place to lay my head at night.’

‘That still sounds lonely,’ I ribbed him, light-heartedly. ‘So, what are you doing for work now?’

‘I’m an entrepreneur. I’ve been crowd-funding business ventures for the last few years, trying to support other young start-ups too. I’m not gonna lie, I had a pretty rough start to life, fell into drugs, arsed up more times than I can count. But I’m clean now and I’m out to make something of myself.’ He lifted his chin, determined. ‘I’ve got the ideas; all I need is the cash.’

‘Will a million bucks help?’

‘Bloody oath, it will!’ His eyes rolled to the heavens, already lost in the thought of all the possibilities money could buy.

We arrived at the top of our climb, the world laid out below us. More than ever, the island seemed unreal, so perfect and pretty that it took my breath away. Callum pulled two cold beers from his backpack, uncapping them with the corner of his cream-coloured shirt and handing me one. We clacked them together in cheers before taking long pulls.

‘Are you feeling okay after yesterday? Meghan told me what happened.’ His fingers tightened on his bottle. ‘I’d like to smash that bastard’s big stupid teeth in.’

‘Get in line. Yeah, I’m all good, thanks. Thank god for the girls; Meghan was a beast, by the way. Don’t ever cross her, mate—I’d fear for your nads.’

He chortled. ‘That’s me girl.’ Eying me slyly, he asked, ‘Any advice for a lovesick lad?’

‘Yeah. Be honest and don’t pressure her.’

‘I don’t know what she sees in that Kiwi.’

‘It doesn’t matter; that’s between her and Nik. Just focus on your relationship, okay?’

‘I hear ya.’ We downed the rest of our beer, then Callum said, ‘Are you ready to head down?’

He waved towards a flying fox behind us, harnesses and gloves ready and the wire streaking down the hillside into the jungle. It was the longest zip line I’d ever seen and my heart began to boogie excitedly.

‘Oh wow! Hell yeah!’

Two minutes later, we swung suspended from the wire, GoPros rolling atop our helmets.

‘I’ll be right behind you,’ Callum reassured me, but I didn’t need it.

‘Thanks, see you down there!’ I released my grip on the wire and sailed down the hill, giggling happily as I picked up speed. With the island whizzing by and the wind sucking my worries away, I shrieked to the sky, letting everything go for a few moments.

***

Callum walked me home, and I treated myself to a BLT wrap, a bath and a long nap. Mama roused me for the next round of reveals. ‘Come on, darlin’. Mama needs to get to work now.’

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