Page 69 of Taking the Heat

Meghan’s normally rosy cheeks were wan under her freckles. ‘I cannot complain. Although I wish a certain arsonist would stop eyeballing me.’ A few meters away, Callum sat on the ground by the bridge. He stared pitifully at Meghan, his emerald eyes beseeching her. She stanchly ignored him.

‘Last night was pretty brutal. I’m so sorry, honey.’

‘You weren’t to know. I don’t know why I’m surprised—Callum’s pa was a crook and his mother drank herself to death.’ She shook her head, her lips tight and bitter. ‘I guess being a bastard runs in the family, you know?’

‘I spent all day yesterday with him.’ I tried to defend him gently. ‘I don’t think that’s who he is anymore.’

‘People don’t change, Tara. Much as you might like them to. I should have known Callum was a bad idea from the second he didn’t recognise me on the first night. Now, there’s a man I want to see.’

Another buggy pulled up, and Nik hopped out, his white teeth shining. The buff Kiwi ran to Megs and said, ‘Hey, girl, how you feelin’ today, ay?’

‘Better now you’re here,’ she smiled, her face relaxing.

They wandered off together, and even though I really love Nik and the way he adores Megs, I couldn’t help but feel terrible for Callum. I wouldn’t have wanted to choose between them though, and perhaps it was a good thing for Meghan that she had a catalyst to help her decide.

Jen grinned after the couple. ‘They are so very different, are they not? Tell me, Tara, do you think that people from such different worlds can ever truly find common ground?’

‘I think love is a great leveller. Your life will probably be easier if you fall for someone who is just like you, but it wouldn’t be nearly as exciting.’

Jen clapped her hands. ‘I am so very glad you think so! You see, I’m finding that I may be losing my heart to someone who is different from me in almost every way, but still, I have hope that we can overcome our diversity.’

‘Jen, that’s amazing!’ I was about to ask who the lucky guy was, but she stopped me in my tracks with a personal question.

‘So, how are things with you and Chris? I know that he loves you, I can see it in his eyes. You two have a flame between you, yes?’

‘That’s one way of putting it,’ I said, picturing Chris’ fiery hands on my skin the first time we’d kissed.

‘Do you choose him, Tara? Is he your everything? Or is there someone else?’ Jen’s keen stare compelled me to answer as honestly as possible.

‘Chris and I … it’s intense. It’s not something I was looking for. I mean, I wasn’t looking for anything, but if I was, I would have expected something more logical and steady.’

‘Like Henry?’

‘Like Henry,’ I admitted. ‘I like how I feel when I’m with Henry, but he’s so wonderful, I’m sure every girl feels that way. Besides, it’s a moot point. I’ll be Chris’ for as long as he’ll have me.’

Jen smiled widely, her dark eyes dancing. ‘That is so good to hear, my Australian sister. And look! Your everything arrives now!’

Sure enough, Chris pulled up in a buggy, the last contestant to arrive. He stood, his face brightening when he saw me. In navy cargo shorts and a long-sleeved white shirt, he looked ready for anything—including all the naughty stuff I’d do to him if I had the chance.

I had just enough time to dash to greet him, when the runners began to herd us along the bridge. As we stepped out onto the swaying structure, Jen ground to a halt in front of us.

‘Jen, are you okay?’

She gripped the rail as though the floor might be about to drop away. ‘I must admit something. I am not very good with heights.’

‘Merda!Why is it taking so long?’ Dante pushed past us impatiently, his heavy footfalls rattling the bridge under our feet. Jen shrieked at the movement and clutched the handrail harder.

Scowling at the disgusting Dante, I turned to my normally unflappable friend. She shook all over, her eyes bright with terror. ‘I can’t do it. I cannot. Go on without me.’

Even if she hadn’t saved me from Dante, or held me while I wept for Chris, there was no way I wasn’t going to help her. Jen is about the best human being I’ve ever met. ‘I’m not going anywhere. Here, hold on to me, and we’ll do this together.’

I folded her hand in mine and gently pried her off the rail. With Chris behind us, considerately blocking anyone else from moving past, we moved inch by inch along the bridge. Jen whimpered and kept her eyes closed for most of it. I couldn’t blame her; there were large gaps between the metal planks under our feet, and the vast space visible between us and the river seemed unreal.

Finally, we reached the centre, where Miles stood on a stepladder. A small team of guys were fiddling with long ropes and harnesses, and I felt a twinge of anxiety about what was about to happen next.

‘Greetings, contestants! No doubt you may have guessed today’s challenge—bungy jumping!’

Half the people cheered, the other half looked horrified. Jen’s ebony face turned a strange shade of grey, and I began to worry she might actually faint.

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