Page 17 of Steel Beauty

“Not a chance. Surfing’s strictly a spectator sport as far as I’m concerned, but I’d be happy to watch y’all.”

“What else did Julius Caesar recommend?” Sophie asks.

“He said the Blue Mountains are a must—great hiking trails, stunning views, definitely worth a day trip.”

Whitney takes out her phone. “That sounds incredible. Adding it to the list.”

“And then there’s the Sydney Opera House,” I continue. “Apparently, they have way more than opera. There’s theater, concerts, all kinds of performances.”

Sophie taps her chin thoughtfully. “I wonder if there’ll be any good concerts while we’re here.”

Elijah raises a brow. “What else didherecommend?”

I throw in a casual shrug. “He mentioned climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.”

Sophie’s eyes widen. “That’s a thing?”

“Apparently.” A grin tugs at my lips. “But Julius Caesar said he’s never done it… and never will.”

Whitney laughs. “Smart man.”

Elijah shoots me a sidelong glance. “You seem to have gotten a lot of recommendations out ofJulius Caesar.How long did you talk to him?”

Is he still trying to make something out of this?

Whitney hums thoughtfully, changing the subject. “The coastal walk sounds good.”

Sophie’s face lights up. “Ooh, I’m so in!”

I knew Sophie and Whitney would be the perfect work friends for this trip. And I knew Elijah wouldn’t be. “Great. We’ll do the walk and the market tomorrow.”

Elijah slouches in his seat, shooting me a look I pretend not to notice. “Guess Julius Caesar gave you our whole itinerary.”

I shrug, taking a sip of my drink. “He lives here, so it’s solid advice. I trust him more than Google.”

“Let’s make a toast.” Whitney raises her glass. “Here’s to making the most of Sydney for the next three months.”

We lift our glasses in agreement. I lean back, letting the conversation flow around me, ignoring Elijah’s obvious disapproval.

The warmth from the drinks thrums through my veins, smoothing out the edges of the long day. I’m not drunk—not even close—but there’s a nice buzz settling in, making everything feel a little lighter.

Sophie stifles a yawn, and Whitney gives her a knowing look. “It’s been a long week. I don’t know about y’all, but I’m ready to call it a night.”

Sophie nods, rubbing her eyes. “Yeah, I’m still not adjusted to this time zone.”

I swirl the last sip of my drink, reluctant to end the night. “Y’all head up. I might stay for one more of these.”

Whitney’s gaze flickers toward Elijah, who’s still nursing his whisky and looking way too comfortable. If I stay, he will too. He’d see it as an open invitation.

I force a smile. “Actually, you know what? I’ll call it, too.”

In the elevator, the conversation fades. When we reach our floor, Whitney, Sophie, Elijah, and I step out together, exchanging soft goodnights before heading to our separate rooms.

Inside my room, I kick off my shoes, unbuttoning my shirt halfway before pausing. My fingers hover over the buttons as an idea curls at the edges of my mind.

The Rabbit Hole.

I reach for my phone, typing in the name and watching as the location pops up on the map. It’s only seven blocks from the hotel. Close enough to walk.

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