Page 23 of Going Overboard

‘I’m not drunk!’ I snap, standing up to prove it, except I forget about my ankle, and?—

Splash.Into the fountain I go. Bum first. It isn’t deep but I’m soaked – and kind of stuck.

Out of nowhere Al appears – shirtless, of course – to lift me out of the water like the superhero he is.

‘Don’t worry, I’ve got you,’ he reassures me, smiling his face off, clearly happy to get to be heroic and topless. ‘And you can have my shirt, to wear as a dress.’

I bet I can.

Brody – because that’s actually his name, it turns out – appears at my side.

‘Come on,’ he says, helping me limp off towards reception.

‘Are you okay?’ he asks.

‘I’m fine,’ I mutter. ‘Just wet and shocked.’

‘Normally I’d make a joke,’ he tells me. ‘But I meant about… all the other stuff.’

I know he did.

‘Yeah. I mean, no. But, whatever. It is what it is. I suppose we’re in the same boat.’

‘You look more like you’re out of it,’ he teases. ‘Well, if you’re drunk, no reason not to get drunker, right?’

‘An excellent point,’ I reply. ‘But first I need to book a room.’

‘Did you say a room?’ a hotel employee who happens to be passing asks.

I nod.

‘Fully booked, sorry, love,’ he tells me.

‘Ah, wonderful,’ I blurt.

Brody rummages around in his pocket for a second or two.

‘I’ve got a room,’ he reminds me. ‘Go shower. Get changed into your new gigantic shirt dress. Rejoin the party when you’re ready and I’ll buy you a drink.’

‘Really? Are you sure?’ I reply.

‘Absolutely,’ he says.

I’m about to thank him when he glances over my shoulder and bursts out laughing.

‘What?’ I ask.

He gestures behind me.

‘I still can’t believe you thought that car park sign was pointing at me,’ he chuckles.

I narrow my eyes.

‘And I can’t believe your name’s not Ryan.’

‘Well, it is in a way,’ he replies. ‘Ryan’s my surname. Brody Ryan.’

‘Erm, okay, good for you,’ I say, not sure what else he’s expecting.

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