Page 3 of Going Overboard

‘Yeah, okay, you too,’ Mario replies as he makes a move. ‘You’re a legend, by the way.’

Mario practically runs away, his moustache finally falling off, landing on the floor next to us.

Wow, just like that, gone as fast as he arrived, and it didn’t take magic words, as such. Just any words spoken by a man. Bro code – ugh. Still, at least he’s gone.

I turn to look at my hero. My tall, dark, handsome hero. He has messy brown hair and eyes hidden behind mirrored sunglasses, giving nothing away. His cheeks dimple as he smiles, showing a gentler side – I suppose something has to offset those bulging muscles and tall frame. Even sitting down, it’s impossible not to notice.

‘Hi,’ he says, grinning.

‘Hi,’ I reply, unable to keep a matching smile from my own lips.

The sunglasses, the tight black t-shirt – I can’t tell if he’s giving secret agent or Balenciaga model or both.

‘He seemed nice,’ he replies.

I let out a short, breathy laugh.

‘Yeah, no, not at all,’ I say. ‘Thank you for that. He was… persistent.’

‘That’s polite,’ he replies. ‘What are boyfriends for?’

‘True,’ I say, my smile widening by the minute.

‘Anyway… I’d better get going…’

I can’t form sentences in time to stop him in his tracks. He’s gone, disappearing into the crowd, leaving me feeling like I’ve had too many cocktails (or not enough) or like a little heatstroke made me hallucinate the whole thing. I can’t help but stare into the crowd, waiting to see where he’s gone, if he’s coming back…

‘Oi, Jessa.’ A voice snaps me from my thoughts.

I turn to see Todd standing there with a beer in one hand and a piña colada in the other.

‘Wow,’ I blurt at the sight of the huge glass, overflowing – probably due to the sheer volume of garnishes and various other bits in it (two umbrellas feels like a bit much).

‘You said surprise you,’ he says, sweat dripping from his brow.

‘Consider me surprised,’ I reply. ‘You were ages – I didn’t realise it was so busy.’

‘Ah, no, I got distracted, watching the match on one of the big screens,’ he confesses. ‘Your drink might be a bit melty. I’d drink it ASAP.’

‘You’re a bit melty,’ I tease him.

‘Well, that’s no way to speak to your boyfriend,’ he jokes. ‘Anyway, who was that, sitting next to you? Someone you know?’

‘Oh, no, I don’t know him,’ I reply. ‘He was just…’

‘…Just after our table, eh? Did you tell him to piss off?’

‘I didn’t need to. He just left,’ I reply simply.

‘This is why we think you women are so mysterious, FYI,’ he tells me. ‘You never say what you really mean.’

‘I am always telling you wh?—’

‘So mysterious,’ he says again, turning his phone sideways, giving away exactly what he’s doing. Putting the match on. From where I’m sitting it looks like football – but by that I mean I can see a lot of green and a lot of men. It could be anything.

I drain the last of my sea breeze before making a start on mypiña colada. Wow, even though it’s melting, it still gives me the most intense brain freeze.

With Todd immersed in his sport, I feel just as alone as I did before he got back. Well, minus my brief encounter with my heroic yet mysterious stranger.

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