Page 47 of The Devil's Tattoo

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Chapter11

“Who knew Canberra was this boring?”Dee complained as we dumped our bags into ourhotelroom.

“It’s our nation’s capital,” I replied. “It’s full of government types and disgruntledlocals.”

“Ugh,politics.”

“My thoughtsexactly.”

“What are we going to do today? No show. Nointerviews.”

“There are some nice museums?” Ioffered.

A devilish grin crept onto his face. “Poolparty!”

“It’s not springbreak,Dee.”

“Don’t be such a downer, Zo Zo. It’s hot out, and there’s anoutsidepool.”

“I’m not into swimming that much. You go and have funforme.”

“You don’t have to swim,” he tried to convince me. “You can check out all the hot guys without theirshirtson.”

“I don’t like your tone, Dee.” I smirked at him. “Anyway, I don’t have anybathers.”

“So?”

“So I’m not swimming in myunderwear.”

“I don’t think anyone will complain.” That earned him a sharp slap on the arm. “Ow! Seriously, go shopping with Simone.We’llbe bythepool.”

When I called Simone, she was all for it. It wasn’t long before I found myself in the car on the way to the closest shopping center. Maybe a lazy day by the pool was just what we needed, especially after last night’s episode at the pub in the middle of nowhere. If anyone had gotten wind of what went down between Will and me, nobody had uttered a word. In fact, on the bus this morning, everything seemednormal.

The lunchtime rush was bearing down on the shopping center when we got there, and we had to circle a few times to findapark.

“I want this to be quick and painless,” I said, much to Simone’samusement.

“Not much of ashopper?”

“Nope. In and out. That’s how I like it. Snatchandgrab.”

Just inside the entrance was a large Target, so I dragged Simone inside and went straight for the bathers. I rifled through the rack and pulled out a black bikini. It was boy shorts and a halter top, so it wasn’t that revealing. My color. My size. Thirty-fivebucks.

“I’m done,” Ideclared.

“Bloody hell, Zoe!” Simone cried. “We’ve been here tenseconds.”

“Ten secondstoolong.”

“Give me a minute,” she said and began looking through theleftovers.

She held up a bright blue floral one-piece suit, and I shook my head. She held up a black and white polka dot number, and I nodded. “I think this is it,” she said, and as an afterthought, she came out with, “What happened lastnight?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, knowing exactly what she was onabout.

“You and Will. I saw youarguing.”

I shrugged. “It wasnothing.”