Page 16 of Rush
‘Better dig up some good old throwback photos.’
‘Some days I just want to post a photo of him and call it a day on this whole secrecy thing. It’s tiring. You know, we haven’t had a real date in years? The last one was two years ago, he flew us out to Bali where nobody knew us. And then he visited there again last year, solo, and got swarmed by fans. There’s no escape.’
‘Stop escaping, then. Just get it all out there and go on with your lives.’ Esme suggested.
Savi had thought about it endlessly. But she had brought it up with Jesse before, and he wasn’t game. He was right, though. Their life together as they knew it would be over. Jesse’s world was an intimidating one, and he was just trying to keep Savi out of it.
‘What’s new with you?’ she sighed.
‘Sav, I saw you three days ago. I know you’re trying to change the subject. But anyway, there is nothing new with me, my life is very mundane and boring, and my relationship is perfect.’
‘Great, thank you for rubbing salt in the wound.’ Savi wished she had a beer.
‘You’re very welcome,’ Esme teased. ‘Oh, have you seen any of the articles about Marco?’
‘Articles?’ Savi questioned. She had been steering clear of her phone, trying to fully unwind and enjoy her timewith Jesse before being dragged back to reality. She was only chatting to Esme because he was on a call.
‘He’s gone off the rails!’ Esme said it like it was exciting, something fun to gossip about.
‘In what sense?!’
‘Oh, not in a Brett-Anderson-Drinking-Problem sense,’ she waved her off, referring to Brett’s battle a couple of seasons ago. ‘But he was seen leaving a club in Paris withtwoleggy blondes last night and yesterday lunchtime he was photographed kissing a completely different woman slap bang in the middle of the viewing platform on the Eiffel Tower. Then, today–’
‘Wait, wait, wait. Slow down, Ez,’ Savi hushed her right as Jesse appeared, shirtless. He gestured for her to continue her call and sat down opposite her, taking a bite into his Danish. ‘Marco isn’t that kind of guy, is he?’
‘No, which is why this is such a huge thing! So today, he was snapped on his yacht in Monaco, stark naked with afourthwoman!’ Esme’s eyes were wide.
‘He’s just living his life, let the poor man be!’ Savi knew this wasn’t like him, but why shouldn’t he have a little fun? Everyone was entitled to; it was just unfortunate that his adventures were being documented in the press.
‘But do you think this is because of me?’ Esme grimaced.
‘Umm… honestly? Probably. But it might not be! Maybe you rejecting him has made him shift his perspective and he figured life’s too short.’
‘I reckon this is the new Marco, you know. I hope it is. Anything to stop him crying at parties over me. God, that was horrendous.’
‘Maybe he’s mad at you now. And me, for letting him pour his heart out. He’s channelling his rage into a string of meaningless sex.’
‘Can you blame the bloke?’ Jesse chimed in from across the table. ‘He’s heartbroken, gotta let him get it out of his system. Sex is a good release.’
‘Hey, Jesse!’ Esme shouted.
‘Howdy, Esmerelda,’ he replied, to which Savi offered her a sheepish smile.
‘How did you kn—’ But before she could finish, Jesse had leaned over, shut the computer lid on her and taken Savi’s face in his hands, leaning in close to capture her lips with his own.
‘We were talking,’ Savi smiled up at him, not in the least bit offended. It was his and Esme’s thing, fighting over having Savi to themselves.
‘I know. But I also know she’ll call you when this Marco guy hits the press with his fifth sexual conquest of the week.’
‘Want to hike to the waterfall?’ Savi asked, desperate to get her nature fix. Despite growing up on a ranch, surrounded by dust and dirt, she was a water baby at heart. Lakes, rivers, pools. It was where she was happiest.
‘Sure. Let me go and pack the essentials.’ By that, he meant beer, water, snacks and sunscreen. None of which he would let her carry, despite the fact she was an athlete and was more than capable of lugging a backpack over some rocky terrain.
It wasn’t until they reached their favourite waterfall an hour later that Jesse finally relaxed. He may have done thissame hike every time they came here, but he was pretty pathetic at it. He complained that everything hurt, that his walking shoes were rubbing, the bag was heavy, he could feel the sunburn coming on and that the hike was far longer than he remembered. The view, aka Savi stripping off and standing on a rock with zero clothing on, shut him up.
‘You always do this,’ he smirked.
‘Why wouldn’t I? Nobody’s around. Just you, me, and nature.’
