Page 71 of The Side Road
Again, he bounced his hands up and down. ‘Universal sign. I need about three minutes.’ He pointed down the road.
She nodded. Returning to her post, she practised her bouncing hand movement as she walked to the curb.
As the next car approached, Mia signalled to the driver that there was an incident ahead. It slowed and took a wide arc around Oliver. The following car gave her a thumbs-up. Oliver changed the tyre, and the station wagon continued its journey.
‘Good work,’ Mia said with her hands on her hips.
‘Couldn’t have done it without you,’ Oliver replied. ‘Sorry, I yelled.’
‘Your life was in danger, I understand.’
Back on the bike, they headed for town. Oliver delivered Mia to her house. It was after four. Tash would soon be home from school.
Inside the front gate, Mia snuggled into his arms. ‘Do youwant me to…because I can. You didn’t get to add to your orgasm count.’
‘I need to get home. I’ve had a great day.’
‘It was wonderful. And you didn’t get run over.’
He kissed her gently on the lips. And then gently on her cheek, her neck, her chin, behind her ear. His tongue trailed across her skin.
‘I’ll be thinking about you all week,’ he whispered. ‘It’s going to be difficult to stay away. Call me any time.’
Feeling heady,Mia clutched the front fence for support as Oliver drove away. Her heart was the size of the moon. Something was unravelling inside her and the world needed to know about her picnic with Oliver. Blanche would love the entire story. Leo would find the tyre-changing incident hilarious. April needed to know about the picnic spot. Tash would laugh when Mia told her about the young man in the car playing with Oliver’s hair. But Mia wouldn’t tell any of these people. One picnic meant nothing, and Oliver was right; they had Tash to think about.
Later that evening, Holly phoned to check on the date. ‘You sound happy,’ she said.
‘I am happy. But get this, he wore double denim.’
‘Tell me that’s not true.’
‘That would be lying. With a brown belt and tan boots.’
‘Light or dark denim?’
‘Light pants, dark shirt with Italian sunglasses and…a white T-shirt underneath his shirt.’
‘Did you get a photo?’
Mia laughed. ‘No. And you’re not allowed to lust after my Monday man. But honestly, it was like aVoguephotoshoot.Country setting by the river, vintage motorbike, picnic rug, and a Labrador.’
‘What are you wearing on your next date?’
‘No idea.’
‘What about the white lace shirt? Guys like that innocent girl-next-door look. And a lace bra – men love that. That’ll teach him to wear double denim.’
23
JACK BROWN
The following day,Oliver waited at the school gate for Tash. If he wasn’t there, she would catch the bus. An afternoon walk suited his stay-at-home routine and his daughter needed the exercise. He left the Citroën on the far side of a nearby park, and they would stroll via the river back to the car.
As Tash passed through the school gate, she tossed a book at him. ‘Blah,’ she said. ‘I have to read this, which means you have to read it too.’
Oliver caught the book on his chest. It wasRomeo and Juliet.
‘Not happening.’ He handed the book back to her.
