That One Summer (The Summer Series), Page 27

  Chris rubbed the back of his neck. “A bet’s a bet.”

  “You’re unbelievable,” I scoffed.

  “Why, thank you,” he laughed.

  “It’s not a compliment.”

  Chris smiled at my curt response as we entered the main room of the club. He guided me to the side of the dance floor, out of the way of the flow of traffic.

  “I guess I kind of tricked you today when you thought I’d left the apartment.” He looked down on me.

  “You did,” I said, hypnotised by the disco lights dancing across his face.

  “Are you sorry I did?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sorry I kissed you?”

  I shook my head. “No.” I reached out and traced my fingers down the strip of his thin black tie. He looked so beautiful in his suit. I had never seen him suited up before; he was born to wear it. He stepped closer to me as if encouraging me to touch him.

  A smile tugged at the edges of my mouth as my eyes lifted to his. “You look really nice tonight,” I said.

  Chris broke into a brilliant white smile, his teeth glowing in the disco lighting.

  He looked away and I followed his gaze to the others on the dance floor, to the familiar scene of Sean spinning Amy around like a rag doll and Adam and Ellie tearing up the floor in the most disturbing uncoordinated way.

  “Dance with me?”

  Chris hadn’t looked away from our friends. I watched his profile, thinking I had imagined what he had just said. I had to have. In all the times I had been to the Onslow, I knew one thing for sure. Chris Henderson most certainly did not dance.

  He broke his eyes away from the revellers and looked at me expectantly. “Well?”

  “Are you serious?” I asked.

  “I’d never joke about such a thing.” He grabbed my hand and led me onto the dance floor.

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Oh, to hell with it, you only live once.

  “One beer and one of those horrendously toxic blue cocktails!” I shouted above the pounding of the music.

  I felt a body squeeze in next to me. “Make that two beers, and two cocktails, please.” Tess waved a fifty at the bartender.

  “Having fun?” She leaned into me so I could hear her.

  I nodded. “I am. I can’t believe I nearly didn’t come.”

  “What? And miss out on hanging with us? Surely not.” She elbowed me playfully.

  “It feels so weird, I feel like I’ve hardly spoken to you these past few days.”

  “Yeah, well, I haven’t exactly been the best company lately. I feel actually really bad, I feel like we’ve dragged the group down,” admitted Tess.

  “Come on, now you’re starting to sound like Ringer,” I said.

  Tess smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. The most natural thing would be for a friend to ask how things were between her and Toby, to be supportive. But I had been avoiding them ever since Evoka, or otherwise too wrapped up in Chris to fully notice what was happening between them. I looked into Tess’s sad eyes. I was such a bad friend.

  “Are you okay?” I asked as the barman slid the drinks in front of us. “Put your money away, I got this,” I said, handing over a fifty dollar note.

  “Thanks,” Tess said, reaching for her cocktail like it was a lifeline.

  “If it wasn’t bad enough that Toby has been running hot and cold this entire trip, now I have to try to deal with Ellie.”

  I choked mid-sip of my cocktail, working myself into a violent coughing fit.

  Oh God.

  “Ellie? What about Ellie?” I rasped.

  “You haven’t noticed? She’s not herself tonight, is she? I think she had been crying before but she won’t tell me anything.”

  Oh God, please put two and two together, I thought, if not now then soon. I knew I was being selfish, but if she worked it out herself then I wouldn’t have to get in the middle of it.

  I was by far the worst friend ever – sitting on vital information for Tess, just so I could enjoy myself. I should have come out with it the second I had left the bushes in Evoka; instead of marching in the opposite direction I should have ploughed through those bushes and confronted Toby and Ellie there and then. How different the trip would have been. We probably would have all turned around and gone back to Onslow straight away.

  “Do you think you could speak to Ellie? Try to find out why she’s upset?” asked Tess.

  If anything, the thought of finding it hard to dislike Ellie wasn’t a problem anymore; in fact, looking into Tess’s troubled eyes made it all the easier.

  “Sure,” I lied.

  “Thanks, Tammy, you’re the best.”

  If only she knew the truth.

  ***

  “It’s not ten to yet, why are we heading back?” called out Adam, trailing behind the group as we headed back up the garden path to the reception lobby.

  “Because, as a whole, our time-keeping skills leave a lot to be desired,” said Sean.

  “Still doesn’t explain why we’re meeting at reception, anyway,” said Stan.

  Sean sighed. “Oh ye of little faith, trust me; I have something worked out.”

  “Amy?” Stan asked.

  “Hey, don’t look at me, I haven’t a clue what Captain Cryptic is up to,” she laughed.

  Sean, as usual, loved every minute of our confusion.

  I leaned into Chris. “Do you know?”

  He curved his brow at me. “He’s my business partner, he’s under contract to tell me everything.”

  “So do you?” I pressed.

  Chris shrugged. “I haven’t a bloody clue.”

  The main foyer was deserted (as would be expected in the lead-up to the most hyped-up occasion of this century). I kind of felt sorry for the lone staff member that had drawn the short straw and had to work tonight of all nights.

  Sean walked over to the desk, leaned against it and talked in hushed tones to the cheery fellow behind it. The man nodded at everything Sean said, checked the computer, and nodded some more.

  “What on earth is he up to?” Bell said as we all looked on, wondering the same thing.

  Sean walked back over to the group, his brows drawn in a no-nonsense, serious frown.

  “Right, you have ten minutes to use the little girls’ and little boys’ rooms, or whatever you need before we meet back here.”

  “Do I have time to go grab my camera?” asked Tess.

  “As long as it doesn’t take any longer than ten minutes,” Sean said. “Shall we all sync our watches?”

  “Oh, for God’s sake, Sean. Back here in ten, everyone.” Amy rolled her eyes and dragged him to the elevator.

  Everyone moved quickly, all in opposite directions – some slid to the elevators to go up to their rooms; others headed for the reception toilets. I thought myself particularly crafty as I headed for the poolside Ladies’ room, knowing I would be able to be in and out more quickly. By now, the pool was long abandoned and all the sun-lounge mattresses had been hooked over the backs of the chairs to dry out for the night.

  I hurried into the Ladies’ room I was almost blinded by the bright fluorescent lighting that reflected off the gold tap fittings and black and gold marbled countertops.

  As I finished my business, I made sure I didn’t commit the ultimate disaster: I checked for toilet paper stuck on my shoe, or, worse, my skirt tucked into my undies. I unlatched the cubicle and froze in surprise.

  Ellie stood by the basin, nervously wringing her hands together. “Hi, Tammy. Can we talk?”

  I made a direct line to the sink, pumped the hand-soap dispenser and turned the elaborate gold tap.

  “What could you possibly say in seven minutes that I would want to hear?” I said coldly, deliberately avoiding her eyes.

  “Do you think Tess will be mad?” Ellie’s voice was sad, almost inaudible.

  I slammed the tap off. “Oh my God, Ellie! You think?” I yelled, my voice echoing off the tiles.

  Tears wel
led in Ellie’s eyes. “You can’t help who you love,” she said, her chin trembling.

  “The thing is, Ellie, sometimes there has to be a line drawn, and you know what that line is for? So you don’t fucking cross it.” I was so angry, so absolutely enraged that I had been put in this position, to be sought out by her and just before we all had to meet back.

  Ellie was crying and my face flushed crimson.

  I breathed deeply. “Do you love him?” I asked, not knowing entirely why I did.

  Ellie’s big blue eyes lifted to mine in surprise. “I think I’ve always loved him,” she said.

  “Does he … Does he love you?”

  Ellie thought for a moment. “I don’t know. As a friend, yes, but I don’t know about … more.”

  “I hope it’s worth risking everything for,” I said. “Risking your friendship with Tess, your friendship with everyone for.” I moved toward the door.

  Ellie reached out to stop me.

  “Please don’t say anything, I don’t want anyone to know,” she said, her eyes pleading.

  The hairs on the back of my neck rose and my blood chilled in a way that almost scared me as I pulled away from Ellie’s grasp.

  “I have been tortured long enough by your secret; if you don’t tell Tess about you and Toby, then I will. Don’t think for a second I won’t.”

  I pushed past her, ripping the door open and storming into the night. I was so angry, angry to the point that hot tears burned in my eyes.

  Perfect.

  “Tammy, wait!” Ellie’s panicked call followed me, causing me to walk faster. I had had enough of talking. I didn’t know what Sean had planned, but I didn’t really care. I just wanted this year to end and, like Adam said, have all the sins of the ’90s washed away forever. Ha! We should be so lucky, because little did everyone know that it was only the beginning, the beginning of a bigger nightmare that would tear us all apart, and the worst of all?

  It was up to me to do it.

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  I stormed back to reception.

  My sole intent was to make it to the elevator without being spotted, only to be stopped dead in my tracks as a hand snaked around my arm, making me yelp.

  Chris.

  “Where do you think you’re going? We’ve only got five minutes … What’s wrong?” Chris’s brows narrowed.

  Before I could answer, Ellie ran into the reception and skidded to a halt upon seeing me and Chris. Her eyes were all bloodshot and her mascara had smudged a path down her cheeks.

  The three of us stared at one another, frozen and silent. To speak was to confess, and now was not the time. No time was the time. I was about to ask Chris to take me away from this place, to just get in his van and drive until it was the New Year and all the hype, all the expectation was over with. I knew he would, too. I knew that, without question, he would take me away and that was what I loved about him most.

  Sean broke the silence, his cheerful upbeat voice echoing through the large space as he re-entered the room with Amy in tow.

  “Look out!” Sean paused and looked at each of us, one at a time. The scene before him must have been comical. Chris separating two tear-stained, dishevelled chicks.

  Sean’s eyes narrowed on Chris. “What the hell have you done?”

  “Me? I haven’t done anything,” Chris said incredulously.

  “Well, you have thirty seconds to sort it out.” Sean jangled a set of keys in his hand.

  The elevator door dinged and slid open.

  “Finally!” Sean walked away, leaving only Amy’s uncertain gaze fixed on us.

  “Um, can this wait?” she asked.

  “No!”

  “Yes!”

  Ellie and I spoke at exactly the same time.

  I turned to Chris, my rock, my saviour, my …

  “You heard the man – sort it out.”

  My traitor!

  Chris brushed a strand of hair behind my ear as he leant down to brush his lips against my temple. “Sort it out,” he whispered.

  Pulling away, he winked before abandoning me to join the others near the elevators.

  I slowly turned to meet Ellie, her hands fisted at her side. Her angry eyes flicked briefly from me to the others. She grabbed my hand and dragged me into the alcove of the nearby Internet kiosk, away from prying eyes.

  “Who were you talking about just now?” she asked, her eyes wild, her voice demanding.

  I couldn’t believe this girl. “Oh, please, who do you think I’m talking about?”

  Ellie looked at me incredulously. “Well, Adam, of course, who else could you possibly …”

  The penny dropped as she slowly gained her composure; I saw it in her eyes – her big, blue, horrified eyes.

  “You thought I was talking about Toby?” she gasped.

  Oh God, this was awkward.

  “How could you even think that I could do that? Tess is my best friend. Toby is like a brother to me!”

  I wanted to crawl into a hole.

  “Ellie …”

  “Like you said, there are lines you don’t cross. To think that you even thought for a second that that was one I would have …”

  “Ellie …”

  “Oh my God, who have you told? Does anyone else think that?” Ellie cupped her cheeks in horror.

  “No! No one,” I said, shaking my head. “I haven’t told anyone, I swear.”

  “But why did you think that? Did I do something? Say something?” I could see Ellie’s mind racing at a hundred kilometres an hour.

  I had nowhere to look but at Ellie; I owed it to her not to look away. What could I say? By what they were saying, by how they were acting, I naturally thought they were having an affair?

  Oh God, even repeating it inside my head, it sounded really, really lame. And worse – not only had I gotten it wrong, but I had gotten it so very, very wrong.

  I had ruined the trip for myself, almost ruined it for everyone, based on nothing but a misunderstanding. And now, hurt and tears were in Ellie’s eyes, whose crime had been nothing more than having feelings for her best friend. Was it midnight yet? I wanted the Y2K bug to make the planet burst into a ball of fire or whatever was predicted already and end us all.

  It was the only thing that could save me from the shame that made my insides hurt.

  I stepped forward and grabbed Ellie’s shoulders.

  “You did nothing wrong, it’s just me and my stupid over-analytical imagination.” I let go of her shoulders and grabbed her hands. “Ellie, I am so, so sorry. Please forget everything I’ve said. I guess I was just trying too hard to figure out what was happening between Toby and Tess and you know what?”

  “What?” Ellie sniffed.

  “It’s none of my bloody business; it’s none of any of our business. Yeah, it’s human nature to worry about them, but it’s out of my hands. It’s something that they have to sort out on their own. I’m just sorry I didn’t realise that before. Then I wouldn’t have gotten into this mess.”

  “I guess it was only natural to assume Ellie ‘the whore’ was the reason,” she scoffed sadly.

  My shoulders sagged. “Ellie, you are not a whore, you are a good friend – a great friend. If you weren’t you wouldn’t care about liking Adam and how it might affect your friendship with Tess.” Ellie’s eyes flicked up to mine, as if something I had said resonated with her.

  “Why would Tess be mad if you liked Adam, anyway?” I asked.

  Ellie opened her mouth to speak but then thought better of it. I guess I couldn’t blame her for feeling guarded around me. When she actually did speak, her words surprised me somewhat.

  “Me, Tess and Adam have been friends all our lives. Best friends. Our bond is something that can’t be explained and it’s so incredibly precious to me I don’t know if it’s worth risking.”

  “Well,” I said thoughtfully, “I know I’m the last person on the planet that you should probably take advice from right now, but someone showed me that sometime
s if you step out of your comfort zone you can experience some pretty amazing things.”

  “That someone sounds like a very wise person,” Ellie mused.

  “He is.”

  Ellie sighed. “Truth is, I don’t know the answer right now, and it’s not a decision I’ll make lightly.”

  “Well, that’s smart too. Even if you don’t know now, in time you will and if there is something else that I’ve learned, it’s that best friends are there to listen to you. Don’t shut Tess out.”

  Silence fell between us.

  “Ellie, I’m really sorry.” I swallowed hard.

  She smiled. “You know, you actually scared the hell out of me. You were so mad.”

  I cringed.

  “Tammy, I know you don’t always feel a part of things with us, but for what it’s worth, whether you like it or not you’re one of us. You just proved it.”

  Tears blurred my vision. “I wish I’d proved it in some other way.”

  “You have; you proved it in the way you care about Tess and Toby, about wanting to do the right thing, by the way you love Chris.”

  My eyes snapped up to see Ellie’s knowing smile.

  She nudged me with her hip. “We all know,” she said. “How about we just find comfort in the truth and move on?”

  It was like music to my ears. Before I could tell her that I wholeheartedly agreed, footsteps sounded up the passage and screeched to an abrupt halt.

  Adam.

  His brows rose in surprise as he parted his suit jacket and plunged his hands into both pockets of his slacks.

  “Sean says if you’re not there for countdown he is going to haunt you for the next millennium.”

  “We’re coming,” said Ellie. “Just had some gossip to catch up on.” Ellie looked at me, her mouth tilting into a crooked line.

  Adam’s eyes shifted to me uncomfortably and I knew he had just gotten the completely wrong idea. Why the heck would I tell Ellie about my mistaken kiss?

  “We were just speculating what Sean was up to, is all,” I said. “Any clues?”

  “None, but if you hurry up I think we’re about to find out.”