18. See Any Drop Bears?
SEE ANY DROP BEARS?
TARA
The following evening, I arrive back at the apartment after work where Kylie is waiting for me by the door. Toulouse is hanging over her shoulder like he’s known her all along.
“Not much of a guard-cat, are you, little man?” I scratch behind his ear, and he purrs.
“He is so freaking cute. He was playing fetch before. We’ll be heading straight to the animal shelter as soon as we get off the plane when we get home,” Kylie says, just as Seth comes in from the balcony.
He pauses at the door, raising an eyebrow.
“And who’s going to take care of a kitten when we’re both travelling for most of the year?” he asks.
Kylie turns to him with a smile. “Adele,” she replies, batting her eyelashes.
I cough to cover a laugh. “Does your cousin know she’s been nominated as the cat sitter?”
“Well, she basically lives at our place these days, anyway, so she can earn her keep,” Kylie replies with a shrug.
From the look on Seth’s face, I can tell he’s resigned himself to the fact that he’s about to become a cat dad.
“Anyway. I’m glad you’re home. Go get ready, we’re going out.” Kylie points towards my room.
“Um… I really don’t feel like going out.”
“Tara. I am in town for one night, and then I’m gone for another six months. Get your ass in a dress, we’re going out. Jake and Bri will be here in like half an hour.” Kylie stares me down, and I sigh, giving in.
There really is no point in arguing with her. Just would have been nice to have advance warning that I was required to be social.
“So is it everyone, or just Jake and Bri?”
Please don’t say everyone, please don’t say everyone .
“It’s everyone. Well, not Morgan. She had something on. But everyone else.” Kylie at least has the sense to look a little sheepish.
Great, not only do I have to be social, but I have to be social with Will.
Seth gives me a sympathetic look when I walk past him, on the way to my bedroom. No doubt he wasn’t given a say about being social either.
Kylie follows a moment later, going to my wardrobe to dig through my dresses.
“So, what are we doing?” I ask, taking the dress she hands me.
“We’re going to South Bank for dinner, then we can go wherever the night takes us.”
I guess that doesn’t sound so bad. Hopefully, the night will bring us back to the apartment where I can get into my PJs and hang out on the couch.
Two hours later, we’re sitting at one of the restaurants overlooking the river, the seven of us crowded into a booth with several plates of food in the middle of the table.
Kylie has been filling us in on their month long road trip through outback Queensland and up into the tropics, and it’s hard not to feel a little jealous.
Since our holiday two years ago, I haven’t really done much more travel, but she’s well and truly caught the travel bug.
Thankfully, Seth is more than happy to bank roll their adventures.
At least she’s got her job as a tour guide to keep her happy while he’s playing hockey.
I don’t know if she would ever be able to go back to a regular job ever again.
“So, Seth. See any drop bears while you were out there?” Will asks with a smirk.
“Nope, but then, I guess they could tell I come from somewhere with real bears to worry about,” Seth shoots back, a wry smile on his face.
This isn’t the first time that someone has given the poor Canadian a hard time about the Australian wildlife, but he just takes it in his stride. He’s pretty reserved, but it doesn’t seem like much fazes him.
The guys start ribbing each other while Bri turns to me with a curious look. “So, what’s this about Singapore?” She’d heard me mentioning it to Chris, who is attending on behalf of his office as well.
I shrug. “Apparently, I’m going to Singapore.”
“That’s huge, though, right? They don’t send just anyone on those sorts of trips.” Bri smiles, her eyes wide.
“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know… It just doesn’t seem like it means much. Aiden just pulled some strings with Daddy. For all I know, David will change his mind and I won’t even get to go,” I reply, aware of how bitter I sound.
“Well, good for Aiden. He knows you deserve it. I mean, I only met him for a few minutes last weekend, but he seemed really nice. And hot. And he is one hundred percent on the team Tara train.” Bri wiggles her eyebrows.
Kylie snorts. “You’ve been waiting for years to do that to her, admit it.”
“Do what?” I ask .
“That eyebrow wiggle. It’s payback for all the times you did it to us when you knew we were being stupid about boys.”
“I don’t do that,” I argue, and they both laugh.
I don’t like this.
“Seriously though, what is it you don’t like about him? He seemed really nice,” Bri says.
“He’s just… he’s annoying! He keeps showing up everywhere I am. He acted all heroic last week when he interrupted my date, like I needed saving,” I grumble.
“Which you did,” Kylie replies.
I scowl at her before continuing. “And he was at my dance class last night. It’s like he just knows everywhere that I’ll be when I’m trying something new. I can’t escape him.”
“He was at your dance class? You didn’t mention that.” Bri completely ignores my complaining.
“Yep. Showed up late and was all ‘look at me, I’m such a good dancer’.” I sit back in my seat, crossing my arms.
Kylie grins. “Admit it. You were turned on when you saw he could dance.”
“I will admit no such thing, because it’s not true.”
“Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.” Bri’s grin is almost evil.
“What happened to you? You used to be so sweet,” I say, trying to glare at her, but failing because it’s impossible to be mad at Bri.
She’s too nice.
“Kylie happened,” Bri replies.
Kylie laughs and gives a little bow. “Thank you.”
“You both suck,” I say, pouting.
They laugh again, before Kylie puts her arm around me and squeezes. “You know we’re just teasing. But also… I think you should give him a chance. I mean, he did volunteer to wash your pussy.”
My mouth drops open while Bri begins laughing so hard she almost falls out of her seat .
“I’m sorry. What was that?” Will’s head snaps around and stares at his sister, his eyebrows shooting up.
Of course, this is the moment that the guys tune in to our conversation.
“Tara’s boss helped them wash the cat last weekend,” Jake answers, because both Bri and Kylie are still gasping for air, tears running down their faces.
“Trust you to make that sound dirty,” Chris says, shaking his head at Kylie.
“There was nothing dirty about it,” I interject, feeling my face heat up.
“There wasn’t. But that was funny,” Bri says, holding a hand to her stomach. “I don’t think I’ve laughed like that in ages. I’ve missed you, Kylie.”
“I haven’t,” I grumble.
“Don’t lie. I’m awesome, and you know it.” Kylie pokes me in the ribs and I bat her hand away.
“Nope, I haven’t missed you at all.” I poke my tongue out. “How do you put up with her, Seth?”
Seth just watches the pair of us from across the table, an amused smile on his face while he shakes his head. “Wouldn’t have her any other way.”
Kylie melts beside me, a soppy smile spreading across her face while she looks at her boyfriend.
Yeah, those two are pretty perfect together.
After dinner, we decide to walk into the city, the others not quite ready to head home yet.
As we cross the bridge from South Bank to the top of the Queen Street Mall, we hear music playing, and move towards it.
“Oh, this must be the dancing that Sylvia mentioned yesterday,” I say, watching the crowd of dancers moving quickly to the latin music being played by a DJ .
“Who’s Sylvia?” Kylie asks, her eyes trained on a couple who sweep past, their bodies moving in sync, as though they were born to dance together.
“A lady I met at dance class. She was saying she’d seen people dancing in the city and that’s where she found out about the classes. This must be what she was talking about.”
“This looks like so much fun! Let’s get a table there.” Kylie points towards the bar overlooking the makeshift dance floor.
We look at the guys, who shrug and follow behind us while we take over the only empty table left.
“So you’re learning to do this?” Will asks, glancing at me before returning his gaze to the crowd.
I know it took a lot for him to start a conversation with me, aware of my feelings these days, so I decide to be charitable and not be a complete bitch by ignoring him. “Yeah. I’ve only had one lesson, though.”
“Not true. We did those classes together a few years ago. You were pretty good, too,” Kylie says.
The smile on her face when she looks between me and her brother lets me know she’s happy we seem to be getting along. I don’t have the heart to tell her that things will never be the same between Will and I.
“Wait, isn’t that Aiden?” Bri asks, pointing to a couple in the middle of the crowd.
I sigh. “Of course it is. Because at this point, where can I go that Aiden isn’t going to show up?” I look away, not wanting to watch while Aiden pulls his partner in close and then dips her backwards.
I refuse to acknowledge the stab of jealousy that appears when I recognise the woman from the door at our class last night.
“He’s really good,” Kylie comments, staring at my boss.
“Yep. He knows it, too.”
“Seriously, T… If he can move like that… Imagine what he’s like in bed,” Kylie says .
Seth chokes out a laugh from where he’s standing behind her, his arm slung around her waist. Kylie just shrugs, grinning.
“I don’t want to imagine what he’s like in bed, Kylie. He’s my boss.”
Chris looks over to where we are all staring. “Is that David’s son?”
“Yeah. The one that knows nothing about insurance but got John’s job anyway,” I reply. Not that I’m bitter, or anything. “Maybe we should just go.”
“No! Let’s dance, come on.” Kylie tugs my hand, trying to get me to follow her.
“You don’t know how to dance like this,” I protest, not ready to humiliate myself yet.
“So? There’s plenty of people out there that clearly do not know what they’re doing. Come on, T. Live a little.”
I give in, allowing her to drag me behind her, but not before I grab hold of Bri’s hand and force her to join us.
Within minutes, the three of us are laughing while trying to keep up with the beat. It’s not until the next song that I notice Kylie has been moving us slowly towards where Aiden is dancing, and I glare at her.
“What?” she asks, batting her eyelashes at me.
“You are pure evil, you know that?”
“Moi?” She places a hand to her chest and widens her eyes.
“Oui,” I reply, and she smirks.
“I have no idea what you’re insinuating. I’m just dancing.” She shimmies her shoulders, actually managing to keep time with the music as she does it.
As I’m trying to think of a reply, Aiden glances towards me, doing a double take when he recognises me. I give him a small wave, attempting to appear casual.
“And look at that. He’s coming over here.” Bri grins at me, while I pretend not to notice when he says something to his partner and turns our way .
“Hey. Wasn’t expecting to see you here. Hi, Bri,” he says once he’s at my side, nodding towards my best friend.
“Hey, Aiden. You were pretty good over there.” Bri nods back towards where his former dance partner is still watching him, her eyes narrowing slightly when she looks at me.
“Thank you.” He looks at Kylie. “Hi, I’m Aiden.” He extends a hand towards her, and she shakes it with a smile.
“Kylie. We actually met briefly, at the bar where you guys met.”
Aiden cocks his head slightly. “Oh right, the bridesmaid with the giant boyfriend.”
Kylie throws her head back and laughs. “Yep. He’s over there.” She points towards where the guys are chatting and glancing our way.
Keeping an eye on us without being overbearing.
“Would you like to dance, Tara?” Aiden’s voice waivers while he looks at me.
I hesitate for a moment, not sure what to do.
“She’d love to,” Kylie answers for me, pushing me towards him.
I stumble and place my hand against Aiden’s chest to steady myself, before turning to glare back at her over my shoulder.
“Oh, look at that, Jake and Seth are calling us,” she says with a grin, grabbing Bri’s hand and pulling her back towards the guys.
None of whom are calling either of them.
Bitch.
“So, dance?” Aiden asks, raising an eyebrow.
I nod, because there’s no point in trying to get away now. It would just be rude to say no, now that my best friends have abandoned me.
He takes my right hand and pulls me in closer, placing his other hand on my lower back. Wordlessly, he steps forward, and I mirror him, remembering the basic salsa step we’d learnt yesterday.
I’m surprised at how well I’m keeping up, but I guess when you’re dancing with a partner who knows what they’re doing, it’s easy to just let them lead you.
“So, that’s all your friends?” he asks, looking towards where everyone else is gathered around the table.
“Most of them,” I reply, Aiden’s eyes meeting mine.
“The other three guys are Kylie’s brother, Will, Bri’s husband, Jake, and our friend, Chris,” I point them all out.
“Chris used to work for Sanderson’s,” I add, and Aiden looks back over, his eyes resting on Chris while he laughs at something that Kylie just said.
“Oh yeah. Damien mentioned that a guy who used to work there got you the job.”
I stiffen. “He didn’t get me the job. I interviewed for it after he told me there was a job going,” I say, moving to pull away.
His grip on me tightens. “Relax, Tara. I didn’t mean it that way.”
Although my defensive side wants me to walk away, there’s something stopping me. Perhaps sensing my crumbling resolve, he leads me into a spin before dipping me backwards with practiced ease. My left leg lifts slightly of its own accord, almost as though my body automatically knows what to do.
I draw a sharp breath when his face hovers above mine, our lips only centimetres apart. I hold his gaze for a moment, before he moves us upright again. I’m basically a rag doll in this man's arms, and the non-feminist side of me is revelling in it, shutting down my usual defences.
By the end of the song, we’re both breathless, and there is way more eye contact than I’m able to process.
“Ready for another dance?” We’re interrupted by his former dance partner, who appears out of nowhere, placing a hand on his arm.
She barely looks at me, while Aiden hesitates, glancing at her before looking back at me.
I step back. “He’s all yours. I’ll see you later, Aiden. ”
I don’t give him a chance to say anything else, turning on my heel and all but fleeing back to my friends.
“That was hot,” Kylie says the second I’m in earshot.
“Shut up. We’re leaving.”
Although I’m met with six surprised looks, no one argues with me while I snatch up my jacket and handbag, marching off.
For the rest of the evening, I refuse to give any more ammunition to the mess of emotions cycling through my head. Because no good can come from admitting to myself that there is more to things with Aiden than I want to acknowledge.