Chapter 10
Boxing Day
Queenstown, NZ
Will
Yesterday’s news about Kat’s family’s flour mill shutdown has nibbled at my happiness like that blasted mouse they found. Kat said we shouldn’t talk for a while. How long is “a while”? Should I wait for a few days to talk to her again? A week?
The Christmas break will be over soon enough, and I don’t want to waste time. Wait… does she actually believe her parents? Does she think my parents had anything to do with it? How could she even think that? She should know by now.
I will not let this get between me and Kat.
My night has been virtually sleepless. I tossed and turned then went out for a run in the middle of the night. At 7am sharp I’m at the lodge for breakfast. Something’s not right. With Kat’s parents and with breakfast. I sniff the air. Something’s burning!
I sprint to the kitchen and take the toast off the rack and tip the eggs out of the pan. Where is everybody?
I head to reception where I find my parents and my brother huddled up together around the computer screen, and John is off to the side checking his phone.
"Is everything alright? The toast was burning."
My mum is wringing her hands. "We have ten new reviews on TripAdvisor. All one-star.”
"All from Queenstown. New users." Daryl's words give me a sinking feeling.
“It's the Featherstones, in retaliation for whatever they think we might have done."
I sigh. The timing of this is pretty damning.
"Try to have the reviews removed. I'll talk to Kat."
I turn around to the kitchen and sigh. The lodge is my parents' livelihood, their independence. Without it, without customers coming through the doors, they're bereft. Surely Kat or her parents wouldn't have stooped so low. I dial her number while buttering some fresh toast. She doesn't answer. I sigh. Okay, Kat, have it your way. I decide to message.
Will: Good morrow, liefde. I miss you.
Will: By the way, someone review bombed the lodge last night. Would your folks know anything about it?
She answers straight away.
Kat: No. Please stop messaging me.
I put my phone on the table and tuck into the eggs and toast. We have a small amount of time until the holidays are over. The clock is ticking. Surely she wouldn’t say she loves me if she believes such horrible things about my family. This all is mighty strange. I need to get to the bottom of it. Then I need to get Kat back.
“Relax, little bro,” Daryl says from across the living room. He’s caught me looking at the gate yet again.
I exhale and pull my shoulders back. I'm tense when I'm not around Kat. “I am relaxed.” A lie.
Daryl picks up another beer from the ice cooler and raises an eyebrow. “Like an icepick. Or a tree.”
“Or a potato.” John chimes into my brother's crescendo of madness.
“You two deserve each other.” I glance around at the people around the pool. Still no Kat. “You told me Kat was also invited to this party. That's why I came.”
Daryl nods. “Yep. Big Seb’s invited everyone, like a reunion for old friends. Except you keep on hiding.” He mutters the last bit.
I shrug. “I said hello to everyone. Even played a blasted round of Uno.”
John coughs. “And lost.”
“I can't win everything, can I? But where's Kat?”
Daryl puts me out of my misery. “I heard from Christelle that she's running late because of some family drama. Maybe her aunt in England?”
I sigh with relief. So she's coming. At least I have a chance to speak with her. Present my side of the story. Win her back.
“Not so fast. She'll be here in ten to fifteen minutes, and you're out here looking like…this.” Daryl gestures around me and John nods.
I touch my hair and my shirt. “What? I'm washed. I didn't even get in the pool. I'm wearing a shirt. What's wrong with it?”
Daryl arranges my unruly curls to one side. “Now unbutton your shirt.”
I splutter my drink. “What? No. You can't be serious.”
“Show her the goods.” Daryl is dead serious.
“I can't. Please don't make me do this.” I can't imagine being shirtless in front of all my old schoolmates.
“You don't have to take it off, just unbutton it a bit. Tease her.”
I sigh, defeated. It's worth a try. Maybe. I take another drink, roll my eyes and unbutton my shirt.
“Perfect. Now we wait.”
I’m beginning to worry that Kat meant forever when she said “for a while.”
“Hey man, how's it going?” Nikos approaches us with a wide smile. “Feeling hot?”
“A little,” I say embarrassingly. How else am I going to explain this artifice.
Daryl coughs, clearly tired of being ignored.
Nikos grins. “Hey Daryl, I didn't see you there. How's it going?”
“I’m well.” Daryl turns slightly away from Nikos, crossing his arms over his chest. “John and I are engaged.” He doesn’t even make eye contact with Kat’s cousin, letting his gaze roam out over the crowd as if the partiers are more interesting than the conversation.
“Good to hear.” Nikos turns back to me, basically blanking Daryl. “Say man, we should hang out sometime, for old time's sake.”
I look over at Daryl who's mouthing “ No! ”. I furrow my brow. “I'm a bit busy now but we should catch up at some point. See you around man. “
I grab Daryl's elbow, and we walk together towards the other end of the pool. “What was that?”
“I've always had a bad vibe about Nikos.”
This is news to me. “Okay, whatever. I just want you to know I got your back, big bro.”
There's a commotion at the gate, and Kat appears under the arches in bloom. My jaw drops. She's wearing a blue see through dress with her two piece swimsuit underneath. I grip my glass tighter to make sure I don't drop it by accident and stride forward.
Daryl stops me. “Nu-uh. You're not going there. Let her come in, get her bearings.”
“See the six pack,” chimes in John.
“See the six pack,” Daryl echoes.
“Please, I need to talk to her.” I don't want to physically push my brother to the side even though I'm much larger.
“Your time will come.” Daryl pats me on the shoulder, and I sulk.
Kat spots me from a distance and her eyes widen. She doesn't come my way, instead she starts chatting with various girls from our school. The same girls who propositioned me earlier one way or another. I narrow my eyes.
“She clocked you. Good, it's working.” Daryl pats me again. “Let's go grab some food at the buffet, John. He can handle it from here.”
I don't feel like I can handle anything right now. I'm standing with an unbuttoned shirt in the middle of a pool party, while the woman I love is just a few metres away. In a see-through dress.
I take my eyes off Kat for a moment to take in my surroundings. Big Seb’s done well for himself. Large house in Sunshine Bay, a wife, four kids. As if I’ve summoned him, Big Seb walks to my side. “Haven't seen you in forever, man. What are you up to these days?”
Seb and I have always had an easy friendship. We were the tallest in school, so we bonded over the shared predicament. “This, and that, you know.”
“Fast cars and women.” He chuckles.
I look over at Kat, who's chatting to other friends. “Only one woman interests me.”
Seb smiles. “When you know, you know. That's what it was like for me.” He pats me on the back. “Good to see you. Now go and get her.”
I nod, turn away to find Kat, and body slam into someone. I grab them by the arms to steady them and look down. “Oh Fuck ! Kat! Are you okay?” The woman I love is in my arms, and I can't believe I've hurt her.
Kat chuckles. “Hey big guy, watch where you're going.”
I regretfully release her, and she smooths her barely-there dress. “I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry. I would never hurt you.”
Her eyebrows raise, but she doesn't leave. Is she… looking at my torso? To test this, I put my hand on my abs and her gaze follows it. Her mouth opens to say something and then closes. Damn that Daryl, he was right.
I strike the iron while it's hot. “Can we go somewhere more private? I need to talk to you.”
She nods and walks towards the house. I'm aware of everyone's gazes and I frankly don't care.
She settles on a sitting area, not the main lounge. Public but private. Undecided. She oozes onto the leather sofa and tucks her legs under her. The barely-there dress rides up, showing her thighs, and I gasp, but try to mask it with a cough.
I sit down next to her. This is going to be painfully uncomfortable. “I think someone is trying to sabotage both your family and mine. And our relationship.”
My words shatter the silence.
She narrows her eyes. “This sounds very far-fetched, Will. Very cloak and dagger. Someone planting the mouse. Someone leaving the one-star reviews.”
I pick up her hand and bring it to my lips, then put it on my bare chest, holding it there with my own. “While racing, I've made lots of enemies. If I win, others lose. Money, sponsorships. I'm not saying it's them, but there are plenty of people who want to see me out. And what better way than to do the dirty on my family? And the family of the woman I love. “
She shudders. I’ve kept my distance for so long, but now is my chance to tell her exactly how I feel. I can’t give up on us. Not now, not ever.
“I want you to know that my feelings haven't changed. I love you. I need you.”
Kat looks down, her hand still on my chest. Her voice is a whisper. “I love you too. I trust you.”
I nod and envelop her in my arms. “We need to find out who's behind all of this.”
“Glad to see you lovebirds made up!” Daryl’s head appears around the corner and Kat squeaks. My arms clench tighter around her, and Daryl’s eyebrows bounce up and down a few times. “Time for a game of Uno, me thinks.”
I sigh, ready to protest, but Kat unfolds from the couch and pulls me up with her. “I would love a game of Uno. We could have our little side bet, Will.” She winks at me.
“Game oooonn!” I shout.
Kat
Will's green eyes dart from his cards to me and the others. Smugly, he puts down a +2. I shout Uno and put down another +2. John grumpily picks up four cards. When it's my turn, I put down my last card and everyone claps. I kiss Will on the cheek and head off to the side, to let them battle it out. And to plot what Will owes me for our side bet.
“Kat, babe, you thrashed them! Love it!” Big Seb’s wife Christelle is arranging some asparagus rolls and cheese rolls on a platter.
I chuckle. “Haven't played in ages. Shame you couldn't join us.”
“Nah, one of the kids wanted cuddles.”
“Do you need any help?”
“Maybe you can carry this tray, and I'll carry this other one.” She points at a charcuterie platter.
I grab the tray and follow her outside towards the pool. I glance back towards Will and blow him a kiss. I came tonight specifically to see him. It’s going to make my parents so angry, but I can’t help it. We’re meant to be.
“So you and Will, eh?”
“Yep. What do you think?”
“Long time coming really. He's had a crush on you since forever.”
We put the platters on the table, and Christelle rearranges the napkins. She's always been a perfectionist.
“Everyone keeps saying that. I… never knew. Never noticed.”
Christelle smiles and winks. “Sometimes the most obvious things are right under your nose. Hey, totally unrelated, I love your bracelet.” She points at my leather wristlet and gently takes my hand to have a look.
“I made it. You know me, always tinkering.”
“You're super talented, Kat. You should open an online store. And I'm sure the local gift shops would be delighted to stock your work.”
“You're too kind, Chris. I can't imagine anyone would want to buy something I made.”
“No way, you're just talking yourself down. I haven't told you this, but I do screen printing.”
My mind is racing. “You've always been so talented at art stuff, I'm not surprised. Say, maybe we could collaborate on some pieces. T-shirt, skirts, dresses. Hit me up before I go back to York.”
She cocks her head. “So you still intend to leave.”
I let out a sigh. “My life is in York. My job. My friend circle.”
Chris raises her eyebrow. “And what about Will? He lives somewhere glamorous like Monaco, doesn't he?”
I bite my lip. “Indeed he does. We’ll see.”
Chris nods sagely.
Will bursts out of the lounge, an eerie energy about him. “Well, at least I'm not last.”
He wraps an arm around me.
“Are you like this when you're racing? Super competitive?”
Will notices Chris and chuckles. “Oh, Hi Chris, didn't see you there. Pretty much. I get restless.”
Christelle picks up her phone. “Can I take a photo of you two?”
Will frowns, looks at me. I shrug. He purses his lips. “Okay. Then maybe send it to me or Kat please.”
Chris nods and takes a few steps back. “Okay, get closer please.” Will pulls me even closer. I look up at him. “This is good! You look down at her Will.” Will obeys and smiles when he encounters my gaze. “All done, take a look.”
Chris passes us her phone to check them out. They're all great. Will's brow is furrowed in concentration.
“This one.” He chooses the last one, where we both gaze in each other's eyes.
“You can post it, Kat, and tag me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. Seems more official that way. Making a statement.”
I check the photo sent by Chris again and post it on my Instagram and tag Will in it, then let out a breath.
Daryl runs past us. “Last one in the pool is a sloth.” He divebombs into the water.
Will shrugs, discards his shirt and jumps in, splashing me.
“You…” I shake my fist. I spent half an hour doing my hair this afternoon.” For you. That remains unsaid.