Chapter 4
FOUR
JJ
“Is this really The Wharf?” Brooke asked as they walked through to the outdoor area.
People milled about on the real wharf nearby, fishing and crabbing off the side. The tide was out, and the white sand dunes gleamed under the setting sun. The pub was already pumping for five o’clock. Groups of tradies sat around in their hi-vis, happy hour beers in hand.
Thank god Brooke hadn’t brought up the mortifying moment from earlier.
JJ had sworn her book was paused. As soon as the sultry female tones blared down the stairs, she’d almost left the house then and there—job be damned.
Sapphic romance was her kryptonite, and audiobooks kept her sane.
Listening to those stories made it feel like watching a movie while she painted.
“Uh, yeah?” JJ slid onto one of the chairs, back still aching from patching and sanding all day.
“I haven’t been here for over ten years.”
“Oh, right.”
Brooke took a seat opposite, still looking around with interest. It was nothing special—tired wooden tables dotted the outdoor area, varnish peeling.
The “new” outdoor space was now years old, worn down by the coastal beating of constant wind and sea air.
A warm breeze played at the nape of JJ’s neck, a gentle reminder to soak up every last hour of these balmy nights while autumn still masqueraded as summer.
“What are you having to drink?” JJ asked. “Beer?”
“Do you usually ask someone a question then answer for them?”
Brooke’s response was like a whip. JJ would’ve taken offence had she not seen the hint of curve at the edge of the woman’s mouth.
“My apologies. What would you like?” She mimed zipping her mouth shut.
“A beer, thanks. Whatever they have on tap.” Brooke batted her eyelashes.
JJ scoffed with a shake of her head and went to the bar.
Brooke was an intriguing woman, abrasive in her mannerisms yet somehow she still drew JJ in.
Her bristliness towards Hayley was slightly jarring to witness, and while JJ was now somewhat cautious, she still wanted to know more.
Who was this traveller extraordinaire? And why did she seem hesitant to even want to come out tonight?
Hopefully JJ could persuade her to at least help figure out where to go on this holiday.
Surely all that knowledge could be put to good use?
JJ placed an ice-cold glass of beer down in front of Brooke, taking a large and necessary gulp from her own pint.
“So, do you always listen to porn while you work?”
Beer sprayed all over the table and down her arm.
A few futile dribbles caught at the last minute when JJ finally clamped her mouth shut.
The couple at the next table turned to stare.
Just great. She snatched up a napkin, mopping at her chin.
Brooke waited, the ghost of a smile that said she was enjoying this way too much.
So much for getting away with not talking about it…
“It’s not—” JJ looked around, still dabbing at a few wet spots on the table. She folded the napkin and met Brooke’s eyes. “It’s not porn.” She whispered the last word. “It’s romance. And the stories are calming while I work.”
“Calming. Right. Interesting way to describe it.” Brooke’s eyes danced as she sipped her beer. She placed the glass down. “So, travel.”
JJ let out a breath. A much better topic. Though something told her it wouldn’t be the last she’d hear about the humiliating incident.
“When Hayley says you’ve been everywhere, she means…?” JJ enquired.
“Over a hundred countries and counting.” Brooke sat back in her seat. She wore the lightest of makeup, a dusting of freckles still showing over her nose and her skin was so gloriously tanned. Her whole look screamed world traveller the more JJ took it in.
JJ’s eyes widened. “Wow, she wasn’t kidding, you’ve been around the block.”
“A few times. So how can I talk you out of travelling around SA?”
“What do you mean?” JJ frowned and brushed some wind-blown sand off their table.
“It’s so boring. There’s literally nothing to do here. If you want to travel—travel! Get out and see the world. What about exploring the Colosseum in Rome or hiking up to Machu Picchu in Peru? Surely that’s more intriguing.”
A waiter brought out a bowl of wedges.
“Here,” JJ said. “Got us something to nibble on with our drinks.” She offered them to Brooke, then took one and dipped it into the sour cream, followed by the sweet chilli sauce.
“And I have to disagree about going overseas.” She pointed the loaded chip at Brooke then took a bite.
Brooke arched a brow and picked up a wedge. A small collection of bracelets coloured her left wrist, braided in blues and greens.
JJ sipped her beer and continued, “I love Adelaide and I love South Australia. It’s such a beautiful state, but I’ve hardly seen any of it.
Sure, I can see those other places, but they’re just another bucket list item, probably filled with thousands of tourists cramming into each other with selfie sticks and BO.
Anyway, I’d feel safer staying local to start.
But that’s my problem, I don’t know exactly where to start.
I don’t know how to plan a good itinerary. I just know I want it to be perfect.”
“And no interest in going interstate?”
“Nup.” JJ sat back in her chair and folded her arms. The location was non-negotiable.
Hopefully Brooke would actually help her, because right now?
All she seemed to be doing was arguing. If this was a date, JJ would be out of here as soon as she’d finished her last sip.
Why was Brooke so against her plans? And how could she not like Adelaide—her hometown?
Especially as someone so well-travelled.
Surely JJ could twist her arm on that opinion.
“Fine, what places do you want to see? If you make a list, you can then plot out the spots on a map and see if it’s easiest to see a bunch at the same time.” Brooke licked sour cream off her fingers.
JJ was momentarily distracted. She passed Brooke a napkin. “I don’t really have any particular places in mind. My housemate suggested going with a top ten list.”
Brooke reeled back. “You can’t do that.”
“Please, by all means, tell me how I should do it then.” This was like hitting a dead end with every idea she had. Read: nowhere. A kestrel hovered in the air nearby, ready to swoop down on its prey.
“Firstly, how do you want to travel? Are you looking to stay in hotels or resorts?” Brooke asked.
“I want to take the Subie—”
“The what?”
“My Subaru Forester. And I wouldn’t mind camping or whatever. I’m not there for the accommodation.”
“More like a road trip?”
“Yeah,” JJ replied, scooping another wedge with sauce.
Brooke nodded along. Finally, something they saw eye-to-eye on.
“Okay, and what sort of things do you think you’d be interested in? Wineries, food, history, nature, activities?”
“Nature would be my number one. History is interesting but in small doses, and I’m always up for good food. Activities-wise, it depends. I’m not interested in diving with the sharks, I know that much.”
“No diving out of planes either?”
JJ shook her head.
“Noted. No extreme sports.”
Brooke gazed out at the view, her long blonde hair fluttering gently in the breeze.
The tips were bleached lighter than the rest, which seemed more from the sun than an intentional effect.
Beaded earrings hung long on each side, the bright colours popping against her golden hair.
African maybe? JJ was still fixated on her face when Brooke started talking.
“Let’s try a simpler question: How long do you want to go for and when? Late this year, or early next?”
“I’ve got two weeks off work, and I’m leaving in three weeks.”
Brooke’s eyebrows shot up. “Three weeks!? And you’ve booked nothing?”
JJ held her glass in front of her face. “No?” she squeaked. Surely she still had enough time to work everything out? She dropped her head and groaned. “This is too hard. Maybe I should just pay someone to organise it for me. Do you have any travel agent friends?”
“You’re not using a travel agent.”
“Of course not.” JJ swatted at a couple of sticky flies hovering over their wedges.
“What do you mean?”
“Every single idea I’ve suggested for my trip tonight has apparently been ‘the wrong thing’ or ‘a bad idea’.”
A fly landed on her eye next. Swat. Then the corner of her mouth. Swat. Bloody, stupid—argh. Maybe she should just cancel the trip.
“I never said that,” Brooke said.
JJ levelled her with a stare.
“I don’t mean it in, like, a negative way. I’m just passionate. Travel can be such a life-changing experience—if you do it the right way. Get away from those tourist traps, get off the beaten path and find your own way. That’s when the magic happens.” Brooke fiddled with her bracelets.
“Why don’t you do it then?”
Brooke’s eyes narrowed. “Do what?”
“Plan my trip for me. I’ll pay you.” It was genius. JJ had no idea what she was doing. Brooke on the other hand…
Brooke chewed at her lip, eyes dropping to her beer. “I’ll think about it.”
It was a start. And that was more than JJ had before. “Can I give you my number? You can let me know when you’ve made a decision.”
“Sure,” Brooke replied, pulling out her phone and entering JJ’s number.
If JJ could get a world traveller to plan her trip, she’d be set.
Just the idea had the tension easing between her shoulders.
She’d be happy to hand over the reins to Brooke.
No more staring at a million options in front of her, trying to decide where to start and worrying about every single decision.
If the trip was organised by a pro, it wouldn’t just be a getaway from the monotony of her life, but maybe an epic holiday.
So long as Brooke decided to help.
If she didn’t, JJ had no idea what she was going to do.