Chapter 12
TWELVE
JJ
JJ had never been so thankful to have her car fixed and be finally—finally—pulling up to their accommodation. They were glamping and she had no idea what to expect.
Brooke came out of the station’s front office, keys and booklet in hand. “Okay, I’ve got the park map and the lady highlighted our site along with what roads to get us there. The tents are near the edge of the park and apparently have some of the best views.”
JJ followed her directions, coming up on a row of tents with enough space between each to not feel overcrowded.
Tent wasn’t the right word. “Now I know why they call it glamping—this is the size of a cabin!” It towered next to the car with a 360-degree verandah and built on solid metal stilts.
Theirs was right on the end and overlooked dense scrubland set before red cliffs which climbed up to the very edge of one of the ranges.
“Wait till you see inside.” Brooke jumped out of the car, dashing around the side of the tent and out of view.
JJ would usually unpack first and take a couple of bags with her—less trips that way—but FOMO won out as she leaped from the car.
She jogged to catch up with Brooke, who was unlocking the doors—because apparently their “tent” had full glass sliding doors across the entire frontage.
The latch unlocked with a loud click and Brooke pulled it open.
“After you.” She waved one hand between herself and the entryway.
JJ stepped over the threshold. It was stuffy, already warmed from the morning sun and smelled like canvas with a hint of hotel soap.
The khaki green walls had expansive zip-open windows and fly screens.
The ceiling was held up by a tall, pitched roof with the thickest poles she’d ever seen.
With circus vibes, this tent was no instant thirty-second pack-down.
A king-sized bed took up most of the room.
“Oh.” Brooke walked in behind her and stopped short, turning to JJ. “Didn’t you book the twin tent?”
“I don’t know. I just clicked on the link you sent and paid. You were organising the itinerary.”
“Well, surprise!” Brooke joked. “Pretty sure you could choose from the drop-down menu.”
JJ turned to leave. “I’ll go and get it fixed.”
“I doubt there’d be any available tents to switch to.
They’re usually fully booked.” Brooke sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“It’s fine. I guess you and I already slept in the back of your car last night.
At least with a king, it’ll feel like we’re basically sleeping on opposite sides of the room.
It’s probably more space than the twin singles anyway. ”
Sharing a car space in sleeping bags was one thing, but sleeping in the same bed? Well, Brooke didn’t seem bothered… so she wouldn’t worry either.
After everything, it was just nice to be at their accommodation and get a proper start on this relaxing holiday. No more hiccups, just following the itinerary and having fun.
“What’s this basket?” Brooke asked across the room.
JJ crossed the room to a small cabinet setup with a mini fridge, kettle, and tea and coffee supplies.
“I dunno.” JJ poked her head over Brooke’s shoulder, spiced vanilla hitting her senses.
Brooke picked up the small card lying on top of the basket. “Brooke and JJ,” she read out. “We were sorry to hear of your troubles in getting here. Please enjoy this complimentary picnic basket of local produce on us.”
JJ took the card with its neat, printed handwriting.
“Aww, that’s so nice,” Brooke said. “All I did was email them this morning to explain our non-arrival last night. Oh look, they’ve given us a local trail map. Fancy an afternoon hike and picnic?”
“Thought you’d never ask,” JJ said, setting down the card, ready to get into nature on their own terms.
Rather than taking the entire basket up the hill, they packed their day packs, splitting the load between them. After changing into their hiking gear, they made their way out to Emu’s Nest, a relatively short but steep hike that promised views of the ranges at the top.
Brooke led the two of them with long, confident strides as she manoeuvred her way up the path in front. JJ followed, her pulse racing.
Loose rocks and half-sunken pebbles lined themselves along the rich red earth; the ants using the trail’s well-trodden paths for their routes between their colonies.
There was no way JJ was stopping, those things looked mean.
Every time she stepped near them, they changed direction and dashed for her shoes.
The landscape was a better focus; a mishmash of greens, all blending into one another between native shrubs and tall gums humming with birdlife that echoed through the trees.
“Going okay?” Brooke asked around halfway up. She was visibly out of breath. At least JJ wasn’t the only one feeling the effects of the near constant elevation.
“Yeah, good.”
Brooke had checked in a few times along the way, always making sure JJ was all right.
She never stormed ahead or made her feel left behind.
Courteous. That’s the word she’d use for Brooke.
Still very incongruent with the woman seen back in Adelaide with her sister.
Though JJ had a glimpse in the cafe when she’d tried to push a little.
Clearly, even a little was still too much.
JJ brushed away the thoughts along with the two flies ferociously buzzing around her ears and continued their upwards trajectory.
The flies were so distracting, JJ ran headfirst into Brooke’s behind as she came to a halt on the steep slope. JJ stumbled, reaching out and grabbing onto Brooke’s hips instead to steady herself.
“Sorry,” she said, dropping her arms and straightening. She really needed to pay attention to her surroundings.
Brooke turned, but instead of asking about JJ’s mishap, she brought a finger to her lips.
“Shh.” She gestured in front of them with her chin.
A few metres up the path, JJ spotted it: a mother kangaroo and her joey, grazing to the side.
The joey lounged in the pouch, one paw on the ground as it lazily nibbled at a clump of wild grass.
They slowed their steps, making sure the mother knew they were coming.
She hopped a few metres away, then stopped, not seeming fussed by their passing proximity.
“How cute!” Brooke said. It took everything in JJ not to remind her travel companion she wasn’t meant to be enjoying this destination, but she didn’t have it in her to ruin the moment.
After another hour, they reached the peak. The trail broke out of the trees and onto a flat expanse of red rocks. The last section had been an absolute scramble as the rocks grew larger and harder to clamber over.
JJ took in the complete panoramic views of the ranges surrounding them. “Well, this was worth the effort.”
“Not bad,” Brooke admitted. “I’ll agree, photos don’t do this place justice. The sheer scale of the ranges is something else.”
They stood side-by-side, taking in the views.
They hadn’t seen anyone else on the trail, and with no one else at the peak, the entire place was theirs.
Brooke found a flat rock nearby that made the perfect raised platform for their picnic.
JJ sat opposite Brooke as she unpacked their goodies—cheese, salami, crackers…
“Oh, my favourite,” JJ commented as Brooke pulled out a small tub of quince paste.
Sitting atop the mountain, JJ’s mind slowed. Work schedules, failed dates and wondering if Jess was respecting her furniture, all took a backseat in her mind. The sun poked out from the clouds, her whole body breaking out in goosebumps. She tipped her head back, soaking in the warmth.
“I needed this,” JJ almost moaned.
“I can see that.” A wry smile played on Brooke’s face.
“I’m sure it’s not as fancy as all the faraway places you’ve been, but how can you not like this? Sitting here in the middle of nowhere, eating fancy cheese with amazing company?”
“Mmm, debatable,” Brooke said, head tilted and smile still in place, her blonde hair catching the light just so.
She was really very pretty. It suddenly struck JJ that she was going to be sharing a bed with her tonight. She swallowed.
“I’m happy to be travelling again, even if I do wish it was anywhere but here.”
That was the second time Brooke had uttered those words. Why was “here” never good enough for her, never to be discussed? JJ tamped down her question. Instead, she asked, “Have you travelled much with other people over the years?”
“Mostly alone. But I’d usually end up in group trips to places, or hanging with all sorts at a hostel. Occasionally I’d end up with someone to travel with briefly.”
“Travelling with them, like as a partner?”
Brooke laughed. “No. I don’t do relationships. Just friends. Travel buddies. Or you know, a bit of fun here and there.”
“Right.” JJ took a bite of salami. She couldn’t have been more opposite to Brooke if she tried.
Just the thought of one-night stands sent a shudder down her spine.
How could people open themselves up like that to someone they didn’t know?
Call her a romantic, but she wanted dates, chats—a little getting to know them first. “I don’t know how you do that.
I’m a relationship girl, or at least, I would be if I found the right woman.
” JJ shoved all her recent failed dates to the back of her mind.
“Relationships don’t work for me,” Brooke said, topping a biscuit with cheese. “I’m never in one spot long enough for it to mean anything anyway.” Brooke gave a half-hearted shrug.
“God, we’re a pair of sad sacks then,” JJ replied.
“Hey, at least I’ve been jumping in the sack.”
“Lucky you.” JJ did not want to think about that with Brooke in all matter of—
“So women, huh?” Brooke asked as she cut off a large wedge of cheese and popped it straight in her mouth.
“Yep. You?”
Another shrug. “Usually guys, or whoever I gel with. I've had fun with a girl or two in my time.”