Chapter 20
TWENTY
JJ
“Coffee?” the waiter asked.
“Yes, please. One latte and a long black,” Brooke said.
They were back at the balloon operator’s headquarters waiting for their gourmet breakfast as part of the activity’s package.
JJ picked off more grass from her pants.
Even though they’d been warned the basket usually ended up on its side, it was still a terrifying experience to go through it.
JJ had clasped at Brooke’s hand for dear life and refused to open her eyes the entire bumpy landing.
When she did, there was dust, dirt and all sorts covering them.
“And for the Big Breakfast, how would you like your eggs?”
“Runny—for the both of us please,” Brooke answered again.
JJ’s eyebrows rose. How thoughtful. It wasn’t often someone remembered how she liked something. They’d only had eggs once—on the morning of their helicamping adventure.
Even in her drunken state, sleep hadn’t come easy for JJ last night.
She’d started a list in her head of all the ways she could go about talking (or not talking) to Brooke about their kiss.
Something that mind-blowing wasn’t easily forgotten, and while she wasn’t looking to date someone like Brooke, she couldn’t deny that over the last week Brooke’s company had been far better than any date she’d been on recently.
It was like trying to bring two opposing magnets together—she liked Brooke, was attracted to Brooke…
but Brooke wasn’t who she’d pictured herself with.
Yet here she was, wanting to kiss her again—and asking to kiss her again.
Explain that to her brain.
The plan she’d come up with was simple. JJ was on holiday, trying new things.
Brooke had already opened her eyes to living a little looser, a little more in the moment.
So, JJ wanted to do that with Brooke. Without going all the way, JJ would lean into whatever was brewing between them and have some fun—Brooke style.
More flirting, more touching, and hopefully, more kissing.
If they stayed friends, they’d probably laugh about that one time they took this amazing trip together, shared a hook up or two, and that was that.
She just had to find out how Brooke felt about everything.
JJ had tried to ask, but with their ill-timed balloon landing, she’d been left hanging in the sky.
Her knee bounced. Now to work it back into the conversation… somehow.
“So, would you do another balloon ride?” Brooke asked.
“In a heartbeat.” JJ’s stomach growled and she laughed. “But I have to say—not a fan of the early morning rise. I’m starving. Though, at least I’m not hungover like I thought I’d be. That could’ve made for an interesting ride.”
“Yeah, same. A good night’s sleep can help stave off the worst of it.” Brooke leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. “So, halfway through the trip tomorrow—how are you feeling?”
Wow. Already?
“After that rocky start, I'm glad things have smoothed out a bit.”
“Yeah, how's your butt by the way?” Brooke gave her a lopsided smile.
“Fine now, thank you. How’s your hate for South Australia going?”
Brooke pursed her lips, a smile tugging at the sides. “Just peachy, thank you. I told you it’s not hate; I find it boring—remember?”
JJ cocked her head to the side. “And have you been terribly bored so far?”
“Oh, shut up.” Brooke looked away, pink dusting across her face. “It’s been… more enjoyable than I thought it’d be. I’ve even surprised myself with some of the things I planned.”
“Maybe—” JJ paused for a moment, not sure how far to push the conversation.
“Do you ever think maybe you were basing your dislike—sorry, boredom—on your past, like some old negative association, or something? Like you said when you first saw The Wharf, things have changed considerably since you were last here, and you’re also a different person.
Maybe Adelaide deserves another chance?”
Their waiter placed two steaming Big Breakfast plates in front of them. Brooke shifted her plate closer, not replying.
JJ cleared her throat, picking up her cutlery and slicing into her eggs and toast. “I know you get uncomfortable talking about these things, so you don’t have to say anything more on the topic. Just think on it and know I’m here if you ever wanna talk.”
“Thanks,” she finally said, a conservative smile in place.
At least Brooke hadn’t bit her head off this time.
Now to spit out what was really on JJ’s mind. No more avoiding.
She just had to say it.
Right now.
Her heart picked up speed.
“Okay, new subject. What do you think we’re doing?” There. Conversation initiated. JJ had her plan, but first, did Brooke even want a repeat?
Brooke covered her mouth with a hand as she finished chewing, then spoke, “As in tomorrow? We’re heading to Deep Creek.”
How was Brooke making this even harder? “I mean us.” JJ waved a hand between the two of them. “Was the hot tub just a one-time thing for you? Or…”
“I don’t know yet. As of half an hour ago, I only just learned you wanted a repeat.”
God, Brooke kept her cards close to her chest.
“But do you want to?”
She still hadn’t answered the bloody question. JJ’s knee continued to bounce.
Brooke sipped her coffee, eyes flicking to JJ. “I… wouldn’t be opposed to that.” A twitch of a smile as she set down her mug.
JJ’s stomach swooped, heart now thumping. “Well, would you, uh, be open to multiple repeats, but maybe establishing some rules?”
“Rules?” Brooke said, eyebrow arching.
“Yeah, like this.” JJ brushed her leg against Brooke. “Don't think I haven't noticed your arm and hand holding lately. Do you want more touching?”
Brooke scoffed and looked away, cheeks reddening. “I don't hold your hand.” She frowned.
JJ leaned forward. “Uh, yeah you have. Multiple times. During that hailstorm—”
Brooke folded her arms, eyes flicking back to JJ. “We were running for our life down a mountain.”
“Still counts. Then again—on the bus.”
Brooke shifted in her seat and shook her hair over her shoulder. “I thought you were asleep. We were drunk.” Her neck was flushed now.
“Okay, fine. I'll take touching as a no then.” JJ pretended to strike it off her imaginary list.
“Hey, I didn't say I didn’t want more touching!” Brooke unfolded her arms, face scrunched.
It was like arguing with a toddler. JJ couldn't help but smile, a light huff coming out with it.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Do you ever hear yourself and think: hmm, maybe I'm just arguing for the sake of arguing?”
“No,” the stubborn woman argued back.
“Right. Think I'm just going to drop this topic.”
Heat rolled through JJ as she ran a hand through her hair, dropping Brooke’s gaze and going back to her breakfast. What was the point? At least she’d asked.
Maybe Brooke wasn’t interested after all?
Everyone else sat around laughing and swapping stories of their balloon ride experiences. JJ cut into her bacon, intense focus on her next mouthful.
After finishing her bite, Brooke piped up, “I do.”
JJ set her fork down, heartbeat ramping back up. Did Brooke just say what she thought she said?
“Do what?” JJ wanted to make her say it.
“Want to hold your hand… more.”
JJ’s grin bloomed.
This time Brooke moved her leg under the table, brushing against JJ’s.
Back and forth. Brooke looked up through her eyelashes, but instead of the usual playfulness JJ had come to expect, a vulnerability shone through.
Uncertainty? Nervousness? I don’t date echoed in JJ’s mind, a reminder that while Brooke happily slept around, maybe she hadn’t explored the softer sides of a relationship.
And though this wasn’t technically a relationship, it was more than a one-off fling. An extended fling of sorts.
“Well, I do want to kiss you more,” JJ said. “Preferably, beyond just hooking up in the hot tub. But just kissing might be as far as—um—what I’m comfortable with.” Her face heated again, burning all the way to the tips of her ears.
Brooke nodded. “I can do that.”
“What if—”
Just say it. It's time for fun JJ.
“What if we made this a holiday fling for the rest of the trip. Nothing serious. No dates. We enjoy the week for what it is.”
Brooke stared, as though checking if JJ was serious.
A smile slid into place, another brush against JJ’s leg. “You're on.”
The rules were set.
Brooke in bathers had JJ wanting to break all her rules.
JJ tried not to spill the wine she was pouring while Brooke climbed into the hot tub.
The rest of the day had been relaxed. A walk around the grounds of their accommodation’s vineyard, a chat with the owners and a late afternoon nap. Afterwards, they’d enjoyed a lazy dinner beneath the stars before changing into their swimwear and heading back for the tub.
JJ handed Brooke a glass and stepped into the hot water. “Cheers—to one more week of bliss.”
“Cheers to that.” Brooke clinked her glass to JJ’s.
JJ's whole body buzzed with the high of the moment.
She took a leaf out of Brooke’s book and wedged herself right next to her on the bench seat. Skin slid against skin. JJ sipped her wine. Anything to keep her hands busy. Her fingers twitched on the stem. JJ’s mind was fixed on the tanned shoulders pressing against hers.
She’d been thinking about this moment all day, playing out all the possible scenarios.
How she’d go about it. Would she be the one to initiate the kiss this time?
The courage she’d found this morning sunk to the bottom of the hot tub, drowning in thoughts, decisions and what-ifs.
She took a steadying breath, eyes catching Brooke’s. They held, neither saying a word. JJ’s heartbeat spiked as she found herself drawn toward the blonde with the sparkling smile.
She could do this.
Her eyes fluttered closed. She leaned forward—
A phone rang out on the outdoor table. Her phone.
JJ blinked several times, head whipping toward the noise. She huffed out a breath.