ELEVEN
We land at the waterfall early afternoon and it’s humid enough that the air feels drinkable.
Our helicopter settles on a sandy bank beside the one Abbey, Dax and Lauren flew in on, and I blink at the scene in front of me.
The waterfall crashes in sheets of white, cascading into a shimmering pool that sparkles with sunlight and mist. The cliffs echo with laughter as the others plunge into the water.
Ella had assured me – via the headset – that the waterfall is too far from the river for there to be crocodiles. I remain unconvinced. The only comforting proof is that Abbey and the others, bobbing in the water like wine-soaked pool toys, are still alive. So far.
‘You made it!’ Abbey yells from her inflatable doughnut, one hand raised in lazy greeting, the other gripping a glass of rosé. ‘The water’s so nice,’ she adds, letting her head roll back.
Ella’s out of her clothes and into a bikini in record time – her baby bump non-existent – then Darcy hoists her onto his back and charges into the water. They crash down together, sending a wave rolling to shore.
‘You getting in?’ comes a voice from behind me.
I turn – and there’s Luke.
Wading into the water. Shirtless. Wet.
His gaze doesn’t move from mine as the water climbs higher up his torso, tracing every inch of muscle as if it’s personally invested.
My eyes, naturally, do a similar sweep in reverse – those arms that had me pinned against a kitchen counter this morning, those abs that qualify as weapons-grade, and that V-line of muscle that disappears below the water like a well-written cliffhanger.
He’s watching me watch him, a small, smug smile playing on his lips.
Oh, it’s like that, is it? Game on, cowboy.
Without breaking eye contact, I step out of my boots. Peel off my socks. And then – slowly – I lift the hem of my dress.
I’d come prepared with a black bikini on underneath.
I keep my gaze on Luke as the dress slides up, over my hips, past my waist. I see the moment his eyes drop. He tries to keep it subtle. He fails. His eyes drag up my body, lingering at my chest before snapping back to my face, where my own smug smile is waiting.
I toss the dress aside and walk into the water, wading over to Abbey as her doughnut spins lazily towards me.
‘Well, that was hot,’ Abbey says in a whisper that is not a whisper. She fans herself dramatically. ‘On a scale of Harvey Weinstein to Charlie Hunnam, how much do you want to fuck him again?’
I frown. ‘What sort of scale is that?’
She shrugs. ‘A good one?’
Dax’s voice travels over the water. ‘Over here, you two!’
We paddle towards the others who are climbing onto the rocks by the crashing water. Abbey and I follow, her doughnut squeaking with every step.
‘There’s a hidden pool behind the waterfall,’ Lauren says, practically vibrating with excitement. ‘With glow-worms!’
Ella nods enthusiastically. She looks so happy – joyful in a way that makes the flies and the heat and the remote isolation resemble background noise.
I try not to notice Luke watching me as we climb across slippery rocks and duck under the roar of the waterfall. The spray soaks us instantly, cold and powerful. I blink against it, shielding my face – and then we break through.
On the other side is a small blue lagoon, sunlight pouring through the cracks in the rock walls that surround it.
Luke’s behind me – quiet, steady – and even in the middle of an accidental paradise, he’s still the most distracting thing around.
‘Woah,’ Abbey breathes beside me, stunned.
Ella beams. ‘Cool, huh?’
She says it proudly, as if she discovered it herself, and maybe she did. I gape at the glowing cave pool – indigo water lit by scattered flecks of bioluminescence, glitter thrown into a galaxy.
‘It’s …’ I try to find the words, but they dissolve somewhere between my chest and my throat.
‘Incredible,’ Luke says from the edge of the pool. But he’s not looking at the water. He’s looking at me.
No one else notices – they’re too busy launching themselves into the water or giggling from wine and wonder.
I pretend not to feel his gaze burning through my spine and slide into the water after Ella.
Compliments make me itch, and attention makes me feel weird.
Probably because my parents never gave me any, but let’s leave that to the therapists, shall we?
‘Jamie jumped on a crocodile today,’ Ella announces.
‘You what?’ Abbey coughs into her wine.
Ella continues. ‘She handled it like an absolute boss.’
My cheeks flame, Ella looks proud, Dax looks impressed. Luke looks – let’s not go there – and Abbey looks personally betrayed.
‘When were you planning on telling me?’
I shrug, half floating, half fleeing. ‘I don’t know. Maybe never.’
The corner of her mouth twitches. ‘Fine, keep your secrets. But I want a full debrief the minute we’re back in Sydney.’
‘Deal.’ And then – because I can feel Luke’s eyes on me again and need an escape hatch – I ask, ‘So, who found this place?’
Darcy perks up. ‘Luke and I used to come here as kids.’
I glance at Luke, who’s smiling like the memory is soft and sun- faded. Huh. So they do go way back.
‘No chopper back then,’ Darcy adds. ‘We had to hike in. Took a week one way from the station.’
Ella swims over and loops her arms around him, the picture of newlywed bliss. ‘I bet you used to bring all your girlfriends here.’
‘Not anymore.’ He kisses her temple.
I turn to Luke, and, as casually as I can manage, I say, ‘Got any girlfriends stashed in these caves?’
His lips curve into a slow, dangerous smile. ‘Why? You jealous?’
Somewhere behind me, Lauren asks if anyone has the time. I ignore her. I’m having a moment.
‘We should start heading back,’ Dax says, glancing at his watch. ‘We’ve an hour of light left, and the southerly is meant to pick up.’
Darcy waves him off. ‘I’ve flown in worse.’
Ella gives him the look. The one that says, I love you but also, We’re not having this argument today. He sighs. ‘We’ll leave soon.’
I want to stay longer. But I also don’t – because I jumped on a crocodile today and if I stay in this dream too long, I might start thinking life is always supposed to feel like this. Magical. Wild. Not mine.
But still. I jumped on a crocodile. What did you do this weekend, Debra from Accounting?
We swim beneath the glow-worms a little longer before hunger starts winning the war. We climb out and head back through the waterfall, water cascading off our limbs, the air cooler now, wind tickling across our skin.
Ella grabs both me and Abbey into a hug, squeezing tight. ‘I love you both so much,’ she says.
‘We love you too,’ I reply. ‘How are you feeling with, you know, everything?’
Ella looks around and then shrugs. ‘Honestly? I feel great. We’re due for another scan this week so I’ll keep you posted.’
‘In Darwin?’ Abbey asks.
Ella nods.
‘If you need anything at all,’ I say seriously, ‘you’ll let us know, okay?’
Abbey adds, ‘Even if we have to pay for express shipping. You name it, it’s yours.’
Ella pulls us into another hug. ‘Promise me you’ll visit more often.’
We promise – easily, without hesitation. Once a year, minimum. Pending no farm work.
Ella grins. ‘Maybe.’