The weather forecasts for some mild rain, so I decide to wear my white sandshoes and tie my hair back into a ponytail.
Chance and Aubrey are visiting Chance’s family out in the suburbs, so I decide to take in more sightseeing. Now I know my father is Australian, I want to learn and see more of this beautiful country.
With my map in hand, I make my way to the concierge.
“Hi, I was just wondering the best way to get to Taronga Zoo.”
“Sure.” Byron, as his name tag says, draws on my map. He’s rather good looking—very Chris Hemsworth with his sandy blond hair and deep voice. “The quickest way would be to walk down to Circular Quay, then catch a ferry over, unless, of course, you fancy a bus ride.”
“A ferry will be nice.”
Byron suggests some attractions at the zoo which are a must-see. I take it all in, noting his warning to start at the top of the zoo and make my way down because the hill is a killer walk.
“So, meeting someone there?”
“No.” I smile, politely. “Just me.”
“How long are you here for?”
“We leave on Monday.”
“We?”
“My friends and I. I just want to get in as much as possible while they attend to other commitments.”
Byron’s a wealth of knowledge. We talked for a while about places to see in Sydney. He told me some anecdotes, all of which I welcome with a laugh. Somewhere during his story about handling a snake at the Australia Zoo, Steve Irwin style, Chance is standing beside me in the lobby.
“Hey, Gabbo.” He pulls up beside me, bumping my shoulder on purpose.
Where this new nickname has come from is beyond me.
“Listen, I want to talk to you…”
The second he says it, Oliver walks through the main door. My breathing becomes hitched as our eyes meet carelessly.
Why does he have to be so unbelievably sexy?
I hate that he still has a firm hold over me like a spell unable to be reversed no matter how hard I try.
He’s dressed casually, yet even in his chino shorts and plain white tee, the man manages to make me weak in the knees. Oliver has always been fit, but his body looks even more defined than I remember it being.
I notice the black Mercedes parked by the concierge and bow my head, keen to avoid an argument with Oliver in public.
“I was just heading out.” I clear my throat. “Byron was giving me the directions to Taronga Zoo, so off to hug it out with some koalas.”
“Byron…” Chance says confused until it registers. “Oh, this bloke.”
“Listen, I should go.”
Accidentally, my glance shifts toward Oliver, again. Beneath his baseball cap, his eyes drill into me, but his words are non-existent.
If he wants to play the game of being an asshole, I won’t entertain his childish behavior. I’ve gotten sleep, finally easing the tension of meeting my father, and with a small amount of confidence finding its way back to me, I’m nothing like I was the night I crashed his apartment. Sad and pathetic would be a great way to describe my behavior.
I’d tried to apologize and true to his arrogant persona, he made me feel ten inches tall with his disregard for my presence.
With the map nestled in my purse, I say goodbye to Chance, thank Byron for his help, then walk past Oliver with my shoulders straight, ignoring his stiffened posture as we pass each other.
The second the automatic doors close behind me, I let out the deep breath I’d been holding in and scurry toward the ferry before it leaves.
The ferry ride over to the zoo is nothing short of breathtaking. We passed the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the left, sailed past the Opera House on the right, then battled the choppy sea straight to the zoo.
Taronga Zoo is nothing like the other zoos I have visited. There are so many habitats to explore and interactive experiences. I cuddle my first koala—a once-in-a-lifetime moment as the cuddly little bear latches onto me as if its life depends on it.
I visit the giraffes and even watch the chimpanzees play with each other in their captivity. And the thing which surprises me the most, I venture into the snake cave. Snakes petrify me. It’s almost pitch black in the cave, and my heart is racing a million miles a minute, but I’m determined to see every snake and read about their habitats which are described on small Perspex display boards.
As I stare at the python watching it hiss, the space beside me becomes increasingly warm. Careful not to move, I calculate the likeliness of a snake escaping. I have no idea what to do in case of a snake attack. On the plane ride over here, Chance told me Australia’s the deadliest country in the world with snakes, spiders, and several creepy-crawly things which could kill you in zero-point-five seconds.
“Why are you here?”
My mouth falls open, my hand flying toward my chest in shock. The voice startled me more than the thought of any snake. I can barely see him amongst the dark shadows, but even in this humidity, I can smell his cologne. It’s just as I remember it— a manly scent mixed with rainforest and a fresh summer’s breeze.
“Why are you here?” I ask, catching my breath.
“Will you answer me?”
“Oh, so now you want to talk?” I note with dark amusement, crossing my arms beneath my breasts. “How very convenient of you.”
“What do you expect, Gabriella. You ambush me at my apartment expecting me to welcome you with open arms. The last time I saw you, you pretty much said ‘fuck you’ I’d rather marry some imbecile and live on
