The sleeping dragon inside her lifted its head and blew a blaze of fury. “You could do that.”
His eyes narrowed to slits as if he was desperately seeking the position of a tripwire in the dark. “What?”
“You could tell her, but just think about it. I’m not the only person who hasn’t been completely honest with her, am I? So, perhaps one night after one drink too many, I let it slip exactly what happened that time behind the surf lifesaving club.”
His laughter rained over her. “I didn’t even know Libby then. You and I were just two teens fumbling in the dark.”
Jess shrugged, not remembering very much fumbling at all. “All I’m saying is, when a secret comes out, people start wondering what else they haven’t been told. That’s not a road I want to go down. Do you?”
The large veins in his neck throbbed and he swallowed. “No.”
“Good. We’re on the same page then. See you at lunch tomorrow. Meanwhile, you better get going or Libby will start to worry.”
Jess watched him stride out into the easing rain until his silhouette was consumed by the dark. Since she was fifteen, he’d been the one walking away from her without looking back. But she’d watched and waited long enough. It was time for things to change.
Chapter Five
Alice read the note on the kitchen table. Having dinner at the RSL with Hilary & Ken etc. You’re welcome too. Love Mom.
It was Friday night and as much as Alice enjoyed the company of her parents’ friends, spending time at the RSL on a night off wasn’t up there on her bucket list of things to do before she died. Not to mention the message it sent to the town—poor Alice Hunter alone again on a Friday night and eating dinner with the oldies from the University of the Third Age set. She checked her phone again, telling herself she didn’t have a problem—she had the ABC News app installed and she was merely keeping up with local and world events. Even so, she wasn’t deaf to the mocking laugh in her head.
In a very short time, Tim had taken her from a woman who frequently had no idea where her cell phone was or even if it was charged and switched on, to one who checked it obsessively, seeking the thrill of expectancy and the jolt of heat when she read his texts. She was still pinching herself that her first attempt at online dating had brought this funny and interesting man into her life. After the initial flurry of flirty trivia-based texts, which had left her floating on air, he’d suggested they move off the dating app and exchange phone numbers. Alice had read many online dating articles and they all said this was the “next step” and a great sign, so she’d eagerly sent him her digits on the app and waited for him to call. She knew Tim had received her number, because she could see the word “delivered” underneath the message. Thirteen days had passed since.
During the first three nail-biting days without a call or a text on her phone and matching radio silence on the dating app, she’d turned herself inside out second-guessing what she should do. Part of her had wanted to consult Libby, but there wasn’t much point. The last time her twin had dated, it had all taken place in real life, not in this brave new online world. She’d spent days prevaricating. Should she contact him on the app now he’d asked her to move off it? Was that preempting him? Perhaps the moment she’d sent her number, his work had gotten crazy or something had happened like a family crisis or illness or …?
The experience uncomfortably returned her to a teen again, reminding her of Tyler Hawkins kissing her at a party and promising to call and ask her out. He never did. Deep in her heart, she’d always known Tyler was far more interested in Libby and Jess, and he’d probably only talked to her to get intel on them, but that hadn’t stopped it from being two of the most tortuous weeks of her seventeenth year. It had only been eclipsed two weeks later when she’d forced herself to go to another party on her own as Libby was sick. Alice had walked into the kitchen and found Tyler making out with Jess. Rooted to the spot and with her entire blood supply suffusing her face, Tyler had chosen that moment to come up for air and notice her.
“Oh, hey, Alice. Is it weird being a twin?”
As she’d fled, wet-eyed and dry-mouthed, she’d heard Jess’s reply: “Only if you’re the dorky one.”
Alice hated how Tim’s delay in calling brought all her teenage insecurities rushing back. How was that even possible? She was almost thirty-four and emotionally mature. Are you though? the traitorous voice in her head said. Lawrence didn’t think so, otherwise he wouldn’t have dumped you for Laetitia.
With Tim’s failure to call, Alice wrenched back the control she’d fought so hard for after Lawrence pulverized her heart. She’d followed the online dating gurus’ advice and gotten back on the dating app, if only to silence her mind. She’d traded messages with Lachlan, Brad and Corey, but their texts lacked the spark that made her fingers tingle every time she messaged Tim. When she’d woken this morning, she’d instructed herself calmly and firmly that thirteen was unlucky and it was time to let Tim go. She’d lasted until morning tea before checking her phone. But now she was facing a Friday night alone so she was definitely pulling the pin. Just as soon as she checked her phone one last time.
There was a text from Nick asking her if she could be at the marina by
