“Thanks.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
“It’s hard work, but yeah, I do. I like working with my hands. I’m gaining insight into considerations when designing a structure.”
“When do you plan on starting uni?”
“Maybe in a few years. It means a move to Brisbane and I’m not ready to leave Adam yet. I want to watch my little brother grow up.”
A mix of emotions washed through me. He was leaving. I’d figured he would need to, but hearing confirmation took a chunk out of my heart. I wanted him to succeed and follow his dreams. If that meant we had to part, so be it. I adored that he was putting his degree on hold to get some experience in the industry, and to strengthen his bond with his little brother.
“He’s hilarious. Love that kid.”
A grin spread across Ben’s face. “He’s the best.”
You’re the best.
“What about you?”
“I want to be an early childhood teacher.”
“I can see you doing that.”
“Thanks.” If I wanted to say anything more, I couldn’t because my mouth was hijacked by a yawn.
“You’re tired.” He pulled out his phone, the screen casting a blue light over his features. “It’s eleven-seventeen. Do you want a lift home? I’m taking Stew anyway.”
Would I like to ride shotgun with you in your car? Um, yes. For life.
Settle, petal. He’s not offering. And expectations, remember? “Yeah, sure. Thanks. I’m at Mum’s, though. Stewart is going to Dad’s. Is that okay?”
“Whatever. I’ll drop you wherever you’ve gotta go.”
“Okay. I’ll go say goodbye. Give me five minutes. Maybe ten.”
_____
Ben
Rockhampton, Australia
7th of November 2008, 11:22 p.m.
I found Stewart asleep in a deck chair near the stage. The band had clocked off about an hour ago and Johnno’s mum had cranked up the stereo on the back patio as their replacement. I shook his shoulder. “Stew. Wake up, mate. It’s time to go.” His head lolled to the other side and he let out a snore. He was out cold. Damn. Lifting his arm, I pulled his weight forward and bent him over my shoulder in a fireman’s lift. “Don’t vomit down my back.” I passed Johnno on the way out. “Thanks for having us. Stew says bye.”
“No worries. Catch ya later.”
After unlocking the ute, I opened the back before strapping on his seat belt. “If you spew in my car, I will make you clean it out with a toothbrush.” I got nothing but a snore in response. “Okay, then.” I slammed the door shut and took a seat behind the wheel. Fiddling with the stereo, I tried to find a decent song before giving up and putting in a Foo Fighters CD.
The passenger side opened and Andy slid inside. “Hey. Thanks for waiting.”
The moment she shut the door, the confined space seemed half the size. Or maybe it was that I felt twice as full—I didn’t know. Being around her was opening my eyes to something that needed to be explored. Her scent filled the car with a sweet floral honey. Lickable. Damn.
“Not a problem.” I shifted in the seat before turning the key in the ignition.
I drove under the speed limit just so I could take her in for as long as possible. She didn’t speak. She didn’t need to. I caught the rise and fall of every laboured breath in my peripheral vision. The way she wedged her hands between her thighs. The nervous jiggle of her knee that was out of time with the tempo of the music. Did she notice my white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel and the strain of tendons in my neck? I would’ve loved to reach across, put my palm on her thigh in those tight jeans. I thought about pulling over, kicking her brother out, sliding her across the centre console and sitting her on my lap. My jeans were way too fucking tight.
Fucking concentrate on the road. Jesus.
From Scrubby Creek, we headed north on the Bruce Highway to make our way home. Which meant we had to pass through the roundabout where the Brahman bull statue welcomed people to Rocky. And there he was. I never understood why they faced his back end towards the outskirts of town. Nobody I knew ever said welcome with their back turned.
“Pull over!” Stewart barked from the back.
“No.” Fucking way.
Andy twisted in her seat, wide-eyed. “Are you gonna spew?”
“Shit.” I chucked the gear box down to second, skidding to a stop on the grass.
He fumbled with his seat belt before yanking the door open. Falling out onto the grass, he blew chunks over the nature strip.
She blinked at me, her mouth set in a grimace. “At least he gave you some warning. I hope he didn’t get it on the car.”
“I already warned him he’d be cleaning it if he did.”
“Stewart? Cleaning? You’ve seen his room, right?”
“We generally stick to the lounge when I visit.”
She raised her brows. “Solid plan.”
A minute later, some rattling came from the tray of the Hilux. “What is he doing?”
The rear-view mirror showed Stewart wandering off with what appeared to be my bolt cutters in his hand. “No fucking way.”
“What?”
“He’s going for the balls.”
“I’m sorry?” She twisted to look out the back window.
I undid my seat belt. “The bull’s balls. He’s taking them.”
“Oh, shit. Are there any cameras around here?”
“Dunno. But if there are, they’ve
