Tall, Dark & Distant Page 7

  ‘Thanks for your help,’ Georgia replied.

  She watched the officer drive away with the growing real-isation that she had just been asked out. Maybe not on a date as such, but she was pretty sure it was an invitation of some kind. Maybe guys weren’t as difficult to get to know as she had thought.

  Georgia didn’t go to the police station that afternoon. She sent her mum to sign the forms and Alice to flirt with the policeman. She didn’t need another debilitating obsession to replace the last. But the officer had helped Georgia realise that she didn’t have to waste the holidays pining over Nik, or any other guy for that matter. She had her whole life to find a partner. A boyfriend would just cramp her style.

  As Georgia went out running the following morning, she felt lighter – like the weight of her obsession with Nik had fallen from her back. At last she felt like everything had returned to normal.

  Georgia was almost at Hell’s Gates, revelling in her new-found freedom, when all of her resolutions flew off the side of the cliff. Standing at the lookout, peering into the wash below, was the very person who had caused her all the angst.

  She froze in the middle of the path, contemplating her escape.

  She couldn’t face him. Georgia grimly imagined the explanation: His girlfriend had arrived. He was so sorry. He had tried to explain everything at dinner, but the words had failed to come out. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he knew he had. Could she ever forgive him? He still wanted to be friends.

  Georgia spun away from Nik, and ran straight into a hefty man heading towards Hell’s Gates at full speed. The impact sent her off the path and into a salt-stunted shrub.

  ‘Watch it,’ the man grumbled.

  ‘Don’t worry, I’m fine,’ Georgia called after him, fighting her way out of the shrub. Her running top was snagged on a branch and as she fiddled with the fabric, it just got more tangled and Georgia became more and more annoyed. Then a hand reached over, long fingers releasing her from her trap. She didn’t have to look to see who was attached to the hand.

  ‘Nik. Hi,’ Georgia mumbled. ‘Thanks, that’s great. Just a bit of a collision.’

  ‘I saw,’ he replied. ‘I’ve been waiting here for an hour and then I almost missed you. I have to thank that guy for stopping you.’

  ‘Very good of him, knocking me off the path like that, so you could catch up with me. I find phones a less brutal way of keeping in touch, but what would I know?’

  Georgia hadn’t meant to be so sarcastic. She didn’t want to feel resentment as Nik wrapped his hand round her arm and pulled her to her feet. She wanted to feel nothing. She would have liked to just rise above it and move on with her new philosophy of staying single and free. But there was someone stopping her, and that someone was brushing leaves off her back.

  ‘Sorry I didn’t call,’ Nik said, turning Georgia round to face him. ‘I’ve been … busy.’

  They stood looking at each other, their faces just centimetres apart. Nik reached up to pull a leaf out of her hair. As the leaf floated to the ground, her resentment and anger fell away. She felt her senses reawakened, her whole body aching to hold him.

  ‘I’ve missed … running with you,’ she said.

  He smiled. ‘I have too.’

  In just a matter of seconds, Georgia had gone from being a woman in no need of a boyfriend to a girl on the verge of an all-consuming obsession again. She had to regain some balance. He couldn’t just walk in and out of her life. She couldn’t live like that. And besides, he had a girlfriend!

  Georgia took a step away from Nik. ‘So, what have you been up to?’

  He looked down. ‘Oh, you know … a few things.’

  She frowned. What did that mean – a few things? Driving his girlfriend around in a Ferrari? Entertaining her in his house on the hill? She was tired of working so hard for every snippet of information, so she waited for him to elaborate.

  Nik took a breath. ‘I bought a new car, so I went for a drive.’

  ‘Oh, yeah?’ Georgia replied, sceptical. How many days had he driven for? ‘Where to?’

  ‘Sydney – it’s further than you’d think,’ Nik said. ‘Then my sister came to visit.’

  ‘Your sister?’ Georgia repeated. ‘You’ve been with your sister?’

  Nik nodded. ‘We just got back yesterday morning.’

  ‘You were in Noosa yesterday?’ she asked, trying to make sense of things.

  It took some time for the information to sink in. Georgia stared out to sea. A hundred metres or so from the beach, a surfer paddled to catch a wave. He jumped to his feet as the water curled behind him. She watched him, embarrassed, remembering how she’d reacted yesterday. She couldn’t believe she’d hurled herself into the sea, fully clothed, because Nik had a coffee with his sister.

  ‘Georgia,’ Nik said. ‘I’m really sorry I didn’t call.’ He stroked her cheek, then pulled his hand away.

  ‘A leaf,’ he said, even though she didn’t see anything fall. ‘I want to make it up to you. Can I take you for a drive?’

  ‘I thought I was taking you sightseeing,’ Georgia said, smiling. After all, Nik’s only real crime had been not phoning, which wasn’t the end of the world. It was just his unreliable streak – he had warned her about it. Georgia could forgive him, just this once.

  ‘There’s a track through the rainforest that goes all the way to Sunshine Beach,’ she said. ‘We haven’t taken that one before.’

  Nik nodded. ‘Or we can take the car and go a bit further.’

  ‘Oh,’ Georgia replied, wondering how she could explain the difficulty with sports cars without sounding like a little girl. ‘Which car are you driving?’

  Nik looked disappointed. ‘Does it matter?’

  Georgia hesitated for a moment. ‘It’s just that Dad doesn’t like Porsches,’ she said eventually. ‘He’s worried about me being in a Porsche when it crashes into a telegraph pole and one of his colleagues having to pick splinters out of my brain.’

  Nik gave it some thought. ‘Is it just Porsches he’s worried about?’

  ‘Well, it is Porsche drivers that he’s particularly down on,’ Georgia replied carefully, hoping not to completely ruin any potential with Nik.

  ‘I thought we could take the Ferrari. It’s just around the corner from your apartment.’

  ‘That’s probably okay then,’ Georgia lied. She didn’t fool Nik and she wasn’t fooling herself. She just hoped her parents hadn’t spotted the Ferrari and linked it to Nik.

  Georgia’s mind was buzzing with lies and excuses as they ran from Hell’s Gates back along the coastal path, all the way to her apartment. But when she opened the door, she realised there was no need for deception. A note lay on the kitchen bench.

  Georgia,

  Alice and I have gone shopping. See you soon.

  Love, Mum.

  Her dad was nowhere to be found either – probably off fishing.

  She picked up a pen and wrote at the bottom of her mum’s note. Going out-see you later. Love, Georgia.

  She showed Nik to her bathroom and then quickly showered and changed in her parents’. There was no time to agonise over her choice of shorts and top. She wanted to be out of the apartment before her mother and Alice returned otherwise there would be endless questions about their plans for the day, a discussion about Nik’s family and no doubt Alice would bring up shopping in Hong Kong again to discourage her mum from letting her go anywhere, even though she was old enough to do as she pleased. Georgia gave her wet hair a quick ruffle with a towel and grabbed a bag. She stuffed in a few bananas, threw in a bikini and towel and some sunscreen. They left the apartment, ready for sightseeing.

  Just around the corner, the Ferrari was waiting for them, as Nik had promised.

  ‘Mademoiselle,’ he said, opening the passenger door for Georgia with mock ceremony.

  She waved him away, as if climbing into a Ferrari was as natural to her as brushing her teeth. But she knew she probably wasn’t convincing.

 
; She lowered herself into the leather seat as nonchalantly as possible, but she was more accustomed to clambering into her mum’s LandCruiser – so even though Georgia made a mental note to drop down into the car, instead of swinging up, she still miscalculated. She landed with a thump.

  Nik grinned. She was glad he seemed to find her amusing rather than naive.

  Georgia looked around her, inhaling the leathery scent of the new car. It was surprisingly spacious for a two-seater. The stylish steering wheel adorned with a prancing horse, the bank of individually crafted dials, the leather seats, the moulded gear stick – everything about it screamed exclusivity, style and speed.

  Nik climbed in beside her. ‘All set?’

  Georgia was as ready as she was ever going to be, but she had to admit to being a bit nervous. It wasn’t naivety that concerned her, or even Nik’s driving ability. It was just the possibility of being spotted by her parents.

  ‘So, where are we going?’ Nik asked as he started the car.

  ‘You’ll see,’ Georgia replied.

  The roar of the car’s engine drowned out his answer. It also ensured every single person within a kilometre was looking their way and they hadn’t even left the car park.

  How could she slip discreetly through Noosa in a red Ferrari? There was only one road out of town. They didn’t stand a chance. They wouldn’t bump into her dad if he was out fishing. But her mother and Alice were a different story.

  Nik pulled a lever and the roof began to slide back. She ducked in her seat. ‘Do you mind if we wait until we’re out of Noosa?’ she appealed over the revving engine.

  He nodded and returned the roof to its closed position. Georgia knew it was hopeless to try to hide. A car like this was all about being seen, not being invisible.

  They took off towards Hastings Street. The car growled in protest at their speed as it crawled down the hill. Everyone on the boardwalk looked in their direction. Teenagers, mothers with and old ladies stopped to stare. Even a koala snoozing in the fork of a tree opened his eyes to gawp at the car. Georgia only noticed him because the cluster of tourists who had gathered to spy on the sleeping marsupial also turned to look at the car as Nik changed gears and the Ferrari let out a vicious snarl.

  Georgia smiled to herself, in spite of her nervousness at being spotted by someone she knew. She was beginning to feel like a celebrity. She decided to relax, just a little, figuring that even if they did pass her mother and Alice, they wouldn’t be expecting to see her in a Ferrari.

  Wasn’t that Georgia? her sister might ask as the car flashed past.

  Why would Georgia be in a car like that? her mother would reply. They might turn to have another look, but by that time she’d be gone.

  Nik pulled up at a roundabout at the end of Hastings Street. Georgia’s head pitched forward and the car’s engine growled. A group of guys gaped on the side of the road.

  Georgia realised that the girls in the group had different reactions. They took in the car, then they homed in on Nik. A couple of girls gave him flirty smiles, completely ignoring Georgia.

  Georgia realised that one of the girls flirting with Nik was Mei. She and Ella had just strolled out of a cafe on Hastings Street. Like everyone else, they looked at the car to begin with. Then Mei’s eyes bored into Nik, trying to get his attention. Nik kept his eyes on the traffic, clearly used to girls looking at him. But was he completely immune? Georgia waited to find out. Nik glanced up, not at anyone in particular but close enough for Mei to flash the flirtiest smile Georgia had ever seen. It wasn’t a cheery nice-tosee-you smile. It was a sly smile, with just a little upturn on one side of the mouth – a like-to-get-to-know-you-better smile. There was no mistaking it. Then Nik smiled back and Mei’s face suddenly changed into one of recognition.

  ‘Nik. Hi,’ she called. ‘I didn’t recognise you.’

  It was then that Ella spotted Georgia.

  ‘Hi!’ she said, surprised. They had no reason to expect to see Georgia with Nik. As far as they knew, he was history. Georgia’s mantra had been I’m in no rush to tie myself down the last time they spoke. Before Georgia could think of anything to say through the open window, the traffic on the roundabout cleared, giving Nik and Georgia the chance to free themselves of Hastings Street and slip out of Noosa.

  ‘I’ll call you,’ Georgia called as the car went from a growl to a roar. The tyres squealed and Ella and Mei were left in a cloud of burning rubber.

  ‘That wasn’t very polite,’ Georgia shouted over the engine.

  ‘I didn’t mean to,’ Nik replied.

  Georgia smiled and rolled her eyes. She made a mental note to text Ella and Mei to explain as soon as she could. But right now Nik was the only thing she cared about in the world.

  ‘Great view,’ Nik said, finally opening the roof as Georgia directed him to pull over on a stretch of road overlooking the coastline. In one direction was the headland and Noosa National Park. In the other, the surf crashed onto the open beach for as far as the eye could see.

  ‘Yes. Amazing,’ Georgia agreed, surveying the coastline.

  She was talking about the picture as a whole – the national park, the waves crashing onto the sand, and Nik. The car was part of the whole picture too. She tried not to make it a central feature, but the red of the Ferrari contrasted appealingly with the surrounding blues, greens and golds. It also seemed to attract at least ten plovers. The birds bombed the open car, circling and swooping, then coming back again.

  ‘I don’t think they like the colour of your car,’ Georgia said as Nik ducked for cover.

  ‘You take me to all of the best spots,’ he joked.

  ‘Stick with me,’ Georgia said as the car rumbled to life again, ‘and I’ll take you to a beach where I guarantee you’ll get stung by a bluebottle.’

  Nik gave her a wink and swung back onto the highway. She lurched towards him, her shoulder touching his arm for a tantalising moment.

  ‘It’s like you’re being punished for all the beauty in this country,’ Nik said. ‘For every spectacular vista there’s a deadly creature to watch out for.’

  Georgia grinned. ‘That’s right. If the sharks don’t get you, the jellyfish will. If you don’t stand on a snake, you’ll probably get bitten by a spider. That’s if the crocodiles don’t get you.’

  Nik laughed. ‘Exactly.’

  ‘There’s nothing dangerous in England?’ Georgia asked.

  ‘I’ve seen some pretty nasty snails and the odd rampaging slug. But that’s about the worst of it.’

  ‘The wildlife’s not really that dangerous here,’ she assured him. ‘You’re more likely to die in a car crash.’ Georgia looked pointedly at the speedo. The needle was pressing towards 140.

  Nik registered her concern. ‘Sorry, it’s not easy to stick to the speed limit in this car,’ he said. ‘I’ve already picked up a speeding ticket.’

  ‘Just one?’ Georgia asked.

  Nik glanced at her. ‘Okay. Maybe two.’

  Fast cars and testosterone don’t mix, Georgia could hear her father saying.

  She didn’t repeat it. She didn’t want to sound like his mother. And besides, she thought privately, fast cars and guys do look good together.

  Georgia directed Nik off the beach road and into the hinterland The green farmland flashed by. The pasture turned into rainforest as the road started to wind its way up the mountain. The dense canopy of trees and ferns was every bit as beautiful as the coastline, and Nik was forced to drive a little slower than he could on the open road, but the windy mountain pass presented a new problem. Georgia was getting carsick.

  The Ferrari hugged the road like oil on a silk dress. It hugged the corners and almost kissed the guardrails. The engine howled as the gears went up and wailed as they went down. Georgia’s body lurched sideways. Her head pitched back and forth. She felt every bump. And in between the jolts, she could feel the engine in her back, vibrating through her bones and stirring up her gut. Georgia stopped snatching glances at Nik’s g
reen eyes. She didn’t look at his fingers wrapped around the gear stick. She kept her eyes ahead and focused on keeping down the banana she’d just scoffed.

  ‘That’s a good spot to park,’ Georgia said, pointing to the first parking space at the top of the mountain.

  Nik looked around at the quiet houses, the carefully tended gardens and white picket fences. ‘There’s nowhere for brunch.’

  And so they drove on. The car growled down the main street of Montville until Nik found a car park right outside a cafe.

  He smiled, apparently rather pleased with himself. ‘We can keep an eye on the car from one of the tables at the front.’

  ‘Great,’ Georgia managed, still feeling quite queasy.

  They wouldn’t be the only ones keeping an eye on the car.

  Everyone in the cafe was already doing that for them. Georgia felt their stares as she opened the door. Tourists from nearby shops wandered onto the footpath to check them out.

  And that was the precise moment when the banana, Nik’s driving and the mountain road conspired against Georgia. She leant over and threw up on the footpath, in seedy celebrity style.

  Georgia groaned inwardly. Where was a meteor shower when she needed a distraction? Was it too much to ask for a solar eclipse?

  ‘Just like a rock star!’ Nik grinned at her from inside the car.

  Georgia wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing. She slumped back into the car and closed the door.

  ‘I think there’s a better cafe up further,’ she mumbled, mortified.

  She rummaged through her bag, but she knew she wouldn’t find any tissues. She hadn’t foreseen a vomiting episode outside the Poet’s Cafe. She took the towel from her bag and, as discreetly as possible in an open-top Ferrari Spider, sitting in the main street of Montville, wiped her mouth.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Nik said. He looked like he was trying not to laugh.

  She dropped the towel on her lap. ‘It’s not funny,’ she complained ‘I’ve just been sick. How is that funny?’

  But even as she said it, she started grinning then started to laugh. She laughed all the way to the next cafe and right through breakfast.