Finlay
Her skin is sun-kissed. Her chirpy tone is memorable. And as Lesley chatters without seemingly taking a single breath, I can’t help but laugh.
The peach sundress adorning her skin lifts high up her thigh when she crosses one leg over the other, and she throws back her head in laughter. I join in and chuckle along with her.
“It was the most amazing experience of my life,” Lesley gushes.
“I’m glad,” I reply, handing her a bottle of the sparkling water she’d previously asked for.
“The things I saw were sacred and hidden paradises, Tank.”
“Do you think you saw everything you’d hoped to?” I ask, sitting back down on the deck chair across from her.
“No way. There are so many undiscovered places to explore … I’m going to find them all.”
“So you’re heading back out to sea.”
“I am.” Lesley tilts her head as if she’s shying away from me, and I find this odd.
“I’m going to have a companion on this trek, though … like a real handsome, male companion.” It’s a look of lust.
“You found someone, didn’t you?”
“I did!” she shrieks before turning the cap secured to the top of the bottle, removing it and taking a sip.
“Spill the beans, Nurse Carter.”
“Randy. His name is Randy, and oh my, he’s the best. I met him in the Maldives and he loves to sail and … he’s perfect.”
“I’m happy for you, Lesley.”
“Thank you.”
“So, when do you leave?” I shift, trying to get more comfortable for what I feel will be a long discussion.
“On Monday.”
“Two days away. Huh,” I say. “You aren’t staying long at all.”
“No. I’m not. So, tell me about you? What have you been up to?” Her hand rests against my knee.
“Not much to report. I’ve been running Lad’s, and it’s been relatively successful for me and my mates. Keeps us busy and out of trouble.”
“Anyone in your life?” Her eyebrows wiggle.
“Nah. I have Alan to care for, and Tessa is on her last legs now …”
“What happened to that girl? What was her name?” Lesley withdraws her touch.
I shake my head and shift my body uncomfortably this time.
“Rose,” she announces, clicking her fingers.
As soon as Rose’s name passes through Lesley’s lips, a lump as firm as concrete invades my throat. I still have no idea where Rose is. A few months after I threw her out the door I tried to make contact because I just fucking missed her so much, but the mobile phone she had was disconnected.
“Tank,” Lesley speaks my name softly.
“It didn’t work out.” I breathe, downplaying the situation.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“Did she fuck your best mate?” Lesley says.
At first, I wonder why she’d assume such a thing, but I soon remember telling her about the certain type of women I seem to attract.
“Nah.” I laugh. “Rose had to move away.”
“Oh,” she says. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be prying into your business.”
“I don’t mind.”
“You never did tell me the story about the whole best mate thing, though ...”
“You never told me about the arseholes you attracted, either.”
She smiles. “Tell me. I’m nosey and I want to know.”
“Nothing to tell, really.”
She cocks an eyebrow high on her forehead.
“Fine,” I concede. “I met a bird called Stacey Lockhart when I was about twenty-three, and we dated for a bit over a year.”
“Tell me more.”
“Not much to tell, as I said … She maxed out my credit, stole anything worth stealing, and then slept with my mate before skipping town.”
“Shit.” It’s a soft deliverance.”
“Old news.” I wink.
“We learn from these mistakes, I guess.” She pauses before standing, and I follow her action. “I better leave you to it … Where did you say you were going today?”
“I didn’t say. I just said I was leaving town for a job when you arrived.”
“So you did.” Her smile is still as sweet as it was when she came to offer me a lift home.
“I’m travelling to Rellic.” I give her the answer because it’s not like it’s a secret that I’m heading into the city to pick up another private bike purchase.
“Wow. That’s far. An eight-hour drive or so …”
“I’m flying in because I have to pick up a motorbike and I can’t fly it home, so I’ve hired a car and bike trailer and I’ll drive it back.”
“Well, I guess this is goodbye until I sail back to Hoffman sometime in the foreseeable future.”
“Yeah.” I take the back of my neck in a squeeze.
“Thank you for everything. I hope you’re enjoying the postcards I’ve been sending.”
“I like them … Keep them coming, hey?”
“I will.” And with that, she rises to her tiptoes as her hands wrap around my neck. “You’re a good man, Tank. Take care.” Her lips are soft when she pulls my head downward and kisses my cheek.
“Stay safe, okay?”
“I will.”
I hate coming into Rellic. I’ve been three times during the last few months to collect privately owned bikes that have been listed for sale with price tickets too good to turn down.
Rellic is your typical bustling city where buildings tower sky-bound and appear as if they are piled one on top of the other. There’s no space to roam, or breathe for that matter—the perfect definition of a concrete city. The air is thick, and the smell of gas fumes latches to the small hairs inside your nose … and this smell is always hard to wash from one’s senses.
In a place like this you can expect the sound of sirens to echo deep into every night, and it always has me wondering why anybody would be pleased to pay the price it costs to live here and call this place home.
“Pick up the bike, have a look at a few others and you’re out of here on Monday,” I reassure myself before entering the lobby of Surgance on Key, which Sailor booked me into. It’s far more upmarket than the last places I’ve stayed, not your everyday business-traveller type of establishment.
Taking in the expensively put together and well decorated lobby, I shift my eyes to a long black polished counter that matches the floor. “Better check in,” I mumble.
I’m all but two steps inside my allocated apartment before the sound of ringing has me seeking the location of the phone. It’s probably, Caterina, Al, Tess, or one of the lads.
I whiz past luxuries in my haste to take the call, in case it’s an emergency with Tessa or something has gone down at the shop I need to handle, and when I reach the bedroom, I drop my overnight bag to the ground and clasp the handset beside the bed before resting it against my ear. “Hi.”
“Mr Crossley. It’s Brenda from reception. Sorry to bother you so soon. Could you please come back down to reception at your convenience?”
“Sure. Something wrong?”
“No. Not at all, I just had you sign the wrong accommodation booking slip on your arrival. I apologise. I’ll be requiring a signature on the correct form, if I may. It will only take a second. Again, I’m sorry to inconvenience you.”
“It’s fine. Not a problem. I’ll head back down now and do it before I forget.”
“No hurry, but it would be appreciated. Thank you.”
“Give me five.” Placing the handset down, I step over my bag I’d previously dropped in the bedroom doorway, grab the swipe card for my room, and make my way to the lift I just rode up.
It’s sixteen floors to the ground floor, and with a generic ting, I’m back where I started.
A simple nod to the lady who smiles broadly in my direction has me distracted, and it’s probably one of the reasons I don’t see her approaching me at first—that and the fact her once auburn hair is now dark brown in colour, not to mention much shorter than it was when I closed the door on her and walked away.
“Finlay.” One word, my name from a voice more than familiar to me, one I’d hoped to hear again someday.
I’m staring, I know I am, and when she lifts her oversized sunglasses her identity is one hundred percent clear: it’s Rose. Tight white jeans and a light pink sleeveless top show off her exquisite shape. She’s just as beautiful, if not more beautiful than the last time I saw her.
“Hi.” She smiles.
“Rose. Well, I’ll be damned. What are you doing here?” My tone doesn’t mask my excitement and shock over seeing her.
“I think I’d be able to recognise you anywhere, Mr Crossley.” Her stained pink lips stretch the width of her face, and I think I’d almost forgotten how much I enjoyed her smile.
“Mr Crossley, thank you so much. I’m Brenda, and I called your room—again I’m so sorry.” Brenda, who is extremely youthful in appearance, claims my attention with her sudden interruption. She hurries towards me from the reception desk holding out a green clipboard with a piece of flapping paper. “Again, I do apologise.” She offers me a pen, and I sign across the dotted line as required. Brenda’s free hand skims my arm ever-so-briefly as she says, “I’ll leave you to get comfortable. Hopefully there will be no more intrusions on our part. Please enjoy your stay with us.”
“Thank you, Brenda.” I half-smile, handing back the pen. I’m not sure if I imagine the delay in her parting and the fluttering of her eyelashes, but it appears Brenda stands there looking at me for some time. The sound of Rose giggling, however, has Brenda’s cheeks spotting pink and her clearing her throat before turning away.
I shift my attention back to Rose, and I can’t stop staring at her obvious amusement about something I’m not privy to. Just like old times, I guess.
“Hey, Rhi-Rhi, are you ready to head up to the room?” It’s a lanky-looking guy who is sporting a five o’clock shadow that appears out of nowhere and places his hand on Rose’s naked upper arm.
“Give me a moment.” She smiles.
“Rhi-Rhi.” I’m confused.
Rose laughs. “It’s a nickname my friends have given me. I’ve no idea how it happened, but I don’t mind it.”
“Friends.” It’s barely audible. “So, he’s not …”
“My boyfriend? No.” She shakes her head. “Luke is a friend from university. I’m here celebrating for the weekend.”
“University,” I whisper.
“I have to go,” she says quietly before her hand brushes my arm in passing. “You look good, Fin.” She smiles, twisting her chin over her shoulder.
“So do you, Rose.” I’m stunned.
Her hips sway to a hypnotic beat as she moves farther away, and her now brunette hair bounces at her shoulders. I’m puzzled as to what just happened. University … friends … Rose is completely different in so many ways.
I pause momentarily, and then run in hope of catching the elevator before she’s gone for good. I do, just. I’m slightly panting when I launch myself through the partly closed gap.
She giggles and even though I want to connect my eyes to Rose’s, I don’t—I keep them planted to my feet.
“What floor?” she breathes.
“Ten.”
“Oh, same as me.” Her tone has an element of surprise. “What room?” she asks.
“Two hundred eighteen.”
“I’m in 219. I guess we’re neighbours.” When she says this, we both burst into laughter.
This trip is about to get a whole lot more interesting. Rellic isn’t going to be as bad as I’d thought.