Sean’s gaze flicked from me, to Tess and back, before casually shrugging.
“Okay.”
My eyes widened, my head snapping around to see Tess had an identical expression.
“Really?”
Tess and I squealed, in unison, rushing toward Sean, embracing him in a giant, tandem hug.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sean.”
He laughed. “No worries, it’s for a good cause.”
Our jubilation was short-lived as we turned to see a less-than-thrilled Chris leaning in the doorway. “You can’t be serious.”
I grimaced, slowly stepping toward him, wringing my hands together. “I won’t do it if I don’t have your blessing.”
“Ellie, are you proposing marriage to my brother?”
“What? No, God, we can’t even agree on a tape to listen to in the car.”
Chris smirked, looking over my shoulder at Sean. “What’s next, children’s birthday parties?” he said, pushing off the wall and heading back to the bar. It was as close to a yes as we were ever going to get from the likes of Chris, so I was going to run with it.
I stood in the office of Remington’s Caravan Park, waiting for Stan to make his way across from the tennis courts. He had agreed to meet me here by 11 a.m. sharp, but in all my impatience I had arrived ten minutes early.
I didn’t know if what I was doing was ridiculous, over the top or damn right scary. Maybe my grand romantic gesture would have most boys heading for the hills. With every minute that ticked by I managed to dig myself deeper and deeper into a state of uncertainty, all but ready to walk out of the office and leg it down the driveway of the caravan park and never look back. My intentions went completely awry when the bell sounded at the office door. Stan smiled, closing the door behind him and making his way around behind the back of the desk.
“You sure you don’t mind doing this?” I said lowly.
“Why are we whispering?”
I actually had no idea.
Stan sat behind the desk, rubbing his hands along his tan workpants. “So, you got the goods?”
I nodded, handing over the camel-coloured backpack.
“Strict instructions, Stanley.” I pointed at him.
“So, apart from the obvious, why am I being roped into this?” he asked, lifting up the flap of the backpack and peering inside.
“Because, believe it or not, Stanley Remington, you are one of the very few people I trust on this planet.”
Stan smiled that warm and boyish smile I used to be in love with. “Wow, high praise indeed.”
“So, all good? You’ll stop by tonight?”
“I’ll be there.”
With every meticulously laid plan comes perhaps the most important piece in the puzzle: the decoy.
Ringer cast his fishing line out into the murky waters of Lake Onslow, slowly reeling in the slack. “What’s in it for me?”
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously? What is with you Onslow Boys? I told you what it’s about; I just need you to distract Adam for a few hours.”
“It sounds to me like he is already pretty distracted.” Ringer winked at me.
Really, was nothing sacred in this town? With every immediate member of our group who I roped in to helping out, none seemed surprised; if anything, the reaction was that of boredom and can you two just get a room already?
