‘Shit.’
‘What is it?’ Lindsay asks, and I hope the slight slur in his voice is because he’s alarmed rather than over the limit.
‘I have to go home right now.’
‘Now?’ He grips his beer like it’s superglued to his hand.
I stand up, throwing my bag strap over my shoulder. ‘Are you OK to drive?’
He makes an ‘of course’ face. ‘These are light beers.’
We make it home in ten minutes, and Lindsay insists on walking me to the front door like a prom date, where he tugs me to his mouth just as the door swings open.
‘Oh, shit, sorry,’ I hear Zac mutter as I twist out of Lindsay’s grip.
Zac’s staring at the phone in his hand. ‘I was just texting you, then I heard you outside, so—’
‘Hey, dude,’ Lindsay says to him with an exaggerated wave. ‘Nice to see you too.’ He grabs me by the waist and yanks me backwards against his chest, wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling my neck. ‘My girl smellsgoodtoday.’
Zac’s jaw turns rigid as he looks down to where Trouble’s licking his ankle.
This is the slightly unhinged side of Lindsay that makes me want to be anything but his girl. Zac would never be this handsy if he was the one dropping Meghan home; he’s way too polite.
‘See you on the weekend,’ I say to Lindsay, shrinking out of his embrace. Zac doesn’t budge as I brush past his shoulder and head inside.
I hear them talking in low, slightly terse voices before Zac kicks the door shut and paces towards me.
‘How much has he had to drink? Did he drive you home?’
‘He had three light beers,’ I reply, a little aghast at his tone.
His brow furrows. ‘Do you feel like you need to get wasted to enjoy that guy’s company—is that it?’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Why doesn’t he take you for a walk or to a movie or something? Why does it always have to be a bar with that guy?’
‘Excuse me,grandpa,’ I say a little meanly—judgement from Zac never fails to hit where it hurts. ‘For your information, Lindsay did take me for a walk at the beach today. So don’t be so quick to judge. You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about.’ My defensive tone booms through my ears, and I know I’m trying to convince myself just as much as him.
Zac’s troubled gaze sweeps away, then back to me again like he’s got something more to say. But ratherthan reveal it, he mumbles that we should get going to Davide’s.
On the drive over, he lets out a long exhale like he’s been holding air in all this time. ‘So, things are getting more serious with Lindsay, huh?’
I glance at him, but he stays focused on the road, the passing streetlights flashing in his tiger-coloured eyes.
‘Not serious yet,’ I admit. ‘But he’s fun … most of the time. We’re going to the Newcastle Show next week.’ A spontaneous question bursts through my lips. ‘Want to come with us?’
Zac’s instant frown isn’t a shock. Why would he want to come on a date with me and the housemate he didn’t get along with? But Zac and I used to go to fairs together all the time when we were teenagers. I’ll look forward to it more if he’s coming.
‘Sure, why not,’ he eventually mumbles. ‘If Lindsay’s OK with that. I’ll ask Meghan if she wants to come, too.’ ‘Cool.’ I shrink into my seat and turn my eyes to the passenger window.
I feel Zac’s gaze brush the side of my face. ‘You’re not going to get all doe-eyed with him around me, are you? Because I might need a warning shot if that’s the case.’
My heart picks up its pace. ‘Who’s doe-eyed? I don’t get doe-eyed.’
I reach across and playfully squeeze his arm, the mound of his bicep tensing beneath my fingers. My hand falls away, my cheeks igniting.
The rest of the way there, one thought obliterates all others in my mind.
