He exhaled and some of his tension released.
He’d figure out something before he saw her next. He had plenty of time.
The sun was low causing him to shade his eyes to see the ocean. It was almost dinner time. Perhaps he’d grab a bite to eat before he headed back. He stood to walk back to his car.
“Matt, what are you doing here?”
He glanced over. The instinctual gut clench was one he couldn’t rid himself of when he saw his high school bully, Jerry. They were football team mates now and occasionally shared a beer with a group of friends. Jerry had apologised for being an asshole, but Matt had too many bad memories to ever completely forgive him. “G’day, Jerry.” He smiled more at the tall man with Jerry. “Sudesh. You up here catching the sunset?” He always had time for Sudesh who volunteered on almost every committee in town.
Sudesh nodded but Jerry laughed and lowered his voice. “I’m looking to catch some tourists,” he said. “The girls love a sunset and love a guy sensitive enough to know the history of this place.”
Matt shook his head, cringing inside at his predatory nature. “No luck today?”
“Nah, it’s all the grey nomads,” Jerry said. “I’m going to try at the western restaurant in town. You both should come.”
“All right,” Sudesh answered. “I could do with a night out. You coming, Matt?”
The last thing he wanted to do was pick up a girl, but a distraction from Georgie was welcome.
“Sure.”
Maybe after a couple of drinks he could forget all about this afternoon or figure out what he was supposed to do.
***
Georgie did what any self-respecting woman would do when her heart had been broken. She went home to her tiny unit, threw herself on the bed and cried. By the time her eyes were dry, she felt a little better. Who knew crying your eyes out could be so cathartic? She shouldn’t be so upset. She had known for years Matt didn’t feel the same way about her, but their conversation had quashed that tiny little hope inside that maybe he’d been hiding his feelings.
She wandered into the bathroom to wash her face and grimaced as the mirror displayed her heartbreak in horrible detail; red, blotchy face, bloodshot eyes, and her hair a mess.
Her phone beeped with a text and she couldn’t quash the hope it was Matt realising he loved her back.
It was Dot.
Looking forward to tonight. See you at six-thirty.
Shit. She’d forgotten all about the girls’ night. She could hardly back out now since she had organised it.
Perhaps it was a good opportunity to rid herself of the last feelings of despair. She would have a good time, be the life of the party, and if a guy approached her at the end of the night, maybe he’d help her forget about Matt too.
Determined to look gorgeous, she set herself the task of getting ready. She re-dyed her hair vibrant blue, shaved her legs and under her arms, waxed her bikini line and then soaked in the bath for an hour.
Georgie took her time over her make up and found a killer dress to wear. When the cool, soft fabric slipped over her skin it felt as if she was coating herself in armour. The heels she strapped on as the last item in her arsenal were so high they would be difficult to drive in, but she didn’t have far to go.
When she was done, a glamorous vixen had replaced the heartbreak in the mirror. She brushed down the blue dress clinging to her body and nodded to herself. She was going to rock this night.
At precisely six-thirty she strutted into the country music themed restaurant. The walls were covered with posters of musicians and a woman sang about her heartbreak with a country twang. I hear you, sister.
Across by the bar Dot spoke with a short stocky man with a shaved head. She looked gorgeous in a royal purple top and blue jeans, but she didn’t appear impressed. Hopefully it wasn’t a police matter tonight.
The man turned and Georgie jolted as she recognised Dot’s brother, Mark. It had been years since she’d seen him, but he’d been in Darcy’s year at school. Back then he’d had long, thick black hair which often matted together like random dreadlocks.
“Don’t you look gorgeous?” the maître d’ asked, drawing her attention away.
Georgie flashed him a grin. “Girls’ night out,” she said. “Are my sisters here yet?”
He gestured to a booth in the corner where Faith, Amy and Tess sat. “Thanks.” She strode over, waving greetings to people she knew.
“Georgie, are you trying to stop a guy’s heart?” one man called.
