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The frown breaks into a grin and he lifts me and carries me toward the edge of the fountain and our things. “Fuck yes. You just say the word, and I’ll take you wherever you want. But please consider asking me to take you home with me to Australia.”

THIRTY TWO

Noah

I get halfway to the baggage carousel before I realize Olivia is no longer walking right beside me. Looking around, I spot her at the top of the ramp staring at her phone in her hands.

“Hey, Liv, you good?”

She doesn’t look up and she’s still standing fixed in place, so with a sigh, I walk back to retrieve her.

“Babe.”

“Oh my god.” Her words are whispered in such a reverent tone that I look down at her phone screen myself.

“What?”

“That stupid video we posted before we left? It’s got three million views and still rising.”

“It does?”

She turns her screen toward me as if it means a lot. I know enough to know that the red bubble with the stupidly high number of notifications is a pretty good sign. Wrapping my arm around her, I give her a squeeze. “That’s great. I’m glad. Come on, if we stand here any longer, the next flight will come through and it’ll take us forever to get through customs.”

“Huh? Oh right.” She follows me with her eyes still glued to the screen. So I steer her to pick up our bags and stack them on the trolley while she scrolls through messages.

“Oh wow,” she whispers under her breath.

I shake my head. “Come on. You can reply to your thousands of admirers later. My parents are waiting to meet us. To meet you.”

At this she lifts her eyes and grins at me. “I’m so excited. And also nervous. OK, I think I’m mostly nervous. Do you think they’ll like me?”

I press a swift kiss to the center of her forehead. “No. They’ll love you. Come on.”

In the end, the line for customs is short since we are the last ones from our flight to pick up our bags. As soon as the sliding doors open to the arrivals terminal of Sydney airport, my eyes snap straight to my mom who lets out a little gasp of delight and lifts her hands to her mouth. “Oh, Rob, it’s them.”

The sight of my dad hits me like a sharp piece of coral in the tentacle. His skin looks somehow thin. All the veins show through in his two-legged form, and he rests with one hand on the balustrade which he would never have done before.

When he sees us, though, he straightens and gives us a big wave.

I find a spot to park the trolley and draw Olivia in front of me. I’ve told them about Olivia of course, but this is their first time meeting face to face. It’s adorable that Liv is nervous, but I couldn’t be more sure that my parents will adore her. Just like I do.

“Mom, Dad, meet Liv.”

In classic style, Mom opens her arms, tears filling her eyes. “Oh my love, it’s so good to meet you. Can I give you a hug?”

“Of course.”

Dad throws his arm around me. “Come here, kiddo. You’re not old enough to get out of giving your old man a hug.” I don’t mind it. Not even when he ruffles my hair. I’m just glad to feel the familiar strength in his arms, even if I can’t see it in his body. The surgery really must have made a difference. It’s only now that I see him in person I can believe he might be on the other side of this.

When I pull back Mom grabs me, and soon I’m ready to tell them all to leave me alone. I don’t, because I’m on my best beahviour today and from now on.

Liv gives me a little smile to let me know she can tell how I’m feeling. “Right. Come on. I’ve had enough of airports for a lifetime. Let’s get out of here.” I shoo Dad away from the handle of the trolley and lead the way. “I’m starting to regret not just getting a hotel here overnight. I don’t think I got a wink of sleep on the flight.”

Liv yawns, but I know for a fact she got at least five hours. “Long haul flights are the worst. I’m starving.”

I laugh. “Of course you are. Let’s get you something to eat before you get hangry. Trust me, you do not want to see this girl hangry.”

She swats me with the back of her hand, but she’s laughing too.