Page 38

NOAH

You were right

“Do you have any food allergies? We want to make sure we don’t have a disaster like Diedre did last month.”

The sound of Olivia Burton’s keyboard clicks and clacks through my headphones as she takes notes, glancing at me intermittently as I talk.

She’s the mover and shaker of big events and is leading the Australian side of a music festival to be held in the middle of January, in an enormous warehouse across the border.

It’s one of the biggest events of the summer season, complete with world-class DJs and music artists headlining, and sees big celebrity names fly in from around the world to promote whatever brands have snatched up advertising rights.

This year, one of my favourite up and coming Australian surf brands, Salt Skin , is sponsoring the day.

I have to give it to Mack. He arranged for me to get a sought-after invite to the gig.

Seeing as it’s summer’s biggest party, they appear happy to have my partying presence there.

Although, partying is not the aim of the day.

My goal is to sip slowly, do a bit of networking, and get out of there before I get myself into the type of trouble that undoubtedly follows me wherever I go.

“No allergies,” I tell her.

She nods, business-like as she types away. “Great, so you’ll receive your official invitation in the new year. It comes in a gift box, with your VIP passes and some promo material. We’d like you to share on social media when you get them, to help drum up excitement.”

I glance at Mack, who’s sitting on the couch across from my computer desk. He nods his agreement, and I turn back to Olivia’s face on the screen. “Sure, no problems.”

Dan and Callum are in here too. We agreed once I came home we’d be together for as many of my meetings as possible, to ensure we’re on the same page.

I’m grateful to have them here, even if things are still tense between us.

The conversation while we were camping has lingered on my mind for the past week.

“Great.” Olivia keeps typing. “Now, this is a big event for the organisers and Salt Skin, as you can imagine. Getting top sponsorship is a huge deal and they want this to go off without a hitch. While we encourage everyone to have fun, we strongly urge everyone to keep themselves in check. Is that going to be an issue?”

Well, at least she doesn’t beat around the bush.

Dan raises his eyebrows, and I hear Callum snort.

“I will be on my best behaviour,” I promise sincerely. “Salt Skin is one of my favourite brands. I wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardise their image or hard work.”

Plus, with any luck, I’ll be able to have some conversations with the brand owners and creators. Maybe if I can start building rapport, they’ll consider me for future sponsorships. Which would be huge.

“Great, one more thing.” She turns to the screen head-on and clasps her hands together.

“There’ll be a lot of big names there on the day.

Athletes such as yourself, influencers, DJs, actors .

. . everybody. I’m not one for gossip, but I’m also not an idiot.

I want to inform you Sofia Carlson has confirmed her attendance at the event.

She is there representing Giselle Cosmetics, in case that changes things for you. ”

My three friends shift in my peripherals, but I focus on Olivia. I appreciate her no-bullshit attitude and the fact she’s given me a heads up when she didn’t need to. She’s probably also checking there won’t be any drama she has to deal with.

“Thanks, Olivia,” I reply. “That won’t be an issue.”

She claps her hands. “Excellent. We’ll see you next month. Have a great Christmas, Noah.” She ends the call sharply and I lean back in my chair, exhaling slowly.

“Sofia’s going to be there?” Mack shakes his head in disbelief. “She’s flying fifteen hours to promote makeup at an Australian-based event? Giselle Cosmetics aren’t even that good.” I believe Mack when he says it. He knows more about brands than most people I know.

Callum shrugs. “People will attend anything for the right price.”

I stand from the desk. “I’m not worried about Sofia. She’s not a drama queen.”

“No, but you are,” Mack says simply. “In case you’ve forgotten, you were the one who came out at the bottom of the post-breakup shit pile. Sofia came out of it as a sweet, heartbroken woman who tried too hard to fix a bad boy.”

“To be fair, she’s a sweet chick,” Callum adds.

“Which is why I’m not worried,” I say firmly.

I’m not. Gossip fuelled the stories people told about us after we broke up. Sofia didn’t play any part other than being herself. She’s graceful and kind and I’m a childish fool who makes too many mistakes. The fall out was warranted.

“We need to make sure it doesn’t backfire with the whole Millie thing,” Mack says, tapping his phone. “Anything that looks like a reunion or a close encounter could create another shitstorm. A maelstrom, if you will.”

“Ah, yes. Tell me what I need to do, and I’ll behave like a good boy on the day.” I head for the door, but Dan shifts to block my path. “Oh, sorry. Should I wait for all of you to chime in to remind me how not to suck?”

Dan sighs. “King, I don’t want to fight with you.”

“I don’t want to fight with you either,” I retort. “But when my best mate decides to tear me a new asshole without any forewarning, it makes it hard to want to kiss and make up.”

Dan rubs his hand over his short hair. “I’m sorry. I could’ve been more tactful.”

“No, shit.”

The truth is, I’ve had time to process Dan’s words in the past week and no matter which way I come at it, he’s right about almost everything.

I’ve hurt women I’ve hooked up with this year.

I knew they were into me, and I’d ditched them the minute they got too attached.

This year, I’ve been pulled out of hotel rooms drunker than hell, started fights in bars and got myself arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour—and it was Dan who cleaned up my mess without complaint.

“You don’t need to apologise,” I mutter. “You were right.”

“No, I was out of line.” Dan shakes his head. “I didn’t like the idea, but I should’ve supported you.”

“Why did you get so pissy about it?” Mack asks, scratching his buzz cut. “Fair enough you’ve adopted the role of babysitter and fixer and everything else?—”

I sigh heavily. “Not helping, Mack.”

“You nearly busted a blood vessel, bro,” Mack continues. “Seemed extreme, and you talked more than your yearly quota in one conversation.” His innocent, wide eyes and baby-like face match his curious tone. Mack’s the one who can ask the difficult questions and not care about the outcome.

“Ah, fuck.” Dan sighs, rubbing his temple. He looks at the three of us in defeat. “There are rumours from some people in Sarah’s friend circle that she stayed with me for as long as she did to help with her career.”

A stillness settles in the room, with Callum, Mack and me exchanging expressions of alarm and surprise. “What?” Callum finally asks.

I step closer to Dan. “Dude, are you serious?”

Dan twists his lips. “Could never confirm the relationship side of things, but considering she’s working on the Pro Tour now, I’d say it could be true.”

My mouth drops open. “She’s working on the Tour? What do you mean?”

“She’s the new rep for Luxe Travel,” Dan grumbles. “She’s looking after VIPs for the whole year. A friend of mine works with Luxe and she told me part of the reason Sarah got shortlisted for an interview was because my name was mentioned in her application. I was basically her foot in the door.”

“She was using you to get a job?” Mack asks in a hushed tone.

Dan goes rigid. “I don’t know. She did care about me at some point, but maybe she stayed with me longer than she wanted to see what doors could open for her.”

I run my hand over my stubble. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because it’s embarrassing,” Dan spits. “She told me she wanted to travel and not follow the surf with me, and next thing I know she’s got a job following the surf. ” Dan clears his throat and dips his head.

My chest constricts at the pain etched in the lines of Dan’s face. He’s a closed book to most people, even with us a lot of the time. Seeing him vulnerable and hurting affects all three of us.

“The idea of you entering into a fake relationship didn’t sit well with me,” Dan says, finally meeting my gaze. “Obviously, it’s not the same situation here. You and Millie are both aware of what’s going on. But . . .”

“Yours and Sarah’s relationship wasn’t fake,” I assure him. “You were together for nearly ten years. Nobody fakes that.”

Dan shuffles his feet. “Yeah, I guess.”

I take a few steps and clap him on the shoulder. “I meant it when I said you were right.” Dan looks up with his trademark frown and I glance at Callum and Mack. “I’m not exactly a poster boy for how to treat women. Or family. Or friends.”

Callum smiles. “You’re always a good friend to us, mate. You lost your way a little there, but we knew you’d come back to us.”

“Only because you three pulled me out of it.” I rub my hands across my face. “I can’t believe how much of a tool I was this year. I didn’t even enjoy going to those parties that much.”

“You got swept up in it.” Mack shrugs. “You were single for the first time in years and riding the high of surfing fame. It could happen to anyone.”

I cringe. “It’s embarrassing.”

“It’d be embarrassing if you left the surf game with your drunk and disorderly charge as your parting gift,” Callum argues. “You’ve got plans in place. You’re working at making amends. Don’t sell yourself short.”

“Thanks.” I glance back at Dan. “I’m sorry. You’re the reason I’m not dead right now.”

Dan purses his lips. “I’m the reason all three of you aren’t dead.”

Callum chuckles, but Mack opens his mouth in protest. “How very dare you, sir? Who do you think saved your life when Sarah up and left?”

Dan grits his jaw. “Fair point.”

Callum punches Mack in the upper arm and he howls in response. “What the fuck?”

“We’re moving away from the Sarah discussion,” Callum points out. “How can you work in public relations and not pick up on these cues?”

“I don’t believe in bullshitting my friends like I do with my work,” Mack replies haughtily, rubbing his arm. “All three of you could do better with that, by the way.”

My mouth lifts into a half smile. “You make a valid argument.” Mack’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline at my admission.

“We can always count on you to be upfront with us and I appreciate it, even when it’s the most annoying thing to hear.

I’m sorry for thinking you’d blab about Millie.

I know friendship comes before gossip.” Mack beams at me.

Callum nods in agreement. “We’ve all had our moments, but we’re friends through thick and thin and all that.”

“We’re totally cute,” Mack sings, slinging his arm over my shoulder.

I shake Mack off as Callum laughs and Dan shakes his head, a small smile on his lips.

“It’s a big part of why I want you guys with me next year,” I explain. “Not for some events, but for all of them. I want the best parts of me to come along for the ride. I know it’s not your responsibility, but if you could help keep me in check like you did at camping, that’d help.”

“We can do that.” Dan winks at Callum.

I nod. “Thanks.”

“Are we not going to address the other elephant in the room?” Mack asks. The three of us look at him, unsure of where he’s going. Mack rolls his eyes. “Millie. What’s going on there?”

“I don’t know.” I swallow, ducking my head. “I like her.”

That’s an understatement. Hanging out with Millie has been the highlight of my year. I want to text her every time something cool or funny happens. I want to ask her about her time at school and what she sees in her future. The thought of parting ways at the end of next month stings to think about.

“You like like her?” Callum clarifies.

“Yep.” It comes out of my mouth without hesitation, hitting me like a slap in the face.

I like like Millie.

“Shit,” I groan. “I’ve been weird since camping and she can tell. I’ve got no idea what I’m doing.”

Mack slaps me on the shoulder. “What else is new?”

Every time I caught up with Millie this week, I made a point of ensuring other people were there.

Bowling with our friends on Monday night under the guise of a camping de-brief, snorkelling after work on Wednesday with Mack as our blabbermouth tour guide.

Whenever Millie and I had a moment alone, I talked and talked about everything except what we did at camping.

I convinced myself I’d overstepped the mark, and whilst I definitely don’t regret what we did, I don’t want her to feel like she can’t regret it.

I’m still a coward, trying to avoid serious conversations about serious issues I’m yet to figure out myself.

“What do I do?” I moan. “I told her I wasn’t interested in a girlfriend. She said she didn’t have time for a boyfriend.”

Callum shrugs. “Situations change.”

Mack arches an eyebrow at him, but miraculously doesn’t make a comment about him and Steph.

I tip my head back to look at the ceiling. “What if it hasn’t changed for her?”

Mack groans. “Considering I’m allegedly the dumbest in this group, you’re all so stupid when it comes to relationships and women. How many times do I have to say it? Communicate , you dickwads.”

He leads us out of the office, and I grimace with annoyance at Mack once again being right.