Page 49 of What Did I Miss?

‘What about the groom?’ Makayla grabs Rongo as he’s walking past and positions him in the middle.

After various poses, Rongo is called to mingle with his new in-laws, who’ve flown in from Japan. He floats towards his bride like a lovesick puppy, and the photographer moves on to the next table.

Beau jumps out of his chair. ‘Sorry, mate. One more?’

Makayla deflates. So close.

Before his arm finds her waist again, Makayla goes back-to-back with Beau and creates a pretend gun with her hands to replicate the infamous Charlie’s Angels pose.

Being a good sport, Beau steps into character too.

She’s mortified that this will be their first photo as a couple.

Maybe one day she’ll tell him why and they’ll laugh about it.

Rongo’s brother, who can’t tear his gaze away from Imogen, double taps the microphone and a chill runs up Makayla’s spine. Speech time.

Family members kick things off, recounting fond memories and roasting the bride and groom with impeccable comedic timing. All of the speeches end on a sweet note, bringing Cece to tears. That was always going to happen.

‘Last but not least, we have Rongo’s friend Makayla, who’d like to say a few words.’

No. She’d like to be hit with a double whammy of Bali belly, so she doesn’t have to say any words. She turns to Beau for reassurance; he’s the calmest person she knows. He plants a cooling peck on the back of her hand.

The audience increases their clapping. No, they’re not dying to hear the worst wedding speech ever. They’re merely drooling over a suckling pig, glistening on a spit. Juicy pork and a citrus marinade tease their empty stomachs.

Beau rubs Makayla’s bare arm and she shivers despite the heat.

‘Don’t worry, most of the guests are tipsy. You’ll be fine. Love you.’ He pants a nervous laugh. ‘Sorry, I was going to save that for later.’

‘Okay,’ Makayla squeaks, avoiding eye contact with him and Cece, who’s sensible enough not to ‘awww’ at this unexpected moment.

Makayla shuffles towards Rongo and Noa, who are enjoying the formalities from high-backed rattan thrones. Her name is on everyone’s tongue as they grumble about the delay. She’s walking slower than a prisoner taking their last lap of death row.

He loves me?

Rongo’s brother thrusts the microphone into her clammy hand. She moves it away from her chest, convinced it’s amplifying her racing heart.

‘You need some water, eh?’

‘Gin please?’ she stammers.

He chuckles, and she frowns. It wasn’t a joke. Water won’t mute her galloping thoughts.

Okay? Beau has spent the week missing his holiday to be her nurse.

Okay? He’s giving up a white picket fence life for her.

Okay? He’s been by her side all day, beaming with pride.

Okay? No matter how awful her speech is, he’ll smile through the whole thing.

OKAY is not an acceptable response. What is wrong with me?

Everyone’s staring at her, while she’s zeroing in on the only face that matters. Beau looks different. Tired. Raw. Like he’s taken an emotional beating. A throat-clearing cough from the side brings her back into the moment. Speak from the heart .

‘Good evening, everyone.’ Her voice cracks like a pubescent boy. Inhale. Exhale. ‘I’ve been wondering why Rongo would ask me to give a speech when I’m clearly bad at this.’

The crowd indulges her with a pity laugh. She’ll take it.

‘I have a sneaking suspicion it’s because Rongo and I have gone through something similar. We’ve both been married before, had our hearts broken and sworn we’d never put ourselves in that position again. Clearly, Rongo didn’t stick to our pact.’

Makayla waves her arm around to highlight the obvious. It garners another laugh from the audience. Less pity this time. More genuine.

‘Sometimes the right person comes into our lives at the wrong time. But what if we don’t look at it that way?

What if they’re the person we needed all along?

The only one who can put us back together?

If you find that person, then there is no wrong time.

’ Makayla gets lost in Beau’s adoring eyes, which mirror her feelings.

A lukewarm glass of sparkling wine is placed into her hand, snapping her out of it. Time to wrap things up. She raises the flute into the air and the guests dutifully follow suit.

‘To meeting the right person and not letting anything get in the way.’ The bubbles tickle her throat as the wine gushes down. ‘Oh, and to Rongo and Noa. Congratulations!’

Makayla and Beau return to the villa earlier than the others.

When they left the wedding, Tilly was bopping on the dance floor while her doting parents filled their camera roll with endless footage.

Imogen also wanted to stay longer. She looked far too cosy, swaying in the Thor-sized arms of Rongo’s brother.

Looks like Makayla isn’t the only one having a holiday romance.

At least hers comes with a promise beyond Bali.

The flirty flicker of lanterns scattered around the tropical garden convinces them to stay outside.

They sit at the pool’s edge, mesmerised by the shimmering lagoon-green tiles.

Makayla soaks her feet. High heels have tortured the poor things all night.

Bring on her thirties and orthopaedic footwear.

‘Have you ever skinny dipped?’ Beau asks nonchalantly.

‘Not yet. You?’

‘No. It’s on my bucket list though.’

She raises her eyebrows, daring him to go first.

Accepting the challenge, he rises, fumbles with his shirt buttons, and pulls at his zip.

His trousers and belt clink as they hit the ground.

Briefs cast aside, Beau stands there in all his naked glory, comfortable with his physique, which he should be – he’s sculpted like a Greek statue.

He cannonballs into the water, striking it with such ferocity the splash soaks Makayla completely.

Eyes full of mischief, he swims over, stopping in front of her.

He glides his wet hands along the sides of her thighs and they disappear up her dress.

In the sweltering heat, it’s hard to breathe, even more so when Beau tugs at her underwear.

Makayla’s breath catches at the back of her throat as he removes them and parts her legs.

She presses her hands deep into the grassy lawn, biting her bottom lip in anticipation.

She remembers what she said the first time she laid eyes on Beau: I bet that guy doesn’t need directions. It was true then and it still is, as he dots her skin with silky kisses.

He vanishes beneath her dress. The pool’s surface steams and an earthy scent, the smell of imminent rain, lays thick in the air.

Feeling like her body is on fire, Makayla removes the rest of her clothes. A tickling breeze hardens her nipples along with the sight of Beau smiling as he tastes her. His tongue and her hips sway in rhythm, bringing her closer and closer to forgetting her own name.

A bright moon frames the scene and a blanket of stars provide soft mood lighting. Makayla arches up to the sky, moaning so loud her voice travels over the villa’s tall walls like the ivy that climbs it.

‘Beau,’ she whimpers repeatedly.

A warm sensation spreads throughout her body, and she shakes with pleasure.

Her heart flutters wildly. When it slows and her limbs relax, he goes again, bringing on a second wave, then – oh god – a third.

Her mind blanks. Nothing else exists other than this moment.

She flops like a rag doll and slips into the pool.

Gentle water envelops her, like a soothing hug.

She glides through it, naked and weightless.

The experience is not risqué, like she’d imagined.

Instead, it’s freeing. Plunging further and kicking harder, layers of the old Makayla dissolve.

Bubbles dance around her as she exhales.

For the first time in a long time, breathing is easy.

She’s not the same woman she was months ago; she’s happy and, more importantly, hopeful.

Makayla and Beau find each other with their fingers, and come up for air at the same time.

‘Do you know what else I haven’t done in a pool?’ Beau smirks.

Nothing more needs to be said. It’s all long legs around his hips, her back firm against a wall. The sweetness of her all over his lips. The rain she knew was coming, creating a tranquil soundtrack. Ripples growing bigger. Then smaller. She floats into a state of joy she’s only ever known with him.

The No Regrets List

In no particular order:

Get a tattoo ?

Have a one-night stand ?

Take a pole dancing class ?

Try out a new hairstyle ?

Travel ?

Have a holiday hook-up ?

Meet someone on a dating app ?

Speak in another language ?

Attend a speed dating session ?

Buy lingerie ?

Climb the career ladder ?

Go skinny dipping ?