Page 20 of Rafferty's Rules
‘Seems kind of wrong that you’re stuck until then.’
‘I’m not stuck.’ Not stuck exactly. I expect I could go home. I know my parents would pay for any booking penalties to bring me home sooner. They wouldn’t, however, pay for my flight to New Zealand because, according to them, I shouldn’t have left; I should’ve stayed and worked things out with William.Not. Ever. Happening.‘I’m on an adventure.’
‘So you’re gonna stay in Sydney for now?’ he asks hesitantly, ‘Join your cruise later?’
‘No. I think I’ll probably stay here the whole time. I didn’t really want to be on a cruise anyway.’ It wasn’t my idea of a honeymoon, and a vacation in Sydney is not a hardship because it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. ‘I’ll probably find a cheap hotel or maybe a hostel. I read there are lots of those here for backpackers, right?’ He nods but doesn’t look impressed. ‘I just need to figure something else out for my new cards because those might not be the best kinds of places to receive sensitive mail.’
‘You’re welcome to have them sent here.’
‘Really?’
‘No need to look at me like that. I know we’re a state built on convicts, but criminality isn’t in the blood, you know,’ he says with such lightness, I know he hasn’t taken offence to my exclamation.
‘Sorry. It’s been a rough couple of weeks. I think I’ve forgotten that people can be nice.’ His eyes narrow, but thankfully, he doesn’t ask me to elaborate. Which is just as well because I don’t like to lie.
‘Maybe we could catch up while you’re in town. I could give you a few Sydney insider tips.’
‘That would be awesome.’ Scarily so, if the beating of my heart is anything to go by.
‘But getting back to last night... ’ I groan like I’m in pain. Ido notwant to go back there again. ‘I’m curious to know what you were doing in the place.’
‘You said it yourself—I was drunk!’ Hands in the air, I find I say this in the very grown-up tone ofduh!Before I return to fiddling with the black plastic top of my coffee cup, I realize those niggling suspicions are beginning to solidify. To make sense. I was there for one reason and one reason only. Revenge, by the way of drunken stupidity.
‘I’m not buyin’ it. You weren’t just passing and happened to grab by some greasy fuck in a cheap suit.’
‘How do you know? Maybe that’s exactly what happened—maybe the man had nefarious intentions.’
‘He definitely had plans you weren’t into.’
‘Exactly.’ And damn. Thanks to Rafferty, I’ve had a luck escape
‘Because you seemed to have plans of your own.’
‘Need-to-know basis!’ I reply with an aggrieved cry.
‘Exactly. I need to know.’ I’m not sure if he’s laughing at me or at my predicament.
‘Has anyone ever told you you’re pushy?’
‘You mean I’m like a dog with a bone.’
Not for the first time today, I feel like crying. I wanted to cry when I woke feeling like death warmed over, then I definitely wanted to cry when I realised I’d missed the cruise. And then, as Rafferty had slung an arm around my shoulder and told me I could go home with him, I may have cried a few secret tears of relief rather than desperation. I can cope with him thinking I’m nothing but trouble—a hot mess—but I don’t think I want him to know what was behind my very drunken plans. Or the catalyst.
In short, I don’t want his sympathy.
‘Come on, it can’t be that bad.’
I suddenly begin to laugh, big gasping giggles until tears are streaming down my face. Rafferty, meanwhile, looks on amused rather than bemused.
‘Oh, man,’ I say eventually. ‘Have you met me? Did you not pull me out of a brothel? Did you not see me miss my boarding time? Or lose my money or my cards—or my clothes. Did I not proposition you? Rafferty, by definition, I am a walking disaster.’ By this point, my laughter has dimmed to a sad feeling little sigh.
‘But something tells me this is not a regular weekend for Lissa Montgomery.’
‘Maybe. Maybe not.’
‘Nah, you’re not a party girl.’
‘Aren’t I?’ Is that an insult or a compliment? His eyes narrow as he considers my remark, and I feel his scrutiny almost viscerally. ‘I’ll admit, I’m usually a little better pulled together.’
