Page 17 of Crashing Into You

“Just for show. Social media already thinks we’re together anyway, thanks to Simon’s little stunt at the pub last night.”

“Social media?”

“We’ve gone viral. Have you checked your phone lately?”

She shakes her head, then digs in her bag, which is on the granite countertop. She takes in a short breath as she scrolls through what are no doubt lots of notifications and messages.

“Shit.” Her head comes up. “I mean, I figured you were well known but this is…”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

I give her a moment. Just to process things. It feels incredibly delicate, like we’re balancing on the edge of a knife, and things could go in any direction.

“When you say ‘girlfriend’ you mean…”

“I mean for appearances only. I’m here for the next month, enough time to show up for you whenever you need me. And in return, you’d need to come to some stuff with me.”

She frowns slightly, looking down at her phone again. “Appearances only?”

“I mean… we’d probably have to be affectionate in public. But only what you’re comfortable with.”

“And it would be for the next month? Until Christmas?”

“Yeah.” I realise I’m holding my breath. Christ, I want her. I want her in my life, even if it is just for show.

“And you wouldn’t be… dating anyone else in that time?” She still isn’t looking at me, so I have no idea what she’s thinking.

“That’s right,” I say. Fuck. A month without sex. Can’t remember the last time that happened. Or if it’s ever happened. But I’ll do it, if it means I get the chance to know her.

She blinks a few times, still staring at her phone. Then she lifts her head, finally, and looks at me. I still can’t read her, still don’t know what she’s thinking. But there’s a tremor in her voice when she speaks.

“All right. Let’s do it.”

ChapterNine

Bryce

Luna Park smells like it always does, popcorn and burnt sugar and the salt smell of the bay, the rattle of the Scenic Railway filling the air along with the ding of bells and the sound of music from all the rides.

“Okay, I don’t care how old I am, this is still my favourite place and you are still my favourite brother for bringing me here.”

“I’m your only brother, Mil,” I wrap my arm around my sister, dropping a kiss on her newly pink hair. She smells like strawberries and vanilla and, while she’s still thin, she looks better than the last time I saw her. When I told her I was coming to visit, she made me promise to take her to Luna Park, the vintage amusement park on the St Kilda foreshore. I’ve been bringing her here since we were kids, scraping our dollars together to play Whack-A-Mole and go on the rides, leaving just enough to get some fairy floss for the tram ride home.

“You’re still my favourite.” She grabs my hand, dragging me towards the rides.

I can’t help laughing. I pull my baseball hat a little lower, not wanting to draw any attention to myself. This day is all about my sister. I arrived in Melbourne last night, driving up from the coast, staying at Mum’s house because she won’t hear of me doing otherwise. Millie wasn’t there. She lives in an apartment nearby and is in school, studying fashion. But I called her as soon as I could, telling her we were going to the park in the morning.

She met me here, refusing my offer of a lift from her place, saying she would just walk over and meet me. I was wary at first but, as soon as I saw her, clad in black T-shirt and shorts, it was like no time had passed at all.

“So, which ride first? Ghost Train? Or the Spider?” We always save the Scenic Railway for last. “Or is it the elephants again?” It was her favourite ride for years, and I always went on it with her, even though I preferred the more thrilling amusements.

She punches me in the arm. “I’m twenty-two, not a little kid anymore.”

“And?” I fold my arms, raising an eyebrow.

She giggles. “Fine. The elephants.”

We’re both laughing as we squeeze into the little elephant shaped capsule. The ride starts to move, gently lifting us up and down as it goes around, and it’s as though the years peel back and we’re kids again. I let myself relax, let myself hope that, this time, things will be okay.