Free Dessi's Romance by Goldie Alexander Page B

reckon? What about farting noises in
bed??? Gross, eh?
    Kaz is fine,
but turning out to be a bit of a control freak. Jodes is pathetic as usual. Got
stoned our very first night. Wonder what they all got up to last night while I
was here having D and M’s with Dad and Laura. By the way, she’s sort of OKAY,
but don’t mention THAT to your mum or she might tell Julie and then she’ll get
DEEPLY DEPRESSED and I just couldn’t stand it!
    There’s so
much I want to see up here. The usual stuff, but there’s also a twice a week
market on Main Beach that’s supposed to be terrific. And the QI of course. If
you get to levels 77 and 78 they say you can see almost all the way to New
Zealand or Fiji.
    Hope you’re
healing fast. Keep an eye on Abdul for me. Keep BOTH eyes on him! And tell me
EVERYTHING.
    Love you.
    WISH YOU WERE
HERE!
    Emma.
     
    ‘You’ve got my cell phone
number, haven’t you?’ Laura says when she drops me off in front of our unit.
    ‘Sure.
And…thanks, Laura.’
    Laura gives me a
big smile, waves and drives off, leaving me unsure as to how I now feel about
her. Laura’s friendly, too friendly, almost as if she’s determined to force me
to like her. But then some of her attitudes leave me uncomfortable.
               
    ‘Hey, everyone, I’m back,’ I
say letting myself into the apartment.
    Maria Carey is
singing ‘Touch my skin’ through Kaz’s iPod. Its owner and Sacha are on the
balcony just asking for a photo-shoot, they look so good.
    ‘Well, look
who’s here,’ Kaz drawls. ‘Nice of you to drop by.’
    Sacha sits up in
one smooth movement and says reproachfully, ‘We were worried about you, Emma.
Where were you?’
    I scowl.
‘Thought we were all grown up.’
    He looks hurt.
‘Sure. But we’re in a new place. Why not text?’
    ‘If you must
know, I stayed at my dad’s.’
    ‘Still…’
    ‘Forget it,
Sacha,’ Kaz chips in before Sash can continue. ‘How did you get on with him,
Emma?’
    I don’t want to
talk about Robert or Laura, so I say, ‘What did you guys get up to last night?’
    They look at
each other and grin.
    ‘Went to Shooters and got
rat-faced…’
    ‘Bodie and Jeff shouted
us beers…’
    ‘…and Jon was
chucked out,’ Sacha puts in. ‘He’s really skidding…’
    This stops me
short. ‘Tell me more,’ and this deflects any more questions. Perched on a
ledge, I hear how Jon McKenna got into a fight and punched a security guy.
Good stuff, I think. Report this to Dessi. ‘What’s with him?’ I ask.
    The
others just shrug.
    ‘Listen, you
guys… Got anything planned for day after tomorrow because my dad’s offered to
take us on a cruise up the Broadwater to South Stradbroke Island and Tipplers.
Free, of course,’ I hasten to add.
    Kaz’s eyes
narrow. ‘Will there be lunch?’’
    I nod.
    ‘So… Fine with
me.’ Kaz sits back, a sharp-faced cat promised a bowl of cream.
    I go off to the
bathroom where I discover Sacha is meticulous about dividing the vanity unit.
No soggy towels. In the bedroom his bed is neatly made up. No clothes left
lying around. Still, we’re going to have to reach some agreement about sleeping
arrangements. What’ll I do if he brings a boyfriend back? The idea makes me
anxious. I don’t know how I’ll handle two guys having sex. I don’t think I’m
homophobic. But how will I know until I’m really faced with it?

17. DESSI, Melbourne
     
    Given my ignorance about Lebanon, the
morning after going out with Abdul, I boot up the computer and read:
     
    Batroun in the northern
sector, is mentioned in the ancient Egyptian Tal-el-Amara tablets.  In
Greco-Roman days, it made a name for itself as a pirate lair.  A walk
through Batroun's twisting lanes in the old town and a visit to its
architecturally eclectic cathedral are recommended for those who enjoy
exploring the picturesque corners of old Lebanon…
     
    A tiny envelope appears in the right
hand corner. Emma. My stomach churns. She’ll want to know if