The bass is hard. The temperature is hot. "Bar in the front, dancing in the middle, pool in the back...thankfully Aussie pubs aren't much different from American bars." I don't really attract that much attention until I open my mouth and order a coke. Then every eye is on the American with the weird accent ordering a decidedly "wimpy" drink. I shake off the stares with a smile as I peel my glasses off.
The man behind the bar smiles at me all cute and I almost feel bad for him, "It's on the house."
"Aw," I smile at him and bat my eyelashes, "thank you." I turn away from him as I turn on my heel. "Poor sap. Doesn't have gaydar, I guess." I wink at a girl leaning against the wall and she nods once in acknowledgment. "Family. Totally. We really are everywhere."
I scan the pool area and it's almost cheesy how I find her. It's mostly guys if you don't count the under-dressed and overly made up floozies hanging around. There's a sharp laugh to my left, though, and my head turns just in time for the tall guy to move and reveal a smile I know very well. "She looks good. Really good. White tank, jeans, white shoes, just like she said." I approach the group slowly and try not to attract attention. That usually means I don't make eye contact.
Taking a spot on the periphery of the circle around the table she's at, I lean against the wall and watch her. She doesn't know I'm going to be here. I lied to her. Something tells me she'll forgive me. She thinks I'll arrive tomorrow. To say she'll be shocked is an understatement as big as the ocean between our countries.
The guy who's challenged her lays out the parameters, "Okay, winner plays the next challenger. Loser buys the winner a drink. I just have to finish this one game."
"Sounds good," she nods and sips her drink. "Who will be the next challenger?" Her eyes scan the crowd opposite me and no one says anything.
"I will," I speak up and every eye in the immediate vicinity turns to me as I step into the light. The black blouse is her first clue. The skirt is further confirmation. But when she makes actual eye contact with me, there is no doubt who I am.
She closes her eyes and her head drops a bit, "Fuck."
Smiling, I stake my claim on the table and the next game. As I brush past her, I can't help but make a comment, "I expect you to win."
Finding her voice faster than I thought she would, she actually responds, "I don't plan to disappoint you."
"I expect you won't," I smile at her and she shakes her head slightly, completely taken aback at my presence.
She points at a friend and gets his attention, "I'm gonna need another one." She downs her drink and hands the glass to him, "Make it two."
He leans in, completely baffled, "Who is that?"
To cover my smile, I take a drink. She shoots a look at me and answers, "No one you know."
"Do you know her?"
Holding my stare, she smirks, "Not as much as I will by tomorrow."
"Wait," he looks at me and then back at her. Slowly, almost comically, he smiles, "This drink is on me. Oh shit, this should be good."
He takes his leave and she doesn't even blink, "Welcome to Australia."
"Thank you," I reply.
"Have you had your complimentary welcome hug?"
I swallow a smile and shake my head, "No, I haven't." The guy next to me answers a silent prayer by turning and opening his arms. "Aw," I smile really big at him, "thank you!" He pulls me into a hug and I try really hard not to laugh. When he lets me go, I thank him again, "That is so sweet! I feel so welcomed now!"
Shaking her head, she fails at not smiling, "Not nice. That is not nice at all."
"Well can I get two welcome hugs? One from a guy and then another one from a girl? Or is that being too greedy?"
"You know I like it when you're greedy."
"We'll see," I smirk and walk towards her, "won't we?"
Sliding one arm over my shoulder and one around my waist, she mumbles in my ear, "Yes, we will. God, you're really here. And you smell really good. Damn."
"Thank you. You smell pretty fucking good, too. And yes, I'm really here." I take a deep breath and murmur, "You're not mad, are you?"
Pulling back and looking into my face, she says, "No!" Then she takes a sharp breath and holds it.
Confusion furrows my eyebrows, "What?"
"Your eyes. Jesus."