Thirty minutes later, when Ant left the restaurant with a piece of Banofi pie in a doggy bag, he had more than an idea. In the morning, he’d see Dan and try to work out how to make it happen. If anyone knew how to pull off a big gesture it was Dan.
·
“You seriously want me to sell the Alfa?” Dan sat on his board outside the line up and squinted at Ant with a look that said everything Ant had tossed and turned about over night.
“I need a big gesture and it’s the only way I can move fast enough, without putting myself in debt.”
“What if she doesn’t feel that way about you, mate?”
“You did it for Alex.” Dan spent every cent of his savings trying to make things up to Alex after he dumped her. It’s what was inspiring Ant now. He didn’t need Dan talking it down.
“Yeah, and it could’ve back fired. It almost did. Alex thought I was trying to buy her love. It’s a risky move. You have to be prepared to lose, to walk away with nothing, and be okay with that. For you that means no car, no girl.”
“I know that.”
“Do you? You love your Alfa and you’re a basket case of a loser.”
“I’m getting more accustomed to the unnatural state of looserdom.”
Dan slapped the water lying across the front of his board and laughed.
“I’m fucking glad you’re amused.”
“I never thought I’d see the day a chick felled you. I’m relieved.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I was always thought the dutiful son would emerge from under the playboy exterior and you’d hook up with someone to make the family happy.”
Ant closed his eyes and tipped his face up to the sun. Dan couldn’t know how on the money he was. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. One minute you’re warning me I’ll need paddles to keep my heart going after she rips it out, the next you’ve got me married off. You were willing to toss the dice and gamble. So am I.”
Dan spun his board so he was face and chest to the sun as well. It had some bite in it, even this early. “I hear you. I’ll find a buyer. You can borrow the Valiant until you get the cash for new wheels. And with any luck you’ll be the proud sponsor of a roller derby team by the end of the week.”
14: Fresh Meat
Ant was late getting in Tuesday morning, so it was disconcerting Bree wasn’t at her desk doing active avoidance duty. He did a subtle cruise of the office. She wasn’t in the kitchen, the copier room or any of the meeting rooms. He couldn’t hover outside the ladies but he felt like he should. Just to see if she was all right.
By 10am, she still hadn’t shown up and her pc was dark. He hit the staff directory and sat looking at her mobile number on the screen. Like she’d answer if he used it. Like she’d not think he was doing some weird stalkerish thing. Which is precisely what he felt like doing, and he couldn’t summon any disgust for the feeling.
By lunchtime, he found an excuse to wander around to Bree’s workstation and catch Chris’ eye at the same time as making a surprise face at Bree’s turned off pc. Chris totally bought it.
“She’s in Melbourne. Lucky girl. BHP briefings. Not back till Monday. She gets to shop all weekend.”
Monday. Shit. There was no bout this weekend to bring her home early and Monday was to the moon and back. How was he supposed to hold out that long?
“What’s wrong, Ant?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.” Lots. Like not being able to apologise and try to make things right for a whole week. Like not being able to see her face and make her crabby with him again. Like living in hope he might one day get to kiss her, have her in his arms, and know that she did like him—even a little bit.
“Geez, you can’t possibly be jealous she got to go?”
“I’m not.”
“I suppose that’s right, if you meant what you said at dinner Friday?”
He pulled out Bree’s chair and sat. “I meant it. I’d never thought about it before, but I get it. It’s about time the ruling class shared their toys. Not that you chicks are getting any free rides on the slippery dip.”
Chris bristled. “Not that we’re asking for any.”