Chapter fourteenI was still on a high when I managed to get Jace to stop kissing me long enough so I could go back inside the restaurant.
I didn’t want to leave him but I knew my family would come looking for me if I was gone for too long. They thought I was on the phone to my parents and were happy as always to give me privacy, but they would also have come with guns blazing if I was taking too long. It would have been 10 times worse as Jack wasn’t there to act as my security guard. I understood my safety was a top priority.
Before I left him and I let what was happening between us go any further, I had to tell him that I was only in Australia on holiday. Part of me didn’t want to say anything; to prolong our time together for as long as possible. Yet what I was feeling about going home was mirrored on his face. He didn’t want to think about the end either, so it was easier to pretend it wasn’t going to happen. It may have been a little naive on both our parts, but I knew that when the time came we could deal with it then. Until that happened, he was all mine.
I was a little freaked out by how suddenly we became an item, but the attraction between us was so intense, it was impossible to ignore. It was so much easier just to give into it and let it take us where it may. So I did, I just jumped in head first, ignoring everything else and the possible consequences.
I was still lost in thoughts about my short time outside with Jace, and was getting all dreamy eyed about my first kiss when Sarah pulled me from my dreamland.
“What the hell happened to your dress?” She asked looking me up and down once I’d reached the table.
I glanced down and saw that the lettuce leaf that was once stuck to Jace was now stuck to me. Some of his egg/flour mix had smeared onto my dress too. I had completely forgotten about what I probably looked like! I was too busy lost in my thoughts to remember it until now.
“Oh,” I said, letting out a little giggle, “I ahh…ran into a walking accident.”
Sarah looked at me like I had lost the plot. “Eh?”
Keegan just raised an eyebrow at me in the same way Dad did when he was amused.
I giggled a bit more and flopped into my seat.
“I just got my first kiss,” I said dreamily as I stared off into space.
“Oh Indi!” Sarah squealed with excitement, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. “Was he cute?”
“It was Jace,” I answered, grinning widely, “He must work here, he was outside. I followed the advice you gave me on the boat. You were right, it worked. He does like me!”
“Ohhhhh!!” Sarah sighed.
“Ok, who the hell is this
‘Jace’ and what advice did you give her Sarah?” Keegan demanded, getting all ‘big Uncle’ on us.
“Oh Keegan, chill!” Sarah groaned, exasperated with her brother, “She met a hottie on the trip to the reef the other week. She liked him. It’s a summer romance, leave her alone!”
“I would like to meet him on behalf of Cooper,” Keegan said, ignoring his sister.
“Keegan! You will do no such thing. Besides, Jack has already met him. He said he seemed like a nice kid, so get over yourself!” Sarah shot daggers at her brother. “And I swear Keegan, if you even
try to interrogate him in any way, I will know and you will pay. Do you hear me?”
“If he so much as hurts a hair on her head, then I don’t care if you tear me to shreds Sarah.” He replied, matching her stare.
“He won’t ever hurt me,” I said in a small voice, somehow I knew it was true.
“He better not Indiana” Keegan at that point turned his stare my way.
“I promise you that you will be the first to know if he does Uncle Keegan!” I said, trying to pacify him. It seemed to work, as he visibly relaxed once he heard that.
“Fine.”
“So tell me about him, what’s he like? Was he a good kisser?” Cassidy, who had been fairly quiet up until now, grinned at me. Keegan turned to her with a glare. She decided to ignore it.
I sighed dreamily before I told them all about what had occurred outside in the time I had left, to the time I had returned. A number of times I had to keep bringing myself back to the present. I just couldn’t stop thinking about him kissing me and my heart did little flip flops every time I thought about it.
It was so hard getting to sleep that night. I wanted to be in his arms again; I wanted his lips back on mine. I couldn’t believe what I had missed out on all these years, though I was thankful he was my first.
Bounding out of bed early the next day, I showered and dressed and waited for him to ring the door bell. He had promised me the night before he would be over early and I just couldn’t wait for that time to arrive. When I did manage to sleep, it was the subject of my dreams all night.
I was in the kitchen finishing my coffee when Aunt Simone came waddling in.
“Oh Indi, just the person I wanted to see!” She announced, smiling. “I know you had plans today, and it’s ok if you want to keep them as I will understand, but I have a favor to ask.” She grimaced as she took a seat.
“Sure, I am happy to do anything,” I replied with an honest nod.
“Thanks honey. It seems that this baby has decided it’s not going to wait the extra week it should have. I am in labor. I was wondering if you would stay home today to watch the girls. Though like I said, if you don’t want to, then Claudia is more then happy to.”
“Oh, no that is wonderful to hear, Aunt Simone! I can change my plans. That’s why am here,” I grinned, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No darling, I am fine. It will be hours yet and Bryon is on his way home from work. I am about to go tell the girls now and then I will go lie down and get some rest while I can.” She answered as she pulled herself up from the chair. “Thank you. I know Claudia wants to be there with us. You are doing us all a huge favor. Oh, and Jace is more then welcome to hang out with you here.”
“It’s my pleasure,” I said to her before she left, “And thanks.”
I just hoped now Jace wouldn’t mind that I couldn’t leave the house. Somehow I knew he wouldn’t.
After what felt like ages, the door bell rang. I had to stop myself from running to it like a mad woman. I just knew it would be him. The moment I opened the door, the mad woman came out.
“Jace!” I exclaimed as I threw myself at him and kissed him hard.
I had to make sure last night wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t, he kissed me back with matching vigour.
After we broke apart he apologised for being late.
Not that I cared, he came and that was the most important thing. Now I just had to hope he was ok to hang out with me here. I shouldn’t have worried, he didn’t mind. He was fantastic with Hope and Freya and managed to survive the interrogation.
“So, who are Simone and Bryan related to? Your Mum or your Dad?” Jace asked me, as we snuggled on the couch. Hope and Freya had followed Bryon so it was just us in the lounge room.
“Neither,” I grinned, “They are really good friends of my parents. Well, all the family really! They have known me since before I was born. They are like family so I call them Aunt and Uncle.”
“Oh,” He sighed, a forlorn look on his face. “It must be nice to be able to do that.”
“Don’t you have family?” I asked him, realizing that I still didn’t really know anything about him. I was curious all of a sudden.
“I have two half sisters and a mother. I never met my Dad, and my grandparents have never really had anything to do with me,” He replied a little sadly. I felt so bad for him; I had family in abundance and just couldn’t imagine life without any of them.
“How old are your sisters?”
“Lexi is 9 and Deva is 2.”
“I’d love to meet them and your Mum too, if that’s ok?” I asked.
His face, which had been bright only moments earlier when I asked him about his sisters, abruptly darkened. I suddenly felt afraid.
“You don’t want to meet my Mum, she isn’t…you just don’t want to, ok?”
“Jace. I am sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you and I am sorry if I asked the wrong thing,” I said apologetically.
“No Indi you have nothing to be sorry for, but lets just drop it.” He answered, coming back to the present.
“Sure,” I gave him a smile, at a loss for what to say next. I needn’t have worried; Jace changed the subject himself.
“Is Indi your real name or just a nickname?” He questioned.
I froze, and my breath caught in my throat. I had been hoping he wouldn’t ask me that. It was part of my real life back home. If I told him my full name he would possibly start to realize who I was. It’s not that I wanted to hide anything from him, and I would eventually tell him who I was, but I didn’t want to just yet. Knowing I was the daughter of a famous actress tended to change people very quickly. I liked Jace far too much for that to happen, and to be honest I was scared he would change on me.
“It’s ok if you don’t want to tell me,” Jace said, noting my hesitation.
“No…it’s not that I don’t want to tell you,” I said, reminding myself to breathe normally, “To answer your question, no, Indi isn’t my name. It’s a nickname my family and friends call me, it’s a shortened version of my name,” I said, taking a deep breath. I was about to continue and tell him my name when he took advantage of the break.
“I knew it. So do you mind if I call you Indi? I really like it,” He grinned.
I grinned back at him. All thoughts of my name went flying from my head at the way his face lit up, and my heart started flip-flopping at the sight of his grin and hearing that he loved my name. I don’t know why but it meant a lot to me. “No, I love the way you call me Indi. I don’t think I could stand it any other way.”
“Good,” He replied. His grin softened as he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine in a soft kiss. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long because a moment later the sound of giggling reached us. We broke apart in a hurry, both looking towards the sound. Freya was peering at us from behind the wall. The moment she saw us she ducked back, still giggling.
“Sorry,” I groaned, embarrassed about getting caught by a 7 year old kid.
“Don’t be,” Jace laughed, “But don’t forget I have a kid sister and know what they are like.” He smiled reassuringly. “Please do keep blushing though.” He grinned, staring at my pink cheeks to which I just rolled my eyes. I didn’t get a chance to answer back because at that moment Bryon and Simone came from the back of the house. Bryon was supporting Simone as she walked.
“Ok Indi, we are off to the hospital. I rang Keegan, he will be around after work to stay the night. Sarah also said to give her a call should you need anything. Will you be alright until Keegan comes?” he asked concerned.
“We will be fine Uncle Bryon,” I answered with a smile and a mental cringe. I just hoped that Keegan wouldn’t interrogate Jace if he was still here.
“Ok, well, there is money on the fridge for pizza or what ever you decide you want for dinner. I have my mobile with me if you need me,” The concern was clear in his voice.
“Bryon, she is a smart girl. Everything will be fine!” Simone said in a small voice from next to Bryon.
He smiled fondly at his wife. “Ok. Bye girls!” He called out to Hope and Freya.
“BYE!” Was their reply.
“Don’t let them get away with anything,” Simone said with a laugh, “And ring Sarah if you need to.”
“I will Aunt Simone.” I said, smiling at her.
With that, they moved towards the front door and closed it softly behind them. Once they had gone I turned back to Jace. “We are in trouble when Keegan arrives,” I muttered, pulling a terrified face.
“Why?” He asked, taking me seriously, “Who is he?”
“He would be my Dad’s brother.” I laughed at the way he went white.