It Started at the Beach - Chapter 3

'So…your mum reached out?’

They were taking Precious for a nighttime stroll along the Bondi to Bronte coastal path. At this late hour, the crowds had dispersed with the sun and there was less risk of Gigi being recognised by the masses. They could walk and talk in peace.

‘Yes.’

Sasha hated that she hadn’t known. The last time Gigi’s mother had reached out, Gigi had been a mess for days. Torn between replying and pretending it had never happened. And though Sasha hadn’t pushed the topic at breakfast, too happy to see Gigi eat with gusto after such honesty, she knew the time had come to press for more.

It also stopped Sasha drilling into the other things Gigi had said…things that made her think foolish thoughts…like maybe there was something deeper than friendship between them.

Something worth taking a chance on and risking the status quo.

‘If I treated him half as well as I treated you, we’d have a relationship worth saving…you and me, we come as a pair.’

A pair. If only she’d meant it in the sense that Sasha felt it. An item. Mrs and Mrs. Til death do us part.

‘What did she say?’ she pressed when Gigi said no more.

‘The same as before. She wants a chance to explain what happened in her own words, only…’ Her voice shook as she broke off, and Sasha took her hand, gave it a squeeze. ‘Only this time she says she’s sick.’ Her hand pulsed around Sasha’s. ‘Brain cancer.’

‘Oh, Gigi. I’m sorry.’

Gigi met her gaze, gave a sad smile. ‘She says she might only have a year, that’s if the operation she needs doesn’t kill her first… But why should I care though, right? To be honest, I’m surprised she’s lived this long with all her demons.’

Sasha wet her lips, chose her words carefully. ‘Addiction is evil, but the people who suffer with it…I don’t know Gigi. There could be so many reasons she fell into its trap, each of them understandable.’

‘Or not,’ she blurted.

‘But the fact she’s reaching out shows you’re still in her thoughts, that she cares about you and—’

‘You would see it that way, coming from a loving home.’ She softened her words with a squeeze to Sasha’s hand. ‘Sorry, darling, I know you went through hell losing your mum and I know you’ve been far from lucky in that regard, but my mother had years to fight her affliction, years to get herself straightened out so that she could have me back, and she didn’t.’

‘She came to you—’

‘When it was too late, when the damage had been done and I was out of the system. Old enough to stand on my own two feet. And don’t forget, my name was in lights by then. I couldn’t trust a word she said, because for all I knew, it was my money that she wanted access to. Not me.’

‘Perhaps. But not now, not if she’s…she’s sick.’

‘That’s if it’s even true.’

‘You think she’s guilt-tripping you into making contact?’

Gigi raked her free hand through her hair, took an unsteady breath as she watched the moon dance over the waves. ‘I don’t know what to think.’

‘You’ll never know if you don’t face up to your own demons and meet with her...or call her. Talk. See how you feel then. At least you will have heard her side to balance with your own and then you can decide.’

‘Maybe.’

‘I think you’re more likely to regret not taking the opportunity to get your own answers to all those questions that have built up over the years. When she’s gone, that opportunity dies with her.’

‘And that’s just it, maybe I don’t want to face the pain of knowing her and then losing her all over again.’

Sasha stopped walking, encouraging Gigi to turn and face her.

‘And when that day comes…’ She released her hand to lift it into Gigi’s hair. Stroked her thumb along her cheek and ignored the thrill of the touch to focus on the assurance she sought to give. ‘You’ll have me to hold you together. Just like you held me together when I lost Mum.’

Gigi turned her head into Sasha’s palm. ‘Always, darling.’

Her words whispered along Sasha’s palm, almost like a kiss, and Sasha gulped down the passion and emotion bursting from within. Whether it was the depth of their conversation, or the intimacy of the moonlight, or the ridiculous thoughts that had been filling her mind since their conversation at breakfast, she felt something shifting between them.

And it scared her as much as it energised her.

‘Shall we head back?’ She lowered her hand that thrummed with the echo of Gigi’s lips, curled her fingers into her palm, willing the sensation to stay. ‘I have a bottle of Champagne that’s been waiting for someone to share it with.’

‘Champagne?’ Gigi gave a lopsided grin. ‘I knew I came here for a reason.’

She laughed, hoping it sounded easy when inside she was coiled tight. Desperate to act on the forbidden and knowing she couldn’t.

The risk was far too great.

Much too great.

It really was.

Wasn’t it?

‘So you do only love me for my hospitality?’

‘I love you for a whole lot more than that...’

Her breath stuttered as she flicked Gigi a look. Was that desire drowning out her pupils or the lack of light?

Damned if she knew, but they needed to move.

Now.

***

Sasha moved so fast that Gigi was momentarily left behind. And then she hurried after her, forcing out a laugh too. Because of course she was teasing, wasn’t she?

No. She wasn’t. She loved Sasha, and Sasha had to know that.

But loving someone in the way that she did her best friend…the way her best friend made her feel safe, secure, cherished. The way she also made her feel all flustered and hot on the inside. The way her swinging blonde ponytail made her want to wrap her hand around it and tug her head back so that she could claim those lips. Lips that had uttered the sweetest things and made her think the sultriest of thoughts…

‘But I’ll say Champagne virtually on tap is right up top,’ she hurried out, trying to bury her thoughts and the chaos they’d stirred up.

Sasha cocked a brow — even that was sexy.

‘You can afford enough of your own.’

‘I can. But it’s the company one shares it with that truly makes it.’

Sasha’s eyes flared a split second when Gigi’s comment landed, and then her friend was laughing again, shaking her head as she carried on her way, her gaze on the road ahead. ‘Flattery will get you everywhere.’

If only…

And what the hell was she doing, flirting shamelessly now. Maybe the break-up with Antoine had tipped her over the edge. Unlikely.

Though her mother’s letter, the question of mortality…one life and needing to live it…that was the shift. But letting those feelings take over, to let them in and risk the one true friendship she had…her only love…

Because she’d learned one thing in all her failed relationships: when it’s over, it’s over.

There’s no rescuing a friendship from the scraps of it.

And that she couldn’t bear.

But keeping sight of that risk when the woman who teased her very essence just by being in her presence was looking at her like she was right now…eyes dilated by moonlight or desire, it didn’t matter which…

‘You coming?’

Gigi gulped down the explosive hit of those words and moved. ‘No need to ask me twice.’