Final Shot | ONC2022

Chapter 8: Old Photos

"You had sex on the beach?" Zomi's expression hovered somewhere between admiring and scandalised.

"Yes." I grinned widely. "Twice."

Zomi widened her eyes. "But what if someone had seen you?"

I shrugged lightly. "They would have seen a bit more of nature than they really wanted to."

Zomi laughed. "I can't believe you did it on the beach. Was it better than the cocktail?"

"Sex on the beach? Yeah. It was way better than the cocktail."

"What was it like, after so long?"

Zomi could never get over how long it had been since I slept with someone, even though she continually joked she couldn't find any men she wanted to sleep with. I shrugged nonchalantly. "Like riding a bike, I guess."

"Were you the bike?" Zomi arched an eyebrow.

"Ha ha. You know what? I kind of wish I was. Afterwards, all I could think was it's been way too long."

Zomi nodded emphatically. "I told you! You've totally been missing out. So he was good?"

"So good." I shook my head to convey my lack of ability to describe how good it was.

Zomi whooped. "Go for it, bae! When are you seeing him again?"

"In a couple of days. We're going to Dru Point and then for Devonshire Tea at the Margate Train. I'm not even planning to take my camera."

Zomi's mouth dropped open. "Wow. You'll feel naked."

"I hope so."

We giggled for a minute before Zomi asked the question I'd been wondering about. "Are you going to bring him back here?"

"Would you mind?"

"Of course not. How many times have I brought someone home?"

I held both hands out with a wicked smile. "I don't have the fingers to keep count."

Zomi's cheeks turned a faint pink.

"Hey, don't be embarrassed. I'm just jealous! Anyway, I'm not sure if I'll bring him here. I kind of want to see his place."

Zomi nodded sagely. "I know what you mean. Best way to find out if they're already with someone."

I widened my eyes. "I hadn't actually thought of that, but you're right."

"Yeah. I've been fooled before. Remember Charlie?"

I shook my head with a tiny grin. "Not really."

Zomi grinned too. "I guess you wouldn't. I really liked her, but she always wanted to sleep here and never invited me to her place. I thought it was because she lived with her parents, until I ran into her with her girlfriend at the market." Zomi shrugged. "It happens."

"Yeah, I know. I don't really get that vibe from Leo, but maybe I should push to stay over at his place and see how he reacts."

"You should. But if he says no, bring him back here and bonk his brains out anyway. You can't break the girl code before you know she exists." Zomi winked a gleaming eye. "See you later, I've got to get to work."

I turned my computer on as soon as Zomi left. I wanted to finish processing my latest shots. I was adjusting the shadows on one of the beach shots when I saw Leo's name pop up in an email notification. I opened the attachment and found his finished Bruny shots. 

Me with an oyster in my hand. 

Me displaying a cheese platter. 

Me on the Truganini Lookout with the Tasman rolling in behind me.