Escaping Eden (10 page)

“What happens when your visa expires?” I asked carefully.

“Australia is beautiful year round,” he replied softly.

“Can I think about it?” I asked.

He smiled and nodded.

“Thank you,” I replied, leaning down to kiss him.

“You’re welcome, Eden. Now how about we get showered and go out for the rest of the day and see what Hawaii is about.”

I watched Simon as he walked over to the bags again, sweaty and desire soaked. Once he located some underwear and clothes he disappeared into the bathroom. I got up and went to my purse and fished around for my phone before I laid back down on the bed.

I smiled.

I had seven text messages and three missed call. They were all from Liora.

I clicked on the little messenger man and I heard the shower start.

Hey, Li.

Eden! Where the hell have you been?

Australia ;)

I don’t give a good God damn that you and the Aussie did it! Answer me when I text you!

Calm down. I’m fine. He’s fine. We’re here. We’re going to go out and explore after we shower. I’ll get you a cool gift. Talk to you later.

....FINE. Later. Tell him I said to behave.

Will do.

Bye.

I pushed the button to kill the screen light and put the phone next to me on the bed.

Yawning, I started to debate Simon’s idea. It would be great if it all worked out. Being Simon’s girlfriend sounded like fun and I’m sure Australia really
was
beautiful all year round, but what would happen if we broke up? What would happen if he found someone else or lost interest? Then I’d be stuck on a continent with no friends and no family. More importantly with no way of getting back home.

But it would be one hell of an escape. An amazing chance to find myself; even more so than being in Hawaii.

I glanced at Simon, ten minutes later when he entered the room. Glasses in place, hair a mess, black ribbed muscle shirt, tan khaki shorts, and his black flip flops.

“You okay? You look like you’re deep in thought,” he remarked as he pulled an empty bag out and putting his dirty clothes in them.

“I’ll do it,” I replied.

“Do what?” he asked, looking slightly confused.

“I’ll give this a try. And if it works out, I’ll to Australia with you. But you have to promise me something,” I said holding up a finger.

“Anything Eden,” he said, coming over and sitting next to me on the bed.

“
If
it doesn’t work out, you have to provide me with a way home.”

“I promise,” he answered.

Simon took my face in his hands and kissed me. He rested his forehead against mine and breathed deeply.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

I put my hands on his wrists and nodded.

“Go take a shower. We’ve got an island to see,” he said with a smile.

I laughed and got off the bed. I went over to my bags and fished around for some light clothes and underwear. I stood in the doorway for a moment and looked at Simon who was watching me with a smile on his face.

I looked down for a moment, before I looked back up and met his eyes again.

Maybe this could work.

Forty minutes later, we were hand in hand walking out of the hotel. I put my hands up to shield my eyes from the sun as he was examining a paper he had taken out of his pocket.

“Do you want to spend the rest of the day taking a tour of Haleakala National Park?” he asked me.

“Yeah! It sounds like a great idea!” I replied enthusiastically. “But maybe you should change your footwear there Mr. ... Simon what the hell is your last name anyway?”

“Walker,” he answered, laughing. “And my feet will be okay.”

We walked to the edge of the sidewalk as he hailed a cab. He told the driver where we were going, then settled back and put an arm around my shoulders.

God this is affection overload. I’m gong to have to get used to this.

I leaned over and put my head on his shoulder as we looked out his window and watched the world go by.

A few hours later, the driver dropped us off at the park. Simon reached forward and gave him the fare, plus a considerable tip, and we exited the car. As we neared the entrance, I shoved him behind me and paid the entrance fee before he could spend anymore money.

“I would have gotten that you know,” he chided.

“Yeah. I know; that’s the problem. If we’re going to pair up here, you’re going to have to let me pay for stuff too,” I replied, looking up at him.

“And you’ll have to remember that of the two of us, I have the penis,” he said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Apparently, when Simon was in a relationship; he was the alpha male. Not that I minded really, I just didn’t think it meant that it relegated him to have to pay for everything all the time. Or constantly be in charge; though so far he was letting me make decisions for us as much as he made them. Maybe more so even.

“And
I
have the vagina, and
you
don’t jerk off. So I think that puts me in the lead here,” I retorted.

He nodded with a grin, “Yeah, I would say it does.”

When we stepped into the visitor’s center, I looked at the guides and read the warnings.

“Yeah, you’re feet are fucked,” I said to Simon, pointing to a line that said that flip flops and sandals were highly unrecommended for the park.

“When we get to the sketchy parts, you can just carry me on your back,” he said, putting his arms around my shoulders.

“Let’s go Mr. Walker.”

Simon chuckled and took my hand in his as we made our way into the park.

I couldn’t help but wonder; of all the simple things I wanted in this world, how escaping myself, my past, would end.

I looked up at the man next to me.

I guess I would find out with the first step I was taking with Simon.

I couldn’t wait to see how it would end.

I
smiled and waved at the people walking down the street. I had only been in Sydney for about two months but everyone was absolutely amazing. Simon helped me find a job working in a video game store and I spent most of my nights at home with him.

When we got here, he had surprised me by telling me that he had his own company here the entire time, but went to America because he wanted to spread his wings a bit and get out of Australia.

At that point, all the cash tossing made sense. He also admitted that he didn’t tell me, because he wanted to be sure that I would want him for
him
and not for any monetary reason.

I looked at the time on my phone and smiled. He would be back from the airport soon with Liora and we had a surprise for her.

I sipped my drink and flipped the page in the book I was reading.

“Eden!”

I glanced up and saw Liora waving to me out of the passenger side window as Simon pulled into our driveway.

I waved at her and stayed in my seat, wanting to save the surprise for the last moment possible.

They climbed out of the car, and Simon grabbed her bags and brought them up the stairs and set them down, before leaning on the strong wooden railing.

“Can’t get up and give your oldest, and dearest friend a hug?” she asked with a laugh.

I looked at Simon, who smiled at me. I got to my feet slowly and watched Liora’s face carefully.

“Oh my God! You’re having a baby!”

I smiled as she hugged me then let her hands rest on my belly.

“We’re naming her after her aunt,” Simon said. “Liora Ann Walker.”

Li’s eyes watered as she hugged me again, before she and Simon walked into the house.

I turned around and stared up at the sky, the cool Sydney air blowing past me.

“Coming, Eden?” he asked, poking his head out.

I nodded.

With one more glance over my shoulder, I entered the house and closed the door on my past.