Oz - A Short Story Read Free

good shake, and she was still waiting for everything to
settle into its normal configuration, like snow inside one of those
crystal globes.
    Her heart beat rapidly, warring with her
head as she clutched his coat closed and shivered with nerves. He
couldn’t be serious. But looking him in the eye, she couldn’t
believe he wasn’t serious.
    “You’re afraid.” He spoke gently.
    She gave him a direct look. “Yes.”
    “That’s a good sign.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t see why.”
    “If you’re afraid you’ll be hurt, it means
you’re feeling some of what I am.”
    She didn’t have an answer to that.
    “Give us our two days, Glenda. If this turns
out the way I think it will, we’ll work on the geography.”
    “You willing to come live in the
States?”
    “If it comes to that, I’d be willing to live
in Antarctica.” “It doesn’t get that cold in Chicago.”
    His smile made her heart do that flip
again.
    “Well, you never know. You visit Australia
in February and you may be the one who wants to move.”
    The door to the ballroom opened abruptly,
and light and sound spilled out. A tall figure stepped through the
door and lurched toward them. “Is that you, Glennie?”
    Steven. She’d forgotten all about him.
    Although she didn’t answer, he came closer
anyway, swaying slightly. “Marissa said you were out here. Whose
coat are you wearing? Oh, it’s you, Flemmie. You two talking
research are you?”
    Glenda’s stomach tightened. “Not
exactly.”
    Steven blinked and moved closer. “S’time to
go home.”
    He was too drunk to be driving. But, before
she could respond, Geoff did. “I’ll call you a cab, shall I?” Not
waiting for an answer he pulled out his phone.
    “Don’t need a cab. Got a car.”
    “Easier to take a cab. Door-to-door service.
My treat.” Geoff’s tone was calm but firm.
    “Glennie, too?”
    Glenda realized she was holding her
breath.
    “I’ll take Glenda home when she’s ready,”
Geoff said, speaking easily.
    The breath she held whooshed out.
    “I brought Glennie. Means I take her home.”
Steven sounded determined in spite of his slurred words, but he had
a puzzled look, as if he couldn’t quite understand what was
happening.
    Before he figured it out, Geoff took
Steven’s arm, saying, “Actually, there should be cabs out front.
We’ll go see, shall we, mate? Did I tell you how the Pies season
went? They’re in the Premiership.”
    “That’s good, isn’t it,” Steven mumbled.
    At a signal from Geoff, Glenda took Steven’s
other arm, and between them they steered him through the ballroom
and to the entrance of the hotel, with Geoff talking about the Pies
and the Premiership the whole way. There was a final sticky moment
after Steven was in the cab and Glenda stepped back to stand next
to Geoff.
    “What’s going—”
    “No worries, mate.” Geoff closed the door,
and the cab moved off.
    Glenda sighed in relief and turned to meet
Geoff Flemington’s gaze. “Thank you. You handled that beautifully.
I owe you one.”
    “And I aim to collect.” He cupped her face,
his thumb caressing her chin. “I choose those two days with
you.”
    It was crazy. To take a chance on falling in
love with someone who might take her away from everything and
everyone she held dear. It was like skiing full tilt toward the
edge of a slope with no idea what was beyond—short drop or
abyss.
    She didn’t take risks like that.
    But if she walked away from Geoff Flemington
tonight, she wouldn’t forget him, and she’d be diminished somehow.
And she might very well regret it the rest of her life.
    She raised her eyes to his. They were
standing in shadow, and his eyes gleamed like water touched with
starlight. She felt as if the earth was sliding from under her. But
it was okay because Geoff took her hands and held them firmly.
    “Give it a go, Glenda. What do you have to
lose?”
    She shook her head, beginning to smile at
him. “Everything. Absolutely everything.”
    He