Chapter Nine

Axel

I'm standing in a dark corner of the bar, almost hiding behind a potted palm. The music is loud, the room dim, with coloured lights flashing brightly to the beat. All the tables are full, the dancefloor is packed, and people are mingling everywhere. It's a strange feeling, being here, surrounded by people yet feeling alone. It looks like people are having fun, but I'm not tempted to join them. I'm comfortable in my corner watching the activity.

I notice Kyle at the bar. He's talking to some guy who's had one too many drinks from the looks of things, as he's unsteady on his feet. I watch for a while trying to ignore the surge of jealousy. The guy leans into Kyle, getting too close for comfort. Kyle looks uneasy, his eyes darting around the room as if looking for an escape route. I feel a surge of protectiveness that surprises even me. Something about him, a sense of innocence, draws me in, makes me want to protect him from everything and everyone.

Kyle steps back from the guy, his expression angry. I can't see the guy's face but when he moves to step forward, Kyle puts out an arm.

I take a deep breath and push myself off the wall. I walk towards them, and as I approach, I see the guy's hand wrapped around Kyle's wrist. I clench my fists at my sides, anger simmering just below the surface.

"Hey, Kyle," I say, interrupting whatever the guy was saying, keeping my voice low and steady. "I've been looking for you."

Kyle's eyes widen in surprise, but he quickly recovers. "Axel, hi."

The guy looks up at me, surprised by my sudden appearance, but he drops his hand from Kyle. "We're in the middle of a conversation," he says.

I lock eyes with him, my gaze unwavering. "And now it's over."

The guy glances at Kyle, then back at me.

"Kyle isn't interested," I continue, my gaze fixed on the other man. "So why don't you move on?"

His eyes narrow, but he takes a step back. Then his expression changes. "Hey, you're—"

"I'm nobody you need to worry yourself with," I say, stepping up to Kyle and putting my arm around his shoulders. He immediately sags against my side.

The man scoffs, but I can see the hesitation in his eyes. He knows he's not wanted. He mutters something under his breath before disappearing into the crowd.

Kyle sighs, and I feel the tension in his body ease. He turns and looks up at me, the relief evident on his face. "Thanks, Axel," he says. "I didn't know how to get rid of him."

I'm struck by how vulnerable he looks in this moment, how much he needed someone to come to his rescue, and I'm glad that person is me.

I smile, hoping to put him at ease. "No problem. I couldn't just stand there and watch."

"Well, I appreciate it. I was out of my depth. The guy was a dickhead and wouldn't take no for an answer."

We stand there for a moment, the music and chatter of the bar fading into the background. I can feel the electricity between us, and I know I want to spend more time with him.

"Hey, do you want to get out of here? Maybe go for a walk or something?"

Kyle hesitates for a moment, but then nods. "Yeah, that'd be great." He gestures to the glasses the bartender has just placed on a tray together with a few cruise cards. "I just need to take these drinks to my friends."

I watch him drop off the drinks and the cards and farewell two women sitting at a table, and for a minute, I worry he won't come back. But then he does, walking towards me with a smile on his face.

We make our way through the throngs of people, my hand instinctively reaching out to guide him through the crowd. He looks up at me, his warm brown eyes meeting mine, and I can feel another jolt of that strange electricity.

The sound drops decibels as soon as we leave the bar. The dance music is replaced by the soft sound of the string quartet who are entertaining the patrons of an elegant cocktail bar located in the centre of the ship. We continue walking in comfortable silence for a while, strolling past rows of boutiques and the art gallery until eventually we push open the doors to the deck. The ship moves gently beneath our feet and the air is cool against my skin. Eventually, we come across a quiet, sheltered alcove with a bench seat tucked away from the main thoroughfare. The space is intimate, and it seems like the perfect place to have a conversation.

As he sinks onto the seat, Kyle admits he's a little out of his depth, that he's not used to being around so many people. "Working on the farm means I hardly see anyone day in, day out. Just my brother, John, and his wife, Sarah. And their kids, of course. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but sometimes wonder what it'd be like having a job somewhere else where I had to leave for work each day. I don't even have a commute. I just stroll from my cottage at the back of the property to the shed or the main homestead, depending where I'm working for the day."

"You don't have anyone else who works there?"

"Well, we get in help at different times of the year, like pickers at harvest."

"I've got to admit, I know nothing about farming. It sounds fascinating."

Kyle chuckles. "It sounds crazy—up at the crack of dawn every day, working our arses off rain, hail, or shine. Oh my god, the forty degree days are a killer. Then there's the gamble we're taking every season, whether it be the weather or the bushfires or any of the many other things that can go wrong."

"But you love it?" I ask. I already know the answer—I can see it in the way he talks about the place.

He nods. "Yep. Every minute."

"And what about friends? Is it hard in the country?"

"Yes and no. Country folk can be warm and welcoming and I've got some great friends from school, but sometimes the social life is a bit limited. We've got the pub, and a few restaurants, and I play footy. A lot of my friends are married now too, so they do family stuff."

"You're the odd man out?"

Kyle shrugs. "Sometimes it feels like that. I wish I was more outgoing, but I've always been a bit of a homebody. After a long day working the farm, the last thing I want to do is go out to all hours, especially not when I have to be up at sparrow's fart."

I snort a laugh. "I think that's probably the time I'm going to bed some nights."

"See!" He smiles. It looks good on him, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

The conversation flows easily. We talk about everything from our favourite movies to our favourite food, and about our families. I find myself opening up to him in a way I haven't with anyone in a long time. I tell him about taking my younger brother under my wing when our mum hit rock bottom, about how the drugs destroyed our family. As if sensing the topic is raw, he gently directs the conversation back to the cruise.

"I had a fantastic tour of Noumea today," he says. "The sights were incredible, and I even tried some local food at the markets. Have you ever tasted bougna?"

I chuckle at his enthusiasm. "I haven't even heard of bougna."

"It's a type of stew, I guess, all wrapped in banana leaves. Anyway, it was delicious."

I recall my own day spent with Brian, wandering around town before eating lunch at an upmarket bistro. I can't help but think it would have been more enjoyable if I'd spent the day with Kyle instead. "It sounds like something I'd love to taste. I ate lunch at a little French bistro. They had escargot."

Kyle screws up his nose and I smile at his expression. "I don't usually eat a lot of fancy food at home, so the bougna was definitely a first for me. But snails? That's a definite no from me."

"You don't eat out a lot?"

"Maybe a chicken snitty down at the pub," Kyle says.

"Can't go wrong with a snitty." I chuckle. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but what about dating?"

"Yeah, there's not a lot of opportunity, but that's probably a good thing." He looks at me and sighs. "You must think I'm weird, but I panic when I meet someone new. I never know what to say and get tongue-tied. It's awkward, and uncomfortable."

His honesty is refreshing. I'm so used to people talking themselves up, but Kyle is straight as an arrow. But he's also wrong. "What do you call this then?" I ask, gesturing between the two of us.

"What do I call what?"

He looks adorably confused so I spell it out for him. "There's no uncomfortableness here. I'm enjoying your company. No awkward silences, just interesting conversation. I'd like to think you are enjoying yourself too."

Kyle grins. "Wow. When you put it like that… yeah, I'm having a great time."

I realise just how much I want to spend more time with Kyle, to get to know him better. "In that case, I was wondering if you want to hang out tomorrow. Maybe explore Lifou together?"

His face lights up. "I'd love that."

It's a relief to hear him agree. For a moment I thought his shyness might rear its head. "Great—"

"But," he says, and my heart plummets, "only if you let me arrange something for when we get back on the ship."

My heart resumes its regular rhythm as I smile. "You've got a deal."

His cheeks dimple as he smiles back, filling me with happiness. It's been a long time since I've felt this way about someone, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. But I know one thing for sure: I'm definitely going to find out.

"How about I walk you back to your cabin? It's probably a good idea to get some sleep and charge the batteries for tomorrow." From what he's said, I know he's not used to late nights.

Kyle's gaze darts to his stainless steel watch at his wrist before he looks at me wide-eyed. "I can't believe it's after midnight. Fuck, where has the time gone?"

"You know what they say about having fun," I joke.

He chuckles and gets to his feet, and I follow him.

When we finally reach his door, Kyle turns to face me. "Well, this is me," he says, gesturing towards the door. I can see the shyness as he fiddles with his cruise card.

"I had a really great time tonight. Thanks for hanging with me."

Kyle offers a small smile. "I had a great time too, Axel. I'm glad you were there to…you know, save me back at the bar."

"Anytime."

We stand there for a moment, the tension building between us. I can feel the electricity in the air, and I know that Kyle can feel it too. I want to lean in and kiss him, but I hold back, unsure of how he would react.

"Well, I should probably get some sleep," Kyle says, breaking the silence. "We have an early start tomorrow."

I nod, feeling a sense of disappointment. "Yeah, me too. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

Kyle smiles, this time a smile that lights his whole face. "Definitely. I'm looking forward to it."

He enters his cabin, the door closing behind him, and I stare at it a moment before leaving. As I walk back to my suite, I'm sure my face is as happy as his was.

There's something special about Kyle. He's vulnerable, but in a way that's endearing. I want to know more about him, to peel back the layers and discover what makes him tick. I'm glad I didn't make a move tonight, and if I'm honest, I'm glad he didn't ask me into his cabin. Too many people just want a piece of me, and I don't want to be just a notch on Kyle's bedpost.