Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Chantelle swats his shoulder. "Be nice to Dawn. If it wasn’t for her, we never would have met."
I grin, and plant two kisses on Chantelle’s cheeks, happy as always to see her content, and settled with Craig. The night my boys took me on a beach picnic was the first time they met, and they’ve been thick as thieves ever since. The last few months, with all the coverage about Barrow and the impending trial, have been tough on Chantelle, but with Craig’s love and support, she’s holding her own and feeling confident about testifying in court. There might be over twenty years of age difference, but they really are a match made in heaven.
"As long as he’s nice to you, that’s more than enough for me," I say.
I miss my besties back home, but I’m so grateful to have found Chantelle to keep me company on my Aussie adventure!
"He’s very nice to me," Chantelle says, pushing her black-framed glasses up her nose.
"Let’s not drift into TMI territory," I say with a raised hand.
"Deal," Craig says.
We head to the chill-out area, pulling rattan sofas and beanbags into a circle big enough to hold us all. And we play poker and drink beer until my eyelids are drooping and my body is screaming for bed.
As Craig and my men are laughing, I take the opportunity to ask Chantelle for an update on the court hearing. As she tells me everything she’s dealing with, a familiar feeling of guilt wells inside me. "I’m so sorry," I tell her, reaching out to rest my hand on her arm.
She pats my hand and shakes her head. "You know I don’t want to hear you apologize anymore. If I didn’t meet you, I’d still be stuck feeling powerless about what happened. I’d probably be living with my parents, depressed and miserable. You gave me a route to take back control, and you showed me I had the backbone to stand up for myself. If it wasn’t for you and these guys, I wouldn’t have met Craig. That night we met at that bar changed both our lives for the better."
I blink back tears and lean in to give my resilient friend a hug. She’s so strong and so kind. I really am blessed to have her in my life.
Later, as I’m showing Craig and Chantelle out, hugging them both before they leave to make the short walk back to the hostel where I started my Byron Bay experience, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
When I see Allie’s name on the screen, I squeal. "You better be calling to tell me you’re coming over soon," I say, instead of hello. She’s been promising for months that she’ll take some time off work and come for a vacation down under, but so far, it’s all been empty words.
"I wish," she says. "I asked my boss for time off and instead; she’s given me another ridiculous assignment."
"What’s it about this time?" I groan. "Fifteen ways to style your pubic hair?"
Allie laughs dryly. "That would be easy. I have to write an article on the question ‘Does size really matter?’"
Snorting, I perch on the wall and cross my leg over my knee, ready to help my girl out with all the experience I’ve accumulated over the years. "In one word, yes! There you go. Article written, now get your butt out here."
"She’s told me to write from experience," Allie says quietly. "I think she thinks I’m a real sex-pert. She doesn’t realize that my history could be written on the back of a postage stamp."
"All work and no play have made Allie an innocent girl."
She chuckles nervously and I suddenly realize that this isn’t a catch-up phone call. She’s looking for advice.
"Do you feel comfortable researching with other people and passing it off as your own experience?" I ask. "Because I’ll be more than happy to help with information."
"I guess," Allie says. "But I don’t think that’s her plan. She handed me keys to a beach house and the names of ten men who are apparently going to help me answer the question."
"Ten," I gasp. "That’s more than Kyla and me!"
"Well, they’re just interviewees, not boyfriends," she says weakly.
"Imagine if this is fate," I say, overflowing with glee. "Imagine if you’re going to be the one to top out the reverse harem ladies club."
"How about we imagine me finding a way to write a four-page spread without having to validate the size of ten strangers' cocks."
I can do that. Although my other idea sounds like more fun."
Allie groans, her misery reverberating down the line. "Did I really spend all that time in school for this?"
"You can always leave, sweetie," I remind her.
We talk some more, and I promise that I’ll be available for any dick size related crises over the next few weeks.