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reminder.”
    “Yeah. You’re right.”
    “So, one of the guys on site today was bragging about catchin’ some good fish last weekend up in the Snowies,” I mumble with half a spring roll in my mouth. “Might have to take a trip up there.”
    “Where?” she asks, frowning.
    “The Snowy Mountains.”
    “Oh,” she says.
    “Have you ever been camping in the Snowies?”
    “I’ve never been camping, full stop.”
    My jaw drops. “What? Never?” I can’t believe it . Every kid needs to experience camping.
    “Nope. Like I said before, Dad was never around. I spent some time on my uncle’s farm, but I’ve never been on a camping trip.”
    “What about fishing? Surely you’ve been fishing.”
    “I went a few times with my Uncle Steve, but I never caught anything. He wasn’t that good a fisherman.”
    “Well, that’s settled then. I’m takin’ you camping.”
    Eevie’s eyes light up. “Really? When can you fit it in?”
    “How ‘bout this weekend? I’m not racing until the weekend after, and we can just cruise up and stay Saturday night. I promise you, you’ll love it. And besides, I think we both need a bit of a break.”
    She grins like she can’t believe her luck. “I can’t wait.”
    Our mains arrive, and after a few minutes of silence while we eat, I tell Eevie about some of the places I’ve been camping, and the crazy shit us boys got up to. Her eyes widen, giving me her undivided attention, as if I’m telling her about a whole other world of experiences. I can’t believe she’s never had a taste.
    Goddamn it, I’m taking my girl camping.
     

CHAPTER THREE
    * AIDAN *
     
    With the occasional crack of the fire, sparks swirl into the air in a dizzy smoke. We sit back in our camping chairs, sipping on red wine. The heat of the fire is sometimes so intense that my jeans feel like they might melt into my skin. Under the stars shining down on us, the cool breeze sends the occasional chill over my skin as water gently laps at the bank. God I love this .
    I look across to Eevie, who is completely hypnotised by the fire. “So if we’re gonna catch anything, it’s probably gonna be in the middle of the night. The fish always bite when it’s cold, and we always catch somethin’ from this spot,” I say, drawing Eevie from her trance.
    “So which fishing rod is mine?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
    I look to the rods leaning against my ute. “I dunno, the black one I guess. Why?”
    “Maybe we can have a little wager,” she says sweetly. A couple of glasses of red, and she’s feeling brave.
    I eye her suspiciously. “I’m listening.”
    “Whoever catches the first fish reaps the rewards.”
    And I know exactly the kinda rewards she means. She doesn’t have a chance. “You know I’m a seasoned fisherman, right?”
    “So what?” she says confidently. “You never know. The universe might want to reward me with my first fish.”
    “Oh, I’m gonna reap the rewards alright.” I look down at her mouth and those soft lips, imagining exactly where they’re gonna be. Fuck, I’m hard thinking about it.
    She gives me a smug smile. “We’ll see.”
    Not that I care if she catches one, but a man has his pride, and this is one bet I’ve gotta win.
    At a crack of a twig in the distance, Eevie practically jumps out of her skin. It’s probably a fox or a kangaroo. She seems nervous, but I guess it’s her first time camping. At least I had my grandpa to teach me stuff, because my dad didn’t wanna stick around. Her father must be some self-absorbed prick not to have taken Eevie and her brothers. I don’t know whether I’d be able to hold my tongue if I ever meet him. He cheated on his wife when she’d been through hell. He’s got four kids who, since the separation, he’s had nothing to do with. Eevie swore she’d never speak to him again, so he’s saved from the few choice words I’d be prepared to give him.
    “I hate to gloat, but I’ve given you another first. I’ve