I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it
– Pointer Sisters
and I know that I want you.
Canberra/Sydney – July 1997
When Alison stumbled into her flat in Randwick late that Saturday night, her body ached from the long journey back from Queensland, but her heart was a chaotic blend of exhaustion, melancholy, and an unfamiliar, fizzing joy. Two weeks ago, her life had been neatly predictable—contentedly single, her love life a distant afterthought to her studies and other commitments. But in the span of those fleeting days, something had shifted. She had met someone—a man who had slipped into her thoughts like a melody she couldn’t stop humming. Christian. The name alone sent a shiver of excitement through her. He wasn’t just a passing crush; he was interested in her, too, and that fact felt like a small miracle.
The flat was quiet when she arrived — the kind of stillness that amplified the creak of the floorboards under her boots. Her roommates, Camilla and the two other girls, were either out or asleep. Alison dropped her echie bag by the door, its canvas thudding softly against the worn hardwood, and collapsed onto the couch. The lounge room smelled faintly of jasmine from a candle someone had left burning, its flickering light casting soft shadows across the cluttered coffee table. Textbooks, highlighters, and half-empty mugs littered the space, reminders of the university assignments she’d been neglecting. She kicked off her shoes, letting them tumble haphazardly, and leaned back, her eyes drifting to the ceiling. Her mind, though, was still in Queensland, replaying moments from the army camp—Christian’s crooked smile, the way his voice softened when he spoke to her, the electric thrill of their last conversation in Penrith.
The next morning, Alison dragged herself out of bed, her body protesting the early hour. She had a shift at the bakery in Coogee, a job she loved for its simplicity and the comforting rhythm of kneading dough and pulling trays of golden pastries from the oven. The bakery was a cozy haven, its air thick with the scent of warm bread and sugar, and the hum of early customers ordering flat whites and croissants. But today, her heart wasn’t in it. She moved through her tasks mechanically—slicing sourdough, wiping down counters—her thoughts tangled in memories of Christian.
She caught herself smiling at nothing, earning a curious glance from her coworker, who teased, “What’s got you so dreamy today, Al?”
Back at the flat that afternoon, Alison sat at her desk, staring at a pile of lecture notes she hadn’t touched in weeks. The words blurred together, her focus slipping. Her eyes wandered to a cream-coloured envelope tucked among the papers—an invitation to Fiona’s 21st birthday party the following weekend. Fiona, her flatmate, was known for throwing extravagant parties, and this one promised to be no exception. The invitation, written in Fiona’s looping handwriting, detailed a night of music, dancing, and an open bar at a trendy venue in Surry Hills. A small note at the bottom caught Alison’s attention: Bring a guest!
“Bad timing,” she sighed, her voice barely audible in the empty room. The idea of a party felt like a distant obligation, her mind too consumed with Christian to care about celebrations. She twirled the invitation between her fingers, imagining what it would be like to have him there, his hand in hers, navigating a crowded room together. The thought made her chest tighten with a mix of longing and doubt. Would he even want to come to something like that?
Camilla breezed into the flat later that day, her arms laden with grocery bags. Camilla was a whirlwind of energy, her dark bob bouncing as she kicked the door shut behind her. She and Alison weren’t close friends, but they shared an easy camaraderie, the kind that led to late-night chats over cups of tea when their schedules aligned. Camilla was studying economics, her life a blur of charts and numbers, while Alison balanced her biology degree-her gateway to medicine-with army reserve training. Despite their different worlds, they clicked in a way that felt effortless, their conversations often stretching into the early hours.
“You’re back!” Camilla called, dumping her bags on the kitchen counter. She glanced at Alison, sprawled on the couch amidst a fortress of unopened textbooks, and raised an eyebrow. “You look like you’ve been hit by a truck. Good camp?”
Alison grinned, unable to contain the spark that had been simmering inside her since Queensland. “It was… incredible.” Her voice was bright, almost giddy, a stark contrast to the fatigue etched on her face. Camilla paused, her hands stilling on a bag of apples. She knew Alison well enough to recognize that something was different. Normally, Alison returned from her army camps drained, her stories centred on gruelling hikes or tactical drills. But today, she was practically vibrating with energy, her hazel eyes alight with something new.
“Okay, spill,” Camilla said, abandoning the groceries and plopping onto the couch. “What’s got you so animated? Did you conquer a mountain or something?”
Alison laughed, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “Not exactly. I… I met someone.”
Camilla’s eyes widened, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. “Really? You? Miss ‘I’m Too Busy for Romance’?” She leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand. “Tell me everything.”
Alison hesitated, her cheeks flushing. She wasn’t used to this—gushing about a guy like some lovesick teenager. But the words tumbled out before she could stop them.
“His name’s Christian. He’s an officer. And not just any guy, Camilla—a man.” She emphasised the word, her voice laced with awe. “He’s… different. Confident, but not arrogant. Funny, but not trying too hard. And when he looks at you, it’s like he really sees you.”
Camilla was hooked, her charts forgotten as she curled her legs under her. “Go on. What happened?”
Alison recounted the camp in vivid detail, her words painting a picture of humid Queensland days and starry nights. She’d been focused on her training, navigating obstacle courses and fighting mock battles, when Christian caught her eye. He was older—twenty-five to her twenty—but carried himself with an easy authority that drew her in. It wasn’t until the second week that things shifted. By the end of the camp, Alison was orchestrating moments to be near him, her heart racing every time their paths crossed. The football field, of all places, had been their breakthrough—an accidental grope, the unlikely catalyst that began their relationship.
“It was mortifying,” Alison admitted, laughing. “I was trying to play it cool, but I suppose I was grinning like an idiot. I didn’t want him to stop touching me, so I wouldn’t let him go.” Her voice softened, her fingers tracing the edge of a textbook. “We exchanged numbers right before I left. He said he’d visit soon, but I don’t know when that might be, and I don’t want to have to wait to see him again.”
Camilla’s eyes sparkled with delight. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. So, what’s the plan? You could call him. Don’t let him forget his promise.”
Before Alison could answer, the phone rang, its shrill tone cutting through the room. Camilla grabbed it, her brow furrowing as she listened. “Yes, she’s here. Just one moment.” She covered the receiver and whispered, “It’s a man…”
Alison’s heart lurched. It had been less than twenty-four hours since she’d left Queensland. It couldn’t be Christian—could it? She took the phone, her hands trembling slightly, and said, “Hello?”
“Hey, Alison. It’s Christian.” His voice was warm, familiar, and it sent a jolt of adrenaline through her. She glanced at Camilla, who was watching with barely concealed excitement, and started pointing at the phone’s receiver in a nervous frenzy, grinning like a fool. Camilla gasped, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, her eyes screaming, Is that him?
Alison tried to play it cool, but her voice betrayed her. “Christian! Hi! I didn’t expect… I mean, it’s great to hear from you.” She cringed at her own awkwardness, but his chuckle on the other end put her at ease.
They talked for a few minutes, catching up on the journey home. Christian mentioned he’d just gotten back to Canberra, where he lived in a house that felt emptier than usual. His girlfriend, Beth, had moved out while he was away, leaving a trail of half-packed boxes and a note that confirmed their breakup. Alison’s heart ached for him, but a selfish part of her couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.
“I was thinking,” Christian said, his tone shifting to something tentative. “I might come up to Sydney in a few weeks. If you’re free, maybe we could grab a coffee or something?”
Alison’s excitement faltered. “Oh, I’d love that, but… I’ve got exams then.” The words slipped out before she could stop them, practical and responsible, as always. She winced, realising how dismissive she sounded. Christian’s pause was brief, but it felt like an eternity.
“No worries,” he said, his voice kind but guarded. “Maybe another time.”
Panic surged through her. She couldn’t let this slip away. Then, like a lifeline, she remembered Fiona’s party. “Wait!” she blurted, her voice a little too loud. “It’s a pity you can’t come next weekend. I’m going to a friend’s 21st birthday party, and I can bring a guest. I mean, if you’re free. It’s totally fine if you’re not, I just thought—”
Christian laughed, cutting her off. “A party, huh? You sure your friends won’t think I’m too old for the crowd?”
“You’re only twenty-five,” Alison said, rolling her eyes playfully. “That’s hardly ancient. Besides, I don’t think you’re old.” She hesitated, then added, “You could… stay at my place. I mean, on a mattress on my floor. Or, you know, take my bed.” Her face burned as the words tumbled out, and she saw Camilla crying from suppressed laughter.
Camilla clapped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking, tears streaming down her cheeks. Alison shot her a mock glare, but Christian’s voice came to her rescue. “A mattress, huh? That beats lying in the mud. I’m in.”
Relief flooded through Alison, followed by a wave of giddy excitement. “Really? That’s amazing! It’s next Saturday in Surry Hills. You have my details.”
They said their goodbyes, and Alison hung up, letting out a squeal that echoed through the flat. Camilla burst out laughing. “The floor, Alison? Really? You’re hopeless.”
Alison groaned, burying her face in her hands. She flopped back onto the couch, her heart racing with anticipation. For the first time in weeks, her textbooks lay forgotten, the weight of exams and assignments overshadowed by the promise of next weekend. Christian was coming to Sydney, and for one night, at least, the future felt bright and full of possibility.
“I know, I know! I panicked! But he’s coming, Camilla. He’s actually coming!”
Camilla smirked, leaning back with a knowing look. “Oh, I bet he will,” she thought to herself.
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