Cover me with kisses, baby
– Blondie
Cover me with love
Roll me in designer sheets
I’ll never get enough
Canberra/Sydney – July 1997
Christian never liked to count his chickens before they hatched; others had burnt him before. And Alison’s ambiguous sleeping arrangements technically gave her an out if she changed her mind at the last minute. But it at least gave him a sign of her intent.
He knew that the first impression, however small, would go a long way. They’d only had the briefest of interactions, so he had to find some token of that meeting to show that he had been attentive.
When he got back to work the next day, his colleague Sally asked him how the camp had gone. Sally was a dark-haired girl next door type who loved a laugh and was always smiling. Even though she was an Air Force corporal, she didn’t fit the military mold. She played the part, but Christian could tell her heart wasn’t in it. She loved to chat about anything that wasn’t related to work or the military.
“How was your Boy Scout jamboree?” she teased.
Christian thought he might get through the week without talking about Alison, but failed at the first hurdle. “Where do I start?”
He began with his bombshell of his dumping by Beth. Far from being shocked, Sally just nodded. If Christian had been paying her more attention, would have noticed a faint smile.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “You’ll get back on your feet soon enough.” She was surprisingly positive, considering that he had just finished a long-term relationship.
“Well, it’s funny you should say that,” Christian smiled.
He then went into all the details of meeting Alison and her subsequent invitation to Sydney the following weekend. Sally got excited, and they took a lunch break the next day to go into town so she could help Christian buy a blindfold and massage oil.
Meanwhile, Alison had been buzzing with excitement ever since Christian had called on Sunday. She found she could barely sleep, thinking about all the fun possibilities for the coming weekend.
Then fate delivered her one final curveball. On Wednesday morning, she received a phone call from the manager of the Darling Harbour lolly shop she had applied to work at weeks earlier. It was good news; she’d gotten the job. But she had to start work on Saturday afternoon. Time that she hoped to be with Christian. Again, she was gutted. Her very reasonable plans for happiness were continually being blown apart by her need for education, employment, and transport.
What was Christian going to think if, after driving all the way from Canberra to visit her, she dragged him to her friend’s party and also abandoned him twice on the same weekend so that she could work?
Alison considered rescheduling for the following weekend, but worried that any delay might cause him to change his mind. Suddenly, it was all coming apart. In desperation, she immediately called Christian at his work. She didn’t know what she would do if he said no. She was shaking when he picked up the phone.
“Hello?” he said.
“Christian, it’s Alison.”
“Oh, this is a pleasant surprise. How are you today?”
“I just found out that I have to work on Saturday afternoon after the party.”
“Okay?”
“Do you think that you still want to come up to visit?” She closed her eyes, expecting the worst.
“Yes, of course. That isn’t a problem. I can entertain myself. I know Sydney pretty well.”
For the third time in a week, her heart skipped a beat. “G-g-great!”
“Excellent. I’ll be there no later than 8pm.”
“I can’t wait.” If only he knew by how much.
Christian was familiar with Sydney, so wasn’t put out by Alison’s change of circumstance. He could easily entertain himself. Still not daring to dream, he asked what she was doing on Sunday, as there was an AFL game on at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which was just next door to her flat, and maybe they could watch together. It helped him test the waters to see if she was happy for him to stay another night after the party. Alison happily agreed, and that is when Christian finally relaxed.
For the rest of the week, Alison tried to concentrate on studying and getting back into her normal routine. But she found it difficult to sleep, and each time she tried to pick up a textbook, she lost focus as her mind wandered back to the events of the camp.
By Friday, she was abuzz. She’d never had a guy–a man–come to visit her before. Someone having to travel to see her was an unfamiliar experience. This was going to be no casual hookup after a party. This was different.
She tried to distract herself with friends and fitness, but her brain kept turning all the permutations of the coming weekend over in her head. Would Christian still come? Did he want her? Would she get cold feet? That last one was ridiculous; she was having him, no matter what. But she still worried that he might not feel the same way about her as she did about him.
Meanwhile, Christian packed his bags, including Alison’s gifts, and took everything to work so that he could leave for Sydney the moment he finished work. He was familiar with Sydney and the drive up but had spent little time in the eastern suburbs, so he gave himself an early mark just in case the traffic was especially heavy on a Friday night. To his surprise, he encountered little on the way in and arrived at Alison’s flat at about 6:30pm, at least an hour before he had expected to.
Christian considered waiting in the car until it was closer to 8pm, but that just seemed silly, so he went straight in. Oddly, he didn’t have any trepidation about walking into unfamiliar surroundings to see a woman he barely knew for what almost certainly was a hook-up.
He strode up to the door of Alison’s flat and rang the buzzer. He had an odd feeling of comfort in this unfamiliar situation, as that he had been there many times before. Upon reflection, there were ample reasons for his feeling of confidence.
First, this wasn’t his first rodeo. He’d been invited over by other girls before, so he knew how the evening should play out. All he had to do now was just turn up and dance along to the beat.
Second, he knew Alison a little. They’d only known each other for about three hours, but their backgrounds and interests preceded them. Having also just spent two weeks sharing an experience together already gave them common ground.
And finally, Alison couldn’t have ticked more of his boxes. He didn’t have any reservations about her if things panned out as he expected them to.
Earlier that afternoon, Alison had gone to a pump class at her gym, then picked up some dinner for both of them on her way home. Christian said he’d be there by eight o’clock, so she kept the meal easy to prepare. Camilla was already home when Alison got back to the flat and slung her gym bag on the living room floor.
“Any plans for the weekend?” Camilla asked.
“Christian is coming to visit,” Alison smiled as she put her groceries away in the kitchen.
“Oh, of course! I’d totally forgotten. How are you feeling?”
“A little nervous,” Alison admitted, “but I’ll have a shower and prepare dinner, which should help me relax. I still have at least an hour before he arrives.”
They were sitting on the couch chatting at 6:30pm. Camilla was about to wish her good luck and change the subject when suddenly the intercom buzzed; Christian was here early.
Alison greeted him and showed him into the flat. Still wearing her gym clothes, she turned around to lead the way. Christian noticed her toned calves she had earned during her high school rowing days. He was seeing her for the first time in clothes that flattered her physique. He thanked God under his breath for his good fortune.
When he came in, he apologised, having overestimated the travel time from Canberra. Camilla looked him over. He was tall, dark, and handsome.
As she made herself scarce, Camilla thought, “Well done, Alison, well done.”
Alison initially panicked at Christian’s early arrival. She wasn’t ready. But she was. She had food, a room, and her. Left alone by Camilla in the lounge room, they cooked dinner together and, although they barely knew each other; they chatted away like old friends. The easiness of his manner banished Alison’s concerns. He was happy to be here. He was happy to see her.
Alison showed him to her room so he could put his bag away. He returned moments later and placed a curious package on the table.
“That’s for you,” he said. “You can open it later.” Mysterious. Alison felt herself getting wet already.
They couldn’t take the couch now. There were too many people coming and going at night for any kind of privacy. And Alison couldn’t just take Christian straight into her room, even though she wanted to. They still had a little dancing to do. They had to find somewhere else first. Alison thought that if they just got out of the flat and went for a walk, she’d think of something.
They left the flat and walked down to Coogee Bay, which was twenty-five minutes away. Enough time for her to think of something. Seeing Christian again so soon was the perfect tonic for her post-camp low, and she was now alive with nervous energy. She rambled most of the way, but Christian stayed polite and attentive.
By the time they reached the bay, Alison knew she was ready. She took Christian by the hand and led him to the playground by the beach, which was dark and secluded at night. But before they went further into the gloom, he stopped her by a low wall and turned her around to face him. He knew exactly what was about to happen and what he needed to do. A week after the first meeting, they were together with no uniforms or rules to hold them back or prying eyes to stare.
Christian was ready for Alison, and as she turned, he put his hand on her hips, smiled, and said, “Alison.”
“Hi,” she said, completely paralysed with nervous anticipation. Alison’s heart pounded in her ears. He kissed her on the mouth, and they embraced. Hormones poured into her bloodstream, giving her an instant feeling of relaxation and warmth.
“Thank you for inviting me,” he said.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
“Soon enough.”
Christian’s quiet confidence filled her with desire. No false bravado, no Dutch courage. Alison knew he meant what he said. She didn’t remember what they talked about on the way home because now, the entire way back, he was holding her hand.
When they got back to Alison’s place, her flatmates had cleared out of the lounge room, giving them a moment alone to kiss and cuddle. Christian then pointed to the narrow, flat gift box he had left on the table earlier.
“Would you like to open it now?” he said.
Intrigued, Alison asked. “What is it?”
“You’ll see.”
She opened the package to reveal a black, lacy slither of silk. A blindfold… he’d remembered. Alison felt her blood stir, and she immediately became wet. Who was this man who had just fallen into her arms? Was this really happening?
Christian was staring at her now, his eyes signalling his intent. “Would you like to try it on?” He didn’t need her to answer. Alison took his hand and led him to her room. And then, as she closed the door behind them, they were finally alone.
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