The mid-morning sunlight cut through the kitchen blinds, casting bright stripes on the bench-top where Olivia had stationed her laptop and mug of coffee. It was Valentine's Day and Matt hadn't reserved anywhere for dinner yet.
She typed 'best restaurants in Sydney' into Google and waited for the results to pop up. If he couldn't be bothered booking a table on the most important night of the year, she would do it herself and hit him where it hurt the most; in his pocket.
Olivia was distracted by an email alert flashing across the top corner of her screen. She just about caught the name before it faded away: Ethan Hollander. A surge of excitement shot through her as she closed the restaurants' tab and opened her emails. It had been at least a decade since she'd seen that name, or the man it belonged to. Her heartbeat quickened as she double-clicked on the message.
Hey Olivia,
I hope you and Matt are keeping well. Bumped into your sister over Christmas and she mentioned that you're in Sydney now. I asked her for your email address, hope you don't mind...
My ship is in Sydney overnight for repairs and I'm coming ashore, just wondering if you and Matt fancied meeting for a beer.
I know it's Valentine's Day and you probably already have plans, but it would be great to catch up.
Ethan
Her stomach somersaulted as she read his email again just to check it was real. She wondered what he looked like now. He didn't have any social media accounts and previous attempts at finding photos of him online had always resulted in nothing. She was eighteen the last time she'd seen him, just a teenager. He was breathtakingly handsome, even at that age; muscular and chiselled with film star looks and a mop of tousled brown hair that used to fall in his eyes.
They'd been at high school together: her, Ethan and Matt. The boys had played rugby for the same team. Olivia had always felt a strange connection to Ethan, but something or someone had always prevented them from hooking up. They had come close at a few drunken house parties and she deeply regretted never taking it further. Even now though, at almost thirty, just the mention of his name was enough to make her tingle with excitement. She couldn't pass up on an opportunity to see him again, even if Matt had to tag along.
She could hear Matt padding down the stairs and tightened the belt of her silk dressing gown, instinctively running a hand through her hair. Olivia knew that she needed to get Matt onside if this meet-up was to go ahead.
"Morning, baby," she said, hopping down from her stool and wrapping her arms around his neck. He felt warm and clammy, a victim of the sticky February Sydney weather.
Olivia hoped that Ethan had aged better than Matt. Good-looking in his teens and early twenties, Matt was now distinctly average. His once thick hair had started to recede and his six-pack had been replaced by a beer belly. He didn't play sport any more, complaining that his high-flying job in banking took up too much of his time.
Since moving to Sydney two years ago, they'd been leading separate lives. Olivia occupied herself with yoga, beach visits and the odd freelance graphic design job, whilst Matt spent fourteen hours a day working and commuting.
"Morning," he said, sliding his phone out of his dressing gown pocket and clicking straight into his email app.
"Guess what?" she said cheerily, pulling away to refill the kettle and make a pot of coffee.
He mumbled an inaudible response as he scrolled through the dozens of unopened messages.
"Do you remember Ethan Hollander?"
"From school?" He looked up briefly.
"Yes. He's in Sydney," Olivia said, popping two slices of bread into the toaster and reaching into the cupboard for fresh cups. "He bumped into Claire at Christmas and she gave him our email address. He's only here for one night, wants to catch up for a drink."
"Tonight? On Valentine's Day?" He pulled out a stool and reached across for the steaming cup of coffee Olivia had just poured. So he hadn't forgotten after all.
"I don't care about Valentine's Day," she lied. "Who wants to sit in a restaurant and pay for an overpriced meal, surrounded by other soppy couples doing the same thing?"
He shrugged. He'd probably be secretly pleased that they wouldn't have to go out and blow $500.
"Yeah, arrange something, whatever you think," Matt said, returning to his emails as his interest in the conversation evaporated.
----
Olivia chose her outfit carefully, trying to find the balance between sexy and casual. She decided on ripped denim shorts which ended just below her butt cheeks and a lightweight white shirt with a nude bra. The white showed off the tan she'd built up after two Australian summers. She piled her long brown hair into a messy bun and accessorised with a subtle silver choker.
She had emailed Ethan straight back and offered to BBQ some steaks in their garden that evening. He had also accepted her invitation to stay in the spare room and save on a taxi fare.
"I'm going to pick Ethan up," Olivia shouted, grabbing her keys from the hall table and banging the door shut behind her. She was collecting him from the harbour where his ship had docked.
----
Ethan was standing near one of the port's admin buildings with a backpack slung over one shoulder and a carton of beer resting by his feet. He was tanned from his time at sea, wearing a casual blue shirt with the first two buttons undone and a pair of Wayfarers.
Olivia's heart pounded hard against her chest as she pipped the horn of Matt's Audi and waved. She felt a sudden, unexpected twinge between her legs as Ethan started to walk towards the car. He'd aged like a fine wine.
"Olivia, so good to see you," he said, planting a kiss on her cheek and throwing his bag onto the back seat. "Sorry for the short notice, just thought it'd be good to catch up".
She flashed a wide grin and sped off towards home, trying to concentrate on the road as Ethan took in her curves and long, bare legs. Maybe she'd imagined it, but she was sure she'd seen the outline of his cock stiffen slightly through the thin fabric of his shorts.
"Any special lady in your life?" Olivia said, turning on to the freeway.
"Free and single, just not that young anymore," Ethan said, his leg lightly brushing her hand as she shifted gears.
----
Matt was already tipsy by the time they arrived back at the house. A wine bottle stood on the counter, almost empty. He had lit the BBQ and turned the fairy lights on in the garden. The evening was balmy, bordering on humid.
"Great to see you, buddy," Matt said, eyeing Ethan's gym-honed physique. "Are you still playing rugby?"
"Nah, not anymore," Ethan said, taking a swig of the cold beer Matt had given to him. "I have to keep fit for work though."
"What is it you do exactly?" Matt asked, turning the steaks over on the BBQ as Ethan settled into one of the deck chairs.
"First Officer on an oil tanker," he replied, catching Olivia's eye across the table. She had changed into a simple summer dress and had noticed him looking at her breasts, taking in the shape of her hips and ass.
She poured herself a glass of cold white wine and momentarily closed her eyes, imagining him on the bridge, barking out orders in his uniform. The ache between her legs returned.
