Chapter One
‘I’m devastated!’ I sob uncontrollably into my margarita. ‘All that hope and time devoted to a positive future, and the emotional investment—’ I take a long sip, ‘—only to be left with the disappointment of a lifetime.’ I thunk the oversized cocktail glass back onto the table.
‘I agree, Abbey,’ I know Caitlin is being serious because we only use each other’s full names when it’s important. She’s Cait and I’m usually just Abs. ‘But,’ she continues, ‘don’t forget that 6.2 million Australians voted yes in the referendum, and we need to focus on them moving forward.’
I immediately feel a pang of embarrassment, then guilt. Cait and Stevie think I’m talking about the devastating defeat in The Voice referendum when I’m actually referring to breaking up with Robert, my committed partner of the past five years. After these women, he was the next person I confided in and shared everything with. He, too, was my chosen family, even though we kept separate residences. I need to think fast, to demonstrate the appropriate amount of disappointment around the referendum outcome, when all I really want to do is wallow in misery and all the regrets weighing me down.
‘I was thinking of you the whole day, Abbey. I knew you were out at a polling booth, working on last minute votes.’ Stevie is the least political of the group, but the biggest supporter of every- thing I do. ‘I shared your TikToks and Insta posts, even though I never really did much else.’
We’re enjoying the sunset by the plunge pool of the house in Byron Bay we snaffled for…
Good Effort!