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Back No Going Back: a Novel Save as PDF
Chapters (84)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Part 1
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. Part 2
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. Part 3
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. Part 4
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. Part 5
  60. 53
  61. 54
  62. 55
  63. 56
  64. 57
  65. 58
  66. Part 6
  67. 59
  68. 60
  69. 61
  70. 62
  71. 63
  72. 64
  73. 65
  74. 66
  75. 67
  76. 68
  77. 69
  78. 70
  79. 71
  80. 72
  81. Acknowledgments
  82. About the Author
  83. Also by Sheena Kamal
  84. About the Publisher

“What happened?” asks the barman. “I’m Connor, by the way. This is my place.”

They shake hands. “We were on the Gili Islands for a bit, Gili T, and she decided to come into Lombok a little early. I was supposed to meet her last night. May have gotten a little bit carried away.”

The barman and Max exchange a look that says they know exactly how he must have gotten carried away. Gili Trawangan is the largest of the Gilis and is known to be something of a party island. There are a lot of different kinds of trouble a person can get into there, if he’s so inclined.

“Since you done fucked up, might as well enjoy yourself,” says Max. He calls for another round. Then looks at Brazuca’s beer, which he hasn’t touched since he joined them. “You gonna drink that?”

Brazuca shakes his head. He’s been traveling for days now and probably looks as rough as he feels. “Better not, man. Coming down off something.” He gives them a sheepish look and lets them draw their own conclusions.

“Did she say he smells like pussy or he is a pussy?” Max asks.

This is going to be a long afternoon, Brazuca thinks. He’s not going to find allies in his sobriety here.

He orders a strong cup of coffee and enough food for the table. Then he’s back in everyone’s good graces.

35

“Well?” I ask, the moment Brazuca walks into the hotel room.

It’s been several hours since I hit him at the bar. I got rid of the sundress the moment I returned to the king suite we’re sharing and am in a pair of cutoff shorts and a T-shirt. Even with the AC on, it’s still too hot.

“Hang on,” he says, and disappears into the bathroom. Ten minutes later he emerges, freshly showered and in a change of clothes. Still unshaven, though. He passes a comb through his damp hair and looks out the window. Spread out in front of him is a view Lam has paid good money for. The ocean, peppered with colorful fishing boats, sparkles as the sun sets. Couples lay tangled underneath resort awnings, some in bathing suits and others in evening wear. It’s a far cry from the little mining town I’d scootered into this afternoon, the one with the bar.

The reason we’re sharing is because Lam found it amusing that Brazuca decided to join us last minute on the flight. He hadn’t bothered to call ahead and make arrangements for another room. On the plane, Brazuca and I fell into the routine of two people who’d rather not be on a trip together. Lam laughingly said it seemed natural for us to continue the ruse. For all intents and purposes, we’re a couple giving it our last shot but failing. There’s enough history between us to sell this.