Chapter 7
The next morning, Janeawoke to the soft touch of sunlight filtering through the curtains. As she reached out, expecting to find Alex beside her, she was greeted only by the empty space beside her. Her heart skipped a beat until she noticed a note lying on the pillow.
”Meet me for breakfast at 8,” it read.
Though a pang of disappointment flickered through her, Jane knew it was their final breakfast together, and she was determined to make the most of it. She rose from the bed with a sense of anticipation, ready to savor every moment with Alex before their time together came to an end.
As Jane made her way to the designated breakfast spot, she couldn”t shake the feeling of bittersweetness that lingered in the air. The thought of their impending parting weighed heavily on her heart, but she pushed it aside, focusing instead on cherishing the time they had left.
When she arrived at the restaurant, Alex was already there, a warm smile lighting up his face as he caught sight of her. The sight of him eased her worries, reminding her of the incredible connection they shared.
Sitting down opposite him, Jane felt a rush of gratitude for the moments they had shared together. As they enjoyed their breakfast, conversation flowed effortlessly between them, punctuated by laughter and stolen glances that spoke volumes.
Though the knowledge that their time together was drawing to a close hung in the air, Jane refused to dwell on it. Instead, she immersed herself fully in the present moment, savoring every word, every smile, every touch shared between them.
As they lingered over breakfast, Jane found herself losing track of time in the warmth of Alex”s presence. The way he looked at her, the sound of his voice, the touch of his hand—all of it made her feel alive in ways she hadn”t known before.
When they finally finished their meal, Alex took her hand and led her outside to a secluded spot overlooking the ocean. The waves crashed against the shore in a soothing rhythm, mirroring the ebb and flow of their own emotions.
”I have something for you,” Alex said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small velvet box. Jane”s heart skipped a beat as he opened it, revealing a delicate necklace adorned with a single sparkling gem.
”It”s not much,” Alex began, his voice filled with sincerity, ”but I wanted you to have something to remember me by.”
Tears welled up in Jane”s eyes as she accepted the gift, touched by the thoughtfulness behind it. She placed the necklace around her neck, feeling its weight against her skin like a promise of their time together.
”Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.
With a tender smile, Alex pulled her into his arms, holding her close and devouring her lips passionately.
Later that afternoon, Jane and Alex shared a ride to the airport as they were both leaving around the same time. They exchanged heartfelt goodbyes, promising to keep in touch despite the distance between their home states. As much as Jane wanted to believe that they could make it work, a seed of doubt lingered in the back of her mind. She tried to print her boarding pass at the self-check-in machine but encountered an error message each time. Frustrated, she approached the attendant at the check-in desk for assistance.
Passport, please,” the lady at the check-in desk requested, and Jane handed over her passport. The attendant entered some details into her computer and frowned slightly at the screen. ”I’m really sorry, ma”am, but the flight is overbooked. However, we’ve booked you on another flight departing later today.” Jane didn”t mind; she just wanted to return home and start picking up the pieces. ”But don’t worry, ma”am,” the attendant continued, ”to make up for the inconvenience, you’ve been upgraded to first class on your new flight.” Jane smiled at the flight attendant, collected her newly printed boarding pass, and proceeded to go through security.
In the waiting area for her flight, Jane noticed it wasn’t busy, but she didn”t think much of it, assuming it was due to the emptier flight. When the boarding process began, she found herself as the only passenger in the waiting area. As she boarded the plane, she was directed to the first-class area. Looking up from her ticket, she saw Alex standing there, holding a bucket with a bottle of champagne. She felt a rush of questions forming in her mind—how did you...? Why?... when?...—but instead, she burst out laughing with joy and raced towards him, jumping into his open arms.
”I meant it when I said I can”t have you out of my sight for too long. I start to go crazy,” he said, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. ”So, you hired a whole plane just to ensure we are on the same flight?” Jane raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
Alex tilted his head to the side and gave Jane a beaming smile. ”Something like that,” he replied cryptically.
”Oh my goodness, how rich are you?” she asked, her playful tone laced with curiosity. ”And don’t tell me your friend owns the plane because I am not buying that this time. Like, have I hit the jackpot?” she added, teasingly.
”Well, I guess you’ll just have to agree to be my girlfriend so you can find out,” he replied, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
In that moment, Jane reached up on her tiptoes, grabbed his face in both hands, and planted the most passionate kiss on his lips. ”Yes, I would like to go steady,” she said, laughing cheekily.
Throughout the entire flight, they could barely keep their hands off each other, and now she could proudly say she”d joined the mile-high club. Amid their passionate moments, they also discussed their plans upon arrival. Alex, being flexible with work due to his investment portfolios, had no issues with location. However, she decided a change of scenery might do her good, opting to move to where he lived. As they conversed about everything, delving into the deep topics they had avoided during their holiday, she finally opened up to him about Gary and the sadness of being jilted at the altar. All of the events that led to their fateful meeting.
By the time the plane touched down, they felt like they had known each other for a lifetime, and yet, they were only just beginning their journey together. Exiting the plane hand in hand, they were ready to embrace whatever adventures awaited them, knowing that as long as they were together, they could conquer anything.