CHAPTER 26 #2
He scratches the stubble on his jaw, the muscle jumping in his cheek, the only sign he’s uncomfortable with this line of questioning. “It was beautiful. I mean, a wedding in the Caribbean. What could go wrong?”
I snort. My goodness, what didn’t go wrong?
“That’s great to hear. And what about you? Any news you can share about your own love life? We heard some rumours swirling about a new girlfriend, perhaps?”
My lungs stop working as I hold my breath, waiting for his response.
“Ah, Natalie. You know I don’t talk about that sort of stuff.
But what I can tell you about is the new updates for the Redline Racing cars.
The engineers at the factory weren’t as lucky as I was.
While I was sunning myself on the beach, they were spending the last few months working hard at the factory, and I think we’ve got something special here this year. ”
Natalie smiles. “Tell me more about it.”
“Well,” Nathan launches into a description of the new aerodynamics of the car, running his hand through his hair as he speaks, and I freeze, my eyes stuck on him. On his wrist.
“Pause the TV,” I yell at Jade.
“What?”
I scramble to stand up, diving for the remote and pressing rewind, and then pause. There. It’s really there.
“What are you looking at?”
Tears flood my eyes as I sink back down in front of the screen. “Look at his wrist,” I whisper.
My friend joins me on the floor and takes my hand. “Okay, what am I looking at?”
I point with shaky fingers. “He’s still wearing my hair ties. Around his wrist. They’re my hair ties.”
Her dark eyes bounce between me and the TV, a wrinkle appearing on her brow. “Huh?”
Sinking back on my bum, I wipe my eyes and draw in a shuddering breath. “When we were in St. Lucia, Nathan noticed how often my hair ties break. And how annoying it was for me. The day we went to the cocoa plantation, remember I told you about that?”
She nods.
“Well, my hair tie broke, and I didn’t have another one. And then, like magic, he pulled one off his wrist for me.”
“Wow.”
I rub my arms, feeling cold and hot at the same time. “Right? I mean, who does that? Who notices something like that and then does something to help?”
“That man does.”
My eyes trace over his face, over the lips I want to kiss forever. Over the calm blue eyes, I want to get lost in forever. Over the wrist that still holds my hair ties.
“What am I doing?” I jump to my feet and pace to the other side of the room, my body needing to move. “What am I doing?”
Jade joins me. “I’m not sure, but let’s go with it.”
I stop. “I’m so stupid. I let that man go. After he told me he loved me? And I didn’t say it back! And he’s sending me snow globes. And he’s wearing my hair ties. I must be the stupidest person in the world!”
“Finally.” Jade squeezes my hand, the pressure pulling me out of my manic ramblings. “This is what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
“I need to see him!”
“Yes!”
“No, now. I need to see him now. I have to tell him that I love him.”
“Sure.” Jade’s tone shifts, like she may be dealing with a crazy person. “I get that. But he’s not actually here. That’s a TV screen. Nathan is in Aus-tral-ia.”
I push past her to grab my phone. “Now’s not the time for sarcasm. I need to book a flight to Melbourne. I have to see him as soon as possible. This can’t wait.”
She takes my phone out of my trembling hands. “Take a breath. Take a minute. Why don’t you call him instead? I’m sure he’d like to hear from you.”
“No.” I shake my head. “It needs to be in person. I have to look him in the eyes and tell him I love him. That all my doubts we can deal with together, if he’ll just give me a chance.”
“Honey, that man is still wearing your hair ties on his wrist like he’s wearing a leash. I think he’ll give you more than a chance.”
Warmth fills my belly at her words, and I cling to them, desperate to believe I haven’t completely blown it. I mean, the hair ties and the snow globes are a good sign, but I can’t be sure. I hurt him pretty badly. It may be hard to come back from that.
“Right, a flight to Melbourne right now is three thousand quid,” Jade announces as her fingers scroll over the screen of my phone. “And wow, they’re pretty booked out. It’s like all of London wants to get to Melbourne right now.”
Her words burst my hope-filled bubble. Three thousand pounds? Even if I can find an available flight, I can’t afford that.
“I can lend you some of the money,” she offers, correctly reading the money anxiety on my face.
I pull her in for a hug, affection for my friend burning a hole in my chest. “Thank you for the offer, but I can’t accept that. It’d take me forever to pay you back, and we both know you’re not rolling in cash.”
She nods. Her bank account is only a smidge healthier than mine. “Right then, so we wait for him to get back. In what? A few weeks?”
“I’m pretty sure he’s not back until mid-April. They’ve got races in Australia, China and Japan to start the season. The teams stay on that side of the world to help with jet lag.”
“Mid-April? Yikes.”
I nibble on my lips as I mull over my options. Waiting until mid-April won’t work. Perhaps I can get a new credit card? The bank is always offering me one.
“Hey, Katie?” I glance up. Jade is staring at my phone, a smile creeping onto her lips. “I think we may have an answer to your problem.”
She hands over the phone, and I look to see what’s making her smile like that. It’s a string of text messages from Rosie.
ROSIE
Katie, you know I love you no matter what.
Even though I broke her brother’s heart (her words, not mine), Rosie has stayed in touch since that terrible day in St. Lucia. Proving herself to be a loyal friend.
ROSIE
But I’m done letting you ruin your life.
And Nathan’s.
So, I’m letting you know I’m planning on playing matchmaker.
Unbeknownst to Nathan, I’m flying to Melbourne to surprise him and cheer him up.
(because he’s been so miserable lately… hint, hint).
I’ve convinced grumpy Theo to let me join the team on their private jet.
(not hating that idea).
Can I please pass on a message to Nathan from you? A letter? Anything to get him to stop looking so sad all the time?
Seriously, you need to make up. You’re perfect together….
“Wow, why did she have to send so many messages? Why not write it all in one?” I ask, my mind spinning from all the words on my screen.
“That’s your response, boomer? Who cares how many messages she sent? Check out what she’s saying. She wants to help bring you and Nathan back together.”
My brow arches. “I know. I can read.”
Jade sighs like I’m dim-witted. “Yes, and did you read the part about a private plane?”
Ah. Now it’s all making sense. “You think I should ask if I can join her?”
She bounces up and down, like she’s the one about to go on the private plane. “Of course. It’s all right there. She wants to help. She offered to help. And she has a plane.”
I wring my fingers, anxiety at asking for this coursing through me. “She offered to pass over a letter. Not a seat on a very expensive flight.”
Jade purses her bright red lips. “So? All you need to do is ask. If she can’t make it happen, then we go back to the drawing board. But you have to do this, Katie. You have to make this call. You have to take the chance. You have to be brave.”
Her words vibrate through me, echoing the same ones Nathan said the day I sent him away. She’s right. Nathan was right. I need to do this. I need to stop being a coward and start living, start taking chances, even if the outcome is unknown, and the reality is big and scary.
Nathan, with my hair ties around his wrist, deserves for me to be brave.
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
Jade squeals and dances around the couch as I scroll through my contacts. Taking in a steadying breath, I press the ‘call’ button and wait.
“Hello? Katie?”
“Hey Rosie, I hate to do this. But I need a favour…”