17. JULES
JULES
BOLOGNA
I’m waiting for the receptionist to stop fannying around on his computer and just find us two rooms when Isa comes striding up.
‘Hey guys!’ she sings, a grin lighting up her face.
It’s not her fault we’re in this predicament.
It’s not her fault I’ll probably miss my meeting with Apex Sport about a very lucrative potential new collab for Tom and I.
It’s not her fault the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix produced zero interactions with Tom because her stupid brother was too busy, and is possibly (definitely) avoiding me.
I force my lips into a smile that’s hopefully half convincing. ‘Morning.’
She takes in the dishevelled hair, the bags at our feet, Nyla furiously checking flights on her phone. ‘Is everything… alright?’
‘Our flight’s been delayed until tomorrow,’ Nyla explains, while I tap my nails against the counter. Tick tock, Antonio. Tick tock!
‘What? Why?’
‘Something about a delayed inbound.’ Nyla shakes her head. ‘Jules has a big meeting in New York tomorrow morning and—’
Isa claps her hands over her mouth and inhales so melodramatically I stop tapping. ‘You’re never going to believe this.’
‘What?’ Nyla and I say in unison.
‘We’re going to New York! Come with us!’
I don’t want to be the one who points out planes aren’t like buses, when Nyla beats me to it. ‘Is there room?’
‘Tons of room.’
‘Really? Because I can’t find a single flight going today with any space whatsoever.’
‘Oh.’ Isa starts laughing. ‘It’s not a commercial flight, it’s our plane.’
They have a private jet? Wait, of course they do. Their dad owns half the property in South America or something.
Eleven hours. With Tiago. In a confined space.
Flying.
I start shaking my head slowly and get progressively more frantic. ‘We couldn’t possibly impose—’
‘Nonsense! We’d love to have you.’
‘I—’
‘Jules,’ Nyla says softly. ‘This meeting’s really important.’
Urgh, she’s right. I hate that she’s right.
‘I’m not taking no for an answer.’ Isa’s beam is so huge it’s like it’s a dream come true that our inbound was walloped by a bird strike.
Nyla slides her phone in her pocket. ‘What time does it leave?’
‘When we get there. Probably in like an hour. You guys go ahead. I just need to check out and we’ll meet you there.’
Nyla grins. ‘Great, see you there!’
Bloody wonderful.