GATE B33

GILLIAN

London (LHR)

We landed in London much later that evening, the familiar fog of the city welcoming us with open arms. Still bearing the scent of our sex, we checked into a hotel and showered, with Jake taking me shopping shortly after.

Completely sated from our sex in the air, I fell asleep locked tightly in his arms that night, my heart never feeling more full or happier. And as he kissed me to sleep, I hoped—truly hoped, that we could remain just like this for at least a month...

***

In the morning, I woke up completely sore and exhausted, with a full, assorted breakfast tray sitting to my left. A handwritten note from Jake was sitting right next to the strawberries.

Had to take a few phone calls.

I’ll be back.

—Jake

I didn’t let my mind wander to thoughts of why he’d once again felt the need to leave the room to talk on the phone; I decided to let it go.

I slowly sat up and started eating the breakfast, scrolling through my text messages as syrup dribbled down my chin.

Mom: Your apartment is far nicer than I thought it would be. Thank you for letting us use it.

Mom: How are you able to afford this? (Tell me Gillian...*Are* you selling drugs?)

Amy: You missed the proposal of the year... It was AMAZING, Gillian!

Heather: Really wish you could’ve been there. How’s Jake?

Brian: She said yes! I’ll send you pictures later today. It was EPIC.

Meredith: Your brother’s proposal was whack as fuck. You owe me for forcing me to waste my Saturday on that. O_o. Pictures attached. [img.] [img.] [img.]

I laughed and clicked on the images, grateful that I’d escaped the “epic” celebration this weekend. As I was looking at the picture of Brian crying as he got down on one knee, Jake returned to the room.

“What’s funny?” he asked, setting his phone on the desk.

“My brother’s proposal.” I held up the phone. “He was crying before he even got down on one knee.”

He looked at the picture and raised his eyebrow. “Interesting.”

“If you ever want to propose to me in the future, please don’t cry in front of me. It’ll ruin the mood.”

He ignored that comment completely and pressed a strawberry against my lips. “Get dressed. We have only a day and a half left here, and I want to take you somewhere.”

I smiled and quickly slid out of bed, dressing under his watchful eyes in the new jeans and sweater he’d bought me last night.

When I was finished, he clasped my hand and walked me out of the hotel and into a waiting taxi cab. Pulling me into his lap, he ran his fingers through my hair as the car careened across the cobble-stoned streets.

“Where are we going?” I asked softly.

“Somewhere I think you might like.”

Within minutes, the cab pulled in front of Hatchard’s, the oldest book store in London.

I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face as he helped me out of the car. He led me inside, past the famous café and displays and toward a sign and room that read “Signing Event Today!”

“You brought me to a book signing?” I looked up at him, unable to contain my excitement. “Is it John Grisham?”

“Unfortunately not.” He laughed.

“Then who is it?”

“That type of thing matters at a signing?” he asked genuinely, looking as if he was really trying to make an impression today.

“No.” I smiled. “Not this time.”

He pulled out a chair for me at one of the room’s tables. “I’ll get you some coffee. Three sugars, hazelnut shots, right?”

“You remembered?”

“Not at all.” He kissed my forehead before stepping away.

All of a sudden a loud applause filled the room and I joined in, standing with the rest of the room as a woman in a red dress took the short stage at the front of the room.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” she said. “Thank you so much for joining us today at Hatchard’s! We’re honored to bring our guest of the month here. Please welcome, World-renowned and bestselling author of Mile High Club Unveiled and New York, New York, Brooke Clarkson!”

My hands immediately stopped clapping and my heart sank ten levels as my past collided with my present.

The author, dressed in a beautiful black dress with her famous million-dollar smile, waved at the audience as she took her seat.

“Hi!” She said, still looking as perfect as she did years ago, when my “run-in” with her got me fired. “It’s so nice to be here today!”

The audience giggled and said “Squee!” like little schoolgirls while my previous career played in front of me, while all the pain and anger that landed me in my current life ran on repeat.

“I want to start with a question and answer session before I start today,” she said, and I slowly stood up, ready to get the hell out of here.

I rushed out of the room, nearly running into Jake and he followed me toward the doors—grabbing my wrist before I could leave. Noticing the look on my face, he pulled me toward the back of the store and pressed me against a bookcase.

“What’s wrong with you, Gillian?” He held my face, looking concerned.

I shook my head.

“Another long story?”

“Yes, but...I don’t want to tell this one.”

“Then don’t.” He set my coffee on the shelf. “But we’re not wasting the rest of this date.”

“This is a date?” I smiled. “I thought you didn’t do those.”

“I thought I didn’t either.” He pushed me against the bookshelf and pressed his mouth against mine, making me quickly forget everything else. But only for a few hours...

Four hours later, in the middle of the night, I woke up to the sound of his voice on the balcony. He was shouting at someone, throwing glass onto the floor.

“You wait until now to tell me this shit?” He snarled. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been—” He threw another glass. “Fuck you. Fuck. You. I’m on my way.”

I sat up in the bed, watching him open the sliding doors. He stormed into the room, glanced at me and shook his head. He tossed back one of the half-full shots from last night and grabbed his pants.

“We need to go,” he said.

“Now?”

“Right now.”

“Together?”

“No.” He dialed a number on his phone and held it up to his ear. “Yes. I need a first class ticket to New York for someone. No, the airline doesn’t matter, but departure is today, within the next three hours preferably. I prefer JFK over LaGuardia airport. Yes...Yes, thank you.”

My phone suddenly vibrated with an email.

Subject: Flight Confirmation.

Thank you for flying with Delta Airways. We look forward to serving you aboard our first class cabin. Please click the attachment to view your itinerary.

[pdf.]

I watched as Jake redressed without another word, as he gestured for me to do the same. He didn’t speak to me as we left the hotel together, didn’t even look my way as he registered for a cheap rental car and drove us to the airport.

“You got my hopes up again, Jake,” I said softly. “You got my fucking hopes up again and you just stomped all over them for no reason. No explanation.”