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“I’m glad, but Anne I need to—”
“But I can’t handle it anymore. Maybe it’s easy for you to kiss me and stir me up like that. But it’s not easy to be on the receiving end—I haven’t slept in days!”
“I haven’t slept—”
“I don’t want to hear about your sleeping arrangements because here’s another news flash… I'm sleeping alone!” She felt her lower lip quivering.
“I am too. I’m sleeping alone.” He grabbed her shoulders. “Look at me. I’m telling the truth.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m tired, Mr. Gherring. I’m going home. Please don’t do this. Ellen deserves better.”
“Wait just a minute.” He held a finger in front of her face. “Right here. Don’t move. Okay? I’m going to get Ellen.” He left her standing by the door. Alone. Crying. People were staring. This wasn’t anywhere in the instructions Johanna had given.
Anne walked out the door, out of the party, out of the hotel. And out of Steven Gherring’s life.
To the Airport
The taxi took her to the apartment building. “Just wait for me, okay? I’ll be back in five minutes. I need to go to the airport.”
“Okay lady, but you’ll have to pay while I wait.”
“That’s fine. Please, just wait…”
To speed things up, she ran through the lobby in her bare feet, carrying her heels in her hand.
Rayna called out as she bolted past the front desk. “Anne! What are you doing? Where are you going?”
“To the airport.”
“Wait, Anne. What are you talking about?”
She ignored Rayna, and dashed into the elevator, pushing the button for the tenth floor repeatedly in an attempt to make it move faster. Inside her apartment, she threw her toiletries into a carry-on bag with some underwear and a change of clothes. She didn’t even bother to change out of her dress, but put on some comfortable boots and a warm coat. In less than five minutes, she was back in the lobby and headed for the door.
“Anne! Wait! Where are you going?” Rayna caught her before she could escape.
“To the airport. I’m going to the airport.” Her tears were coming in torrents.
“But where are you going?”
“I’m sorry, Rayna. I need to go now,” she sobbed, moving toward the door.
Rayna grabbed her arm. “Why do you have to leave so fast? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to Texas, where I belong. I have to go now. My taxi’s waiting outside.” She swiped at her wet face and peered out the glass door.
“Don’t be rash, Anne. That’s not like you. Tell me what happened.”
“I have to go. The taxi’s waiting—”
“What time is your flight?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t got one yet. I just have to get away from here.”
“You’re running away? Really? The Anne Best I know would never run away.”
Anne sniffed. “Anne Best is a fake! I thought I wanted an adventure. I thought I wanted excitement. A new start.”
“What happened, honey?”
