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She rolled her eyes. “Has anyone ever said you talk too much?”
“My God,” her father spat. “Hope?He doesn’t even know your real name. How could he possibly know you? All right, fine. The decisionisall yours. What will it be, Emily? What do you want?”
Hope looked away from them all, twisting her hands.
Xavier held his breath and waited.
Chapter Ten: LAX, California
It is illegal to have sex in a public place. Anywhere.
“So, I guess this is it. This is goodbye.” She slid her hand over his, keeping her eyes on the ground in front of them. She couldn’t look at him. It was Xavier who linked their fingers.
“Yeah, but it’s not like its forever or anything.”
“Sure, sure.” She bobbed her head, ponytail swinging.
“Hope, I—”
“Emily, remember?” she squeezed his hand. “No more lies, you know?”
“Right, sorry, yeah, Emily. I’m still getting used to it, sorry. No worries.” Xavier leaned forward to reach into the rucksack between his feet. “By the way,Emily, I got you a farewell gift.”
He handed her a book, and she glanced at the cover.
“Saying Goodbye for Dummies?”
“Good book. Taught me everything I know.”
She flicked through the pages, “It’s a romance novel with masking tape over the title and a new one written with a marker.”
“Exactly.”
Emily snorted. “You’re a dummy. If I read this obscure clue correctly, what you’re really trying to say is you think I should call up my dad and tell him I’m heading overseas with that strangely attractive Aussie guy he hates for a three month holiday to his home town on the other side of the world?”
“Well, we are about to taxi down the runway, but better late than never.”
The flight attendants made their way down the aisle checking everyone had their tray tables up, seats upright, and luggage stowed.
She nibbled her thumbnail. “I’ll send him a text message when we get there.”
“Em—”
She silenced him with a kiss then punched him on the shoulder.
“I’m kidding, you doofus. I told him days ago, after I bought my ticket. He’s fine with it, by the way, and by fine, I mean not fine but will be eventually. Baby steps. He said to tell you hi.”
Xavier tilted his head. “Byhi, I assume you mean if he ever sees me again, he’s going to kill me with a blowtorch, a scalpel, and a pair of needle nose pliers?”
“Spooky, that’s almost word for word what he said. See, you guys are more alike than you think.”
It hadn’t been quite that bad. In the long hours following Xavier’s surprise appearance on the estate, her family had spoken openly, perhaps for the first time. The truth had been painful, but in the end, they remained as close as ever, just with slightly looser bonds of guilt and obligation.
Her father had eventually calmed down and had even managed to speak civilly with Xavier. In the end, it had been Malcolm, her youngest brother, who had first welcomed Xavier. It was fitting. Without him, she wouldn’t have existed. It was right that he had been the first to extend his hand to Xavier.
Both their family physician and Malcolm had assured her it was fine to be so far away from her brother should his health falter. She could be back within a day and that would be more than sufficient in the unlikely event of a relapse. Malcolm even suggested he visit as he’d always had a thing for Australiangirls. Xavier tried to tell him they were overrated but Malcolm wouldn’t hear of it. He’d handed Xavier a beer and suddenly they were best bros. Hope still wasn’t sure how that worked, but she was eternally glad of it.
Next to her, Xavier gripped her hand tighter as the taxiing airplane built up speed and lifted off into the clouds. The sky was even bluer above the ever-present smog of LA, a clear blue that reminded her of Xavier’s eyes. Not that she’d ever be schmaltzy enough to admit that out loud.
