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Ah, jeez. But hey, it was only oral sex. It’s not rocket science. He wasn’t that good.
Tears squeeze through my lashes, and I press my fingers to my lips. No, I’m not going to cry over him. I’m going to learn from this very bad mistake. No more trying to escape my problems by drinking to excess. Today I need to see my parents and work out what we’re going to do.
I go out of the bathroom, collect my purse from the chair, and slip on my shoes. I fold up the blanket and put it back in the wardrobe, then replace the duvet on the bed.
Finally, I glance around the apartment. My first—and no doubt my last—time in a penthouse. It’s a beautiful, luxurious place. Imagine having enough money to rent somewhere like this as well as having your own mansion. Being so wealthy that you never have to worry about paying a bill again.
Turning away, I walk through the living room to the front door, slip out, and let it close behind me.
Chapter Five
December 27th
James
“Glass of champagne, Mr. Rutherford?”
I look up from my phone at Andrea, the flight attendant. “No, thank you. I’ll have a coffee once we’ve taken off.”
She nods and returns to her area.
I’m on The Orion, our company plane, about to fly to Wellington for Damon’s wedding. The plane seats eight passengers, four chairs on one side of the aisle, four on the other, in pairs of two facing each other across two tables.
I’m sitting on one side by the window, opposite Henry, who’s also by the window. Across the aisle, Juliette sits opposite Gaby and Tyson. Cam is apparently visiting family and won’t be joining her. Juliette and Henry haven’t spoken since they took their seats. Yet another fallout from the trivia night, I’m guessing.
Gaby gives me an amused look. “Not drinking, James?”
“It’s a bit early for me.” It is only eleven a.m., but that’s not the reason. Normally I’d have indulged in a drink on the flight. The truth is that, despite it being Christmas, I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol for six days, and I don’t plan to for the foreseeable future, either.
“Something to do with what happened on the trivia night?” Gaby asks. “Aroha won’t tell me.”
That surprises me. I know she and Gaby are best friends, and I’d assumed Aroha would reveal what occurred in my hotel room in gleeful detail.
Well, I’m certainly not going to reveal it. “Let’s just say whisky and I aren’t on speaking terms at the moment.”
Tyson, sitting beside her, snorts. “I know what you mean. I don’t remember my head touching the pillow that night.”
I watch Henry glance at Juliette. She looks out of the window, not meeting his gaze.
I blow out a breath. “What are we waiting for?” Alex and Missie are flying up in his helicopter, so we’re all here.
“The last passenger,” Juliette says. “Here she is.”
I look across at the doorway, and my heart shudders to a stop as Aroha appears. Oh fuck. I didn’t even know she was going to the wedding, let alone traveling on the plane.
I left before she woke up on the twenty-second, and I’ve been in Lyttelton for the past few days, so we haven’t spoken since that night. It’s my fault. I’m the one who left, so I’m the one who should have contacted her. I’ve been distracted, though, tied up with my sister’s ongoing drama. I meant to call Aroha, or text at least, but didn’t get around to it. I might have over the next few days, but, well, it’s too late now.
She glances around the cabin and sees me. From her lack of surprise, she guessed I’d be here. I smile, but she’s already turned her gaze to Andrea, who’s gone over to welcome her aboard.
I glare at Gaby and mouth, You could have told me! She just grins. I look back at Aroha warily. Wow, she looks stunning. She’s wearing long, cream, wide-leg pants and a white blouse. Her dark hair is pinned up in an elegant twist, and as usual her makeup is expertly applied with neutral shades. I think she’s wearing false eyelashes, because her eyes are huge and dark. She looks classy and gorgeous.
She walks up the aisle and stops by the tables, and everyone calls out hello. Juliette’s bag is resting on the seat beside her, and she’s busy studying her phone. Aroha hesitates, and I can see she’s wondering whether it’s polite to ask Juliette to move the bag when there are two free seats on the other side. She blows out a breath, then says to Henry, “Mind if I sit here?”
“Of course not,” he says with a smile.
She slides in next to him. “Sorry if I held everyone up,” she announces. “There were roadworks in Aranui.”
It’s a cheaper suburb in the city, and I remember her concern at whether she’d be able to afford a round of drinks at the bar. Clearly, money is tight for her. But then it is for most people, I remind myself. It’s easy to forget that when you’re wealthy.
