‘No need to apologise, Dasher, Jesus. For what it’s worth, I think you’re really impressive – coming here to Japan on your own. Just getting on with it and moving on. That shows real guts.’
‘You’re here on your own too,’ she points out, her voice broken with tears.
I shrug. ‘Sure. But I’ve had more time to work through my feelings about the end of my relationship than you have.’
This seems to make her more upset though, rather than less, which is what I was actually going for with that compliment. Her face is screwed up now, like she’s fighting hard not to sob out loud.
‘Hey, do you want to get out of here?’ I ask.
She nods, seemingly unable to speak now.
‘Okay, I’ll get the bill,’ I say, then turn away to grab the attention of our server and make the international sign for paying. Then I call my driver to come and pick us up.
Thankfully, we’re handed our bill quickly, and I pay up and we leave the restaurant, Chloe forging the way with her head dipped and her loose hair hiding most of her face.
I really feel for her.
Not only is she feeling shitty about the way she was dumped, she’s also humiliated about showing it.
I have a strong urge to pull her against me and tell her everything’s going to be okay – and then actually make it okay – but I know that’s not something under my control, no matter how much money I throw at it.
So I just follow her out and grab her hand, which I’m glad to find she doesn’t shrug off, then walk with her back to the end of the road where our car is waiting for us.
She’s quiet all the way back to the hotel and I don’t say anything either, aware that I might make her cry again with any question I ask.
When we pull up and get out in front of the main entrance, I hang back a little, waiting to see what she wants to do.
Turning, she fixes me with a surprisingly steady smile and says, ‘I’d totally understand if you want to go and hang out with people who aren’t killing your mood right now.’
‘Do you want me to?’ I ask. ‘Because, honestly, I’d rather keep hanging with you.’
Her smile widens and her gaze flicks away from mine for a second, then back again. ‘I’d like you to come to my room with me,’ she says. There’s a flash of something in her eyes, like a fire’s been lit in her brain.
Is she thinking about our revenge sex pact again?
I hope so.
‘Sure. Sounds good,’ I say, mentally crossing my fingers, but telling myself not to assume anything.
I actually don’t care if we don’t have sex.
I just want to be with her right now.
11
CHLOE
I’m hyper aware of Kit walking beside me as we make our way to my hotel room.
I don’t think it’s fair to just slope off – not that I actually want to do that – but also, it feels like a friendly gesture to invite him to my place this time, instead of expecting to go to his again.
He’s not been in my domain yet and I guess I want to let him in a little more. I think he probably deserves that. And I desperately need a distraction from the memories of that horrible day I’d described to him in the restaurant.
I can’t believe I cried in public like that.
Letting us into the room, I toss my bag onto the table near the door, then slide off my shoes and line them up carefully, aware of Kit doing the same thing beside me.
Then I walk over and sit on the edge of my bed, feeling it dip as he sits down next to me.
