“Where is she going?” Mase asks.
Liv and I both shrug.
“She said she’d let me know but she was going to the airport.”
“Get the fuck out of here,” Mase orders. “Call Dad, he’ll find her.”
I’m already climbing out of the partially accessible lift before dipping back in. “Congratulations by the way, and I’ll be back for more cuddles with Auntie Anita.” I feel the face splitting grin form as I hit my dad’s number.
Anita
Chapter five has just ended and still I am sat on the runway. Cabin crew seem to be oblivious to what’s happening or when we might take off. There has been one further announcement saying there will be a further short delay. No shit Sherlock.
The ladies next to me are planning their first drinks at the hotel bar and I admire their commitment to having a good time when they start mixing their own cocktails aloud.
I glance back down to my book when there’s a commotion from the other end of the plane. I may lose my shit if we are about to be ordered off, although as I hear the family behind me discussing plane crashes and malfunctions, if that is what’s causing the delay, maybe I’d rather disembark.
The sound of cabin crew’s voices getting louder distract me slightly and then I hear something else and think I must be dreaming or having an out of body experience.
“Anita!”
I look around, checking for another Anita, but it can only be me this particular voice is calling.
“Cupcake! Where the hell are you?”
I stand up, unsure what I expect to see, but the sight of Declan Harding striding down the aisle of the plane towards me is far more than I imagined.
“Dec, what are you doing here?” I ask as he comes to a stop at my row.
“I’ve come to take you home.”
I laugh. What the hell is going on here? We are not together and as recently as a few hours ago he despised me and looked at me with contempt. He’s not looking at me with contempt now though.
“Dec…” I have no other words.
“Please. Forgive me for not letting you explain things. Give me a chance, one chance to listen, that’s all I’m asking for.”
I actually pinch the skin on the inside of my wrist, certain this is a dream. It must be because this cannot be real.
“If I need to get on my knees and beg, I will.”
I watch in horror as he does just that and with his hands pressed together as if in prayer, he repeats his earlier words.
“Give me a chance.”
I stare down at him, oblivious to all of the eyes I feel on me.
“Nothing will change the past,” I warn him.”
“It doesn’t need to. I accept your past, as you accepted mine, but if you’ll tell me everything, I promise to listen and not judge.”
I am unsure if Dec expects me to reject him and the offer he’s making. Hell, I have no idea if I am going to reject it based on the fact that this, us, is not going to be an easy or a quick fix.
Dec remains on his knees, adjusting his position until he is teetering on one leg and then, just when I think this can’t get any more surreal, he produces my engagement ring.
“Liv gave me this. I don’t want it. It’s yours if you’ll have it.”
I hear giggles and people muttering oohs and ahs. He is not doing this, is he?
