“I will. I’ll tell you all the goss tomorrow.”
“Unless I read it inWomen’s Dayfirst.”
Jess pulled a face. “Shhh, don’t even suggest it.”
Rearranging the pillows, she pressed the button to lay the bed flat. A buzz from the phone in her pocket sent a thrill of excitement through her.
The real estate agent was letting her know today if her offer on the cottage was accepted. The answer had to be yes. Her gut instincts were screaming at her that this was her dream house. She knew it.
She left Lilia to sleep, softly pulling the door to her room shut as she left and headed for the nurses’ station, eager to return the real estate agent’s call.
Quickly updating Lilia’s notes, she filed her folder and then took out her phone. As she’d suspected, it was a message from the real estate agent asking her to call when she was free.
This was it.
Sitting holding her phone, nerves coursed through her. This was the start of her transformed life. She’d already sent in an application to work at the new Rangiora maternity hospital. The job would be a while away, but everything was in motion. All the parts were coming together. She couldn’t wait.
Pressing call, she held her breath and listened to the ring tone.
“WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND.”
Nate thanked the customs officer and wheeled his carry-on suitcase through the frosted glass sliding doors to the Christchurch International Airport arrivals area, half hoping Jess would be there to greet him. It was a stupid thought since he hadn’t contacted her once since he’d been back home and neither had she.
There had been plenty of times he’d almost messaged her. Lots of half-typed texts deleted in the early hours of the morning when he’d had trouble sleeping or on long night shifts at his hospital back in London. It just hadn’t felt right. There hadbeen so much to sort out, with the apartment and work and everything. Getting it all cleared up seemed the proper thing to do. He didn’t want to contact Jess and offer her some messy, chaotic version of himself. She deserved more than that.
And if it wasn’t meant to be, he figured his feelings for her would fade away as he got his life sorted. They hadn’t. If anything, he thought of Jess more often as the premiere date crept closer.
On the plane, he’d thought of her almost nonstop. Had the kiss they’d had on that last day meant as much to her as it had to him? It had changed everything for him. She’d changed everything.
Pausing at the gates, he scanned the busy airport, realising he was still searching for her. Instead, Laney waited nearby, looking surprisingly together with her blonde hair in a neat up do rather than her usual messy plait.
“Nate!” the director called, spotting him at the same time. “You made it!”
“The flight was delayed in Singapore. I hope it didn’t interrupt your schedule too much.”
He tried to smile and not to let the disappointment show on his face. Of course Jess wouldn’t come. But he’d see her tonight, when he was cleaned up and not fresh off a 26-hour flight in his jeans and crumpled shirt, likely needing another layer of deodorant and some mouth-wash.
“Not at all. I had my hair appointment and it worked out perfectly. But we need to get a move on.” Laney bounced on the balls of her feet excitedly. “You got your suit handy?”
“Ready to go.”
They drove to Rangiora where the premiere was being held in the beautiful old town hall. It seemed a small venue for a premiere, but perhaps it wouldn’t be a big turn-out.
“I know it’s not Leicester Square,” Laney said as they drove past. “We’ll do a larger premiere in London next month. But doing the first screening here is a way we can give back to the community.”
The town hall’s domed front entrance had been transformed with a red carpet lined with potted topiary trees and fairy lights.
He agreed. It was the perfect spot. As soon as they entered the small town, he had the weird sensation of returning home. After being back in busy London, Rangiora was a place he could breathe. He hadn’t told anyone except his parents yet, but he was in town for more than just the premiere.
Laney dropped him at his hotel and left Nate to shower and get ready. He’d bought a black tux for the evening and when he checked himself in the bathroom mirror, making sure his bow tie was straight and his collar tucked correctly, he had to admit the whole effect was pretty decent. Hopefully Jess would agree.
The idea of seeing her again sent a bead of sweat down his spine. The premiere didn’t make him nervous—he’d been to enough events as a kid—but knowing Jess might be there…
Now his hands were damp with sweat, too.Get it together. He dried them on the bathroom hand towel and tried to calm his nerves.
More than likely, he’d missed his opportunity with her. Someone as beautiful and dynamic as Jess didn’t stay single long. What was he thinking not contacting her while he was in London? He’d convinced himself it was wise. The right thing to do. Now, with her only minutes away, it felt idiotic. He had no idea where she was at. She probably didn’t even feel the same.
That kiss meant a lot to him, but he could be reading more into it than Jess intended. Nate tugged his jacket down and smoothed his hair into place. He guessed tonight he’d find out.
