Her knuckles relax and she takes a deep breath.
‘How do you feel about going to college? It’ll buy us four years and I’m certain in that timeframe I could pull some strings to push for a more permanent solution.’
She stares at me for a long beat, an enigmatic expression on her face.
‘Say something, Lula, please.’ I take a sip of water.
‘I’d… I’d like that, I think. Thank you, Mr Cooper.’ She flashes me a huge, heartfelt smile, something I’ve only ever been treated to twice before.
‘Please, call me Jayden. You don’t mind that we’re not…’ I motion to the air between us awkwardly with my hands.
Could I make any more of a bollocks of this?
‘What I meant to say is the quickest and most effective way to object to your deportation was to claim you were my fiancée. But time has provided an opportunity to explore alternative avenues.’ I push a pile of brochures in her direction. A prospectus for every course in California.
‘Mr… Jayden, I’m beyond grateful for everything you’ve done for me this year. You owe me nothing, yet you continue to give.’ She motions to the Prius outside the door. I’d have bought her an Audi if that’s what she wanted, but no, she’s not like other girls.
‘It’s a relief, to be honest, that there is an alternative option.’ A small smile plays on her lips again.
The penny drops. ‘Ah, hah. There is a boy…’
She nods. ‘Diego, from the restaurant.’ There’s that smile again. ‘And there is a girl, no?’
I clink my glass against hers. ‘There is, but it’s complicated. She and I have a longer history than you and me.’
‘Then you have a good solid foundation, no?’
‘We did until she heard I was engaged.’ My lighthearted tone isn’t fooling anyone.
‘Well, in that case, maybe this time I can finally helpyou?’
‘No, but thank you. I think it’s finally time I helped myself for once.’
ChapterThirty-Seven
CHLOE
Ruby’s at the airport waiting in almost the same spot where I waited for Jayden.
Jayden.
Everywhere I look, I see him. My brain has an uncanny talent of summoning high-quality images of him in a terrifyingly lifelike way.
Red-tipped fingers grip mine and squeeze. ‘How are you holding up?’
‘I’ve had better days.’ I turn to Levi, who’s hovering a foot behind me. ‘This is Levi. Levi, this is my friend, Ruby.’
Ruby’s pupils double in size as they settle on Levi. Even in his tired, crumpled suit, he’s still a sight for sore eyes.
‘Do you need a lift somewhere?’ Ruby isn’t discreet.
‘He’ll meet us at the bar in an hour, won’t you, Levi?’
‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’ He winks, his attention focussed entirely on Ruby. Good. I hope they hit it off, because despite my earlier intentions, I can’t imagine I’ll be much company tonight. A tiredness like I’ve never felt before weighs me down.
Ruby grabs the handle of my suitcase.
‘It’s ok, I’ve got it,’ I protest.
