“Something you will love,” I say. “Now get in.”
And she does get in.
I close the door and walk around to the other side.
“We will stop at your flat,” I say. “I believe you might want to change for the occasion. Henry has been so kind to get something you might like for you to choose from.”
“I—um,” she begins.
“No discussion,” I tell her. “This afternoon will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance, one I advise you to take.”
“Okay,” she says, and I watch her fight off a grin.
“You actually do what I tell you,” I say, “That’s a first.”
“Mh-hm,” she hums in confirmation, and I finally understand what her roommate meant regarding the surprises. She loves them, yet she dislikes them at the same time.
We reach her flat.
“I’ll wait,” I say as Henry gets out of the car to see her inside and give her the clothes.
She is already out of the car when she freezes with her back to me. Suddenly, she turns, glances at me, leans back inside, kneels on the seat and grasps my face. I cannot believe what is happening?—
Her lips find mine, and I am so perplexed that I cannot do anything else but let her. My hands find her body, and all the thoughts I have vanish.
For one infinite moment, my body relaxes into the touch of her lips—a moment that shall never end.
Only it does end.
She stops the kiss, glances ever so briefly in my eyes, and then gets out of the car.
“Give me fifteen,” she says with one last, cheeky glance before she hurries off. Leaving me behind with a whirlwind of emotions as I try to comprehend what just happened.
“Oh, Miss Phillips,” I whisper. “Who would have guessed?”
9
MIA
PLAYLIST: LIGHTS – ELLIE GOLDING
Ihave no idea what just happened. I don’t recognise myself as I walk up the stairs to the flat.
A valet with three boxes of clothing behind me.
After I stepped out of a Rolls-Royce with the woman I just kissed in it.
The woman, who is thirty-three years older than me.
The woman, who lives such a different life from mine.
The woman, whom I want to forget, but can’t because she haunts my nights and days.
I brush over my lips, still in total disbelief of my own courage.
I have sworn to stay away from her, to not engage any further, not leave my flat again, and yet, the moment I saw her waiting for me, every single one of my plans was gone. It was like in one of my books, and even if I wanted to, I could never say no.
“Mia, finally!” calls Bella at me when I enter, and when she sees Henry entering with me, her mouth drops open. “Ohhh,” is the only thing she says—way too knowingly.
