We continued breathing together for a few more minutes until a chime rang out, signaling that the seatbelt sign was off and we could move about the cabin.
I rubbed a slow circle on Adelaide’s thigh. “How aboutyou grab your e-reader and head to the back and lay down? I’ll grab you something to drink and bring it to you.”
Adelaide’s mouth popped open. “Oh, I…”
I gave her a stern look. “Go.”
Her mouth tipped up in a sheepish smile before nodding her assent. She scooped up her bag and headed to the private suite at the rear of the plane while I made my way to the service station at the front.
“Hi, can I get a glass of champagne, please?’”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll bring it right to you.”
“Actually, on second thought, can I just have the bottle and a glass? I’m going to take it to my fiancée in the back. And a snack plate, if you have one?”
“Yes, of course. Let me put it on a tray for you.”
“That’s perfect. Thank you.”
Once the tray was set with an assortment of meats, cheese, crackers, fruit, chocolates, and the bottle of champagne, I made my way to the bedroom suite. Adelaide was settled on the bed under a plush cream throw.
She sat up, setting her e-reader aside. “What’s all of that?”
“I thought you could use a snack as well.” I pushed the door closed with my foot, set the tray on the table beside the bed, and began removing the foil and wire cage from the champagne bottle.
Adelaide peered at the label as I grabbed a towel and began working the cork out. “Oh, that’s my favorite champagne!” she said gleefully.
The cork came loose with a barely audiblepop. “I know. I asked the staff to keep it stocked for you. I thought you knew that?”
Her eyebrows came together over the bridge of her nose, and a shadow crossed her face. “No, I didn’t.”
I stilled, the wine flute in one hand, the bottle in the other. “Was that okay?”Shit, did I overstep?Clearly something had just made her uncomfortable.
“No. I mean, yes. I mean…I just…” She pushed down on the mattress, scooting herself back so she could sit up straighter, crossing her legs under her. She took a deep breath and started again. “I just don’t understand how you are so thoughtful. It seems like you are always prepared for anything. You make sure I have snacks and breaks when we’re out for tour stops. You have the plane stocked with my favorite champagne. Jesus, you even made sure to have moisturizing hand sanitizer so my hands don’t get dry on the road. I know we need to make sure everyone believes we are really a couple, but those are all things that no one besides me would even notice. Why go out of your way for me like that?”
My heart fell. She still really didn’t know, did she?
I set down the bottle and glass, coming to sit next to her on the bed. My heart pounded in my ears as I took her hands in mine. I stared into her green eyes, allowing myself to get lost in their depths as I searched for the words to make her finally understand.
“Adelaide, this isn’t an act for me anymore. If I’m being honest, it never was an act for me. I love you. I think I’ve been in love with you from the first time you schooled my friends at trivia. I never thought I’d get a second chance with you, and then it felt like fate intervened when your dad invited us to your fundraiser last fall. I thought maybe, just maybe, this is the opportunity to reconnect and make things right. And then my life went to hell, and I didn’t see any way I could reasonably ask you to sacrifice so much of what you loved to be with me. Every time I think you’re within arm’s reach, something happens to pull me out of your orbit. But Idon’t want to be away from you again, Laidie. I don’t want you and I to end when the law is changed. You are my first thought upon waking and my last thought before falling asleep. You have become my reason for being, the purpose behind my every action. I want to say ‘I do’ to you in June and every day for the rest of my life. It’s why I take care of you—even the smallest details of your life matter to me more than you could possibly know.”
Her eyebrows were high on her forehead, her mouth open, but she remained silent.
I continued, fighting for words past the sound of my blood rushing in my ears. “That night together in Spain meant more to me than you realize. I felt like we had finally unlocked something between us, that you finally trusted me again.”
“I do trust you,” she whispered. “But I…” Her voice trailed off.
I shook my head, feeling as though I was floating above my body. “It’s okay, Laidie. You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know that it’s not a lie for me. It never has been. But you don’t have to feel the same way. I will always respect your wishes and nothing about our plan has to change.”
I squeezed her hands, then stood and made my way to the door. I didn’t think I could take hearing that she didn’t love me back; that was a hurt that would have to wait for another time.
“Ollie, wait!”
I paused, my hand on the door handle. I took a breath and slowly turned back to find her now standing next to the bed. She took a step forward. “Don’t leave. Please.”
I could barely feel my feet, much less move them. She took another step and reached her hand out, grabbing holdof mine and pulling me closer to her. As I willed my body to move, the plane dipped.
Adelaide let out a gasp as she toppled onto the bed, her tight grasp on my hand causing me to fall on top of her. I caught myself at the last second, bracing myself above her.
