“Don’t make me sound like a snob.”
“Okay,” I say sweetly, rolling my eyes. “I won’t.”
“I’m serious,” he insists. “It’s not about the seat. It’s about convenience. If this were my plane, we’d already be figuring out a solution.”
“Mm-hmm. So why was it canceled?”
“Mechanical issues with the incoming flight. Mine’s pushed to tomorrow. I leave at eight.”
I lean my head against his shoulder, smiling. “Selfishly, I love that. We get a longer date.”
“Unfortunately, it means the opposite.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry, Mads. Missing tomorrow in London means I need to get on a call with Amara and go over everything we would have prepared for in person.”
“Oh.” Disappointment tugs at me, but I push it aside when I see the regret on his face. This isn’t his fault. “It’s fine. You should go. Do you mind if I walk around a bit longer? I haven’t been to Central Park in ages, and I’m feeling…close to Camila right now.”
His gaze sharpens, studying me. “You’re feeling okay?”
“My stomach’s fine now,” I say easily. “Probably just that time of the month. Don’t worry.”
I’ve never been regular enough to track it anyway.
“How long will you be?” he asks. “I’ll have the driver wait and bring you home.”
“I’ll just take a pet Uber.”
“Madeline.” His tone leaves no room for argument. “Don’t fight me on this.”
“You’re infuriating. How areyougetting home?”
“Subway.”
I bite my cheek to hide my grin. “Wow. Slummin’ it.”
He knows I’m joking. Nate and even Leo, who is more high-maintenance than all of us put together, take the subway regularly.
When you have to bounce around from one job site to another, it would take forever in traffic.
I check my phone. “Have him meet me in about forty-five minutes?”
“You got it.” He leans in to kiss my lips…then hesitates and shifts, pressing it to my forehead instead.
“Seriously?”
“Just in case you reallyaresick.”
“You had your tongue down my throat for half the day,” I deadpan. “I think the damage is done.”
He shrugs. “You never know.” Then he smiles. “Love you. And you.” He bends down and kisses Skye square on the mouth.
“She just licked her private parts,” I say flatly.
He laughs as he backs away. “She’s my daughter. It’s different.”
He waves one last time and heads off, disappearing into the crowd.
After thirty minutes of wandering, getting lost in my thoughts, I turn the corner, and the back of my neck prickles. A chill skims down my spine, and I feel it again…the unmistakable feeling of being watched.
I turn, looking over my shoulder, scanning the park, but as usual, no one stands out.
