‘The kind who encourage me to follow my heart.’
‘Pity,’ he says, biting back his smirk.
We fall quiet again. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last long.
‘Come on then, what’s the story?’
‘Why does there have to be a story?’ I respond, exasperated. ‘And if there is a story, though I’m not saying there is, why do you have to know?’
‘To set the backdrop so I know how to behave appropriately.’
‘Something tells me you couldn’t behave appropriately no matter what the occasion.’ His deep burst of laughter fills the car, his next question catching me off guard. ‘You’re a teacher, aren’t you?’
‘You couldn’t possibly have guessed that.’
‘I knew it! I’m guessing primary school?’
‘Pre-K. Four-year-olds,’ I add in explanation.
‘I bet you’re everyone’s favourite, aren’t you? With a pep in your step and love in your heart, sweet Miss... ?’
‘If I tell you, will you stop talking?’
‘I might.’
‘Sadie.’ I don’t so much say as hiss across the car. ‘And please don’t tell me you know a girl called Sadie.’
‘Sweet Miss Sadie,’ he says with a sigh and a smile. ‘I’ve never had a Sadie before. You’d be my first.’
‘You just dream on.’
Chapter Five
WILL
‘This is it?’ she says as we pull up to the vast glass frontage of the hotel.
There’s valet parking, at least.
‘Yep. Up to the top.’ I point skywards, Sadie’s eyes following the direction of my finger.
‘All the way up there?’ As we stand in front of the hotel, she tips back her head, bringing her gaze back to me with a shiver.
‘Did you happen to read the name of the venue on the invitation?’
‘Yes, it said Air Bar. But I didn’t think—’
‘That’s where we’d be? I’m afraid so. Partying in the heavens.’ Her neck moves as she swallows deeply, all of a sudden looking a little queasy.
‘I hate heights,’ she whispers, her eyes falling closed.
‘That’s entirely normal.’
‘It is?’ Her eyes spring open, her expression hopeful.
‘Of course. We all fear heights to one degree or another.’ Given the opportunity of her distraction, I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her to my side. Reassuringly? Hopefully. Taking advantage of the situation? Absolutely. ‘Do you know that as much as fifteen percent of the population suffers from one phobia or another?’
‘Really?’
