‘She got it and read it. She still needs space,’ Zola said, holding her hands up.
Jimmy leaned in. ‘Zola, what did she say, exactly? Please. Think.’
‘She said she needed a place to think, somewhere quiet, away from it all.’ Zola shrugged. ‘I have no idea where she’s gone, all right!’
Philip sneered. ‘So, she’s hitting the fucking library, then?’
Jimmy, on the other hand, smiled, his face lifting into a grin. ‘Thank you, thank you, both!’ Then he bolted towards the exit.
Philip turned to Zola and then to Katy, confused about what had just happened. ‘If he worked that out from that description, he fucking deserves her,’ Philip muttered, pacing the floor anxiously.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Ella
I finally stood at the top of the Empire State Building, gazing out at the twinkling lights of New York City; it was everything I had dreamed of. Crowds gathered around me, nudging their loved ones at my ridiculous dress and skyscraper heels, but I didn’t care, because finally I could breathe again. I closed my eyes, inhaling the deepest, coolest breath, feeling it travel down my body. This city made me find myself again, it made me come alive again, and, OK, our visit had been packed with drama, stalkers and crazy men trouble, but we did make a difference here. We left our mark. I leaned my hands against the railing, looking down at the people who passed in the street below, wondering how many of them would one day find love because of the app we’d created. It felt rewarding, like I could finally let go of New York; I could say goodbye to the city now I had found myself again.
‘I thought I might find you here!’ I heard a deep American voice and turned in surprise. Jimmy stood there in his tuxedo, looking as handsome as ever, carrying a cute bunch of pink peonies.
I gasped, noticing people gawk at us. ‘You’re here! How?’ I laughed, completely confused.
‘I knew you had a thing for tall buildings,’ he said softly, letting out a small laugh.
‘Well, at least I’m not the only one totally overdressed now.’ I smiled, glancing at my dress. As he got closer, he stood beside me.
‘We missed you tonight,’ Jimmy said, glancing out at the city.
My face twisted. ‘I’m sorry, I just couldn’t do it .?.?.’ I admitted, knowing it sounded like a poor excuse.
Jimmy remained calm, his eyes still on the view. ‘That’s OK,’ he replied coolly. ‘Because of the last one? Were you worried or .?.?.’
I felt my chest tighten. ‘I wasn’t worried that anything would happen. I suppose I was scared to see you, if I’m being completely honest.’ My vulnerability made me feel exposed, but I was done with lying to this man, lying to myself.
Jimmy turned to face me, a smile on his lips. ‘OK, you gotta explain that one to me.’
I walked a few steps around the circular balcony, struggling to steady my voice. ‘It’s hard to see you when I know I’m going home. This is all about to end.’ I rested my head against the railing, caught between frustration and sadness. ‘I love my life in Scotland; that’s my home. But then I met you and everything was great – until it wasn’t. Now it’s starting to feel good again, but I’m going home! Living here in New York isn’t real life and I have to get back to reality, Jimmy.’
Jimmy smiled, understanding. ‘So, you were scared.’ He shrugged. ‘That’s understandable.’
‘I just think that maybe I need to be on my own for a bit. I was with Philip, then I wasn’t. Then I met you, and it’s been honestly amazing.’ I smiled, feeling tears build up, but I was trying hard to hold them in. ‘I don’t want to chase a man around a city I’m not even from.’ I shrugged. ‘I want an amazing life, of course! But I want a life that I’ve made, not one that my boyfriend has.’
Jimmy pushed a strand of hair back from my eyes. ‘I understand, Ella.’
I sighed, thankful, grateful for how easily he seemed to get me.
‘But us men, we’re not all the same,’ he said, a small grin edging from his lips. I instantly remembered him saying that on my first day at the office. ‘I love you, and I respect you, and if you have to go back to Scotland, then I totally understand. But you do know there’s more than one way to make a long-distance relationship work?’ He nudged my shoulder playfully to lighten the mood.
‘Is there? I asked ChatGPT and the figures are awful. It’s basically pointless.’ I managed a laugh through the snotters I was producing with those backed-up tears.
Jimmy giggled and said, ‘Damn, I should have had Ethan hack that server and tell you there’s a high success rate.’
I turned to him, the night sky twinkling around us. Every emotion surged to the surface. ‘I will always love you, Jimmy Link, but I have to move on,’ I said, feeling a lump in my throat the size of a basketball. I wanted to cry, to wail, to cling to his gorgeously muscled leg. But I steadied myself – I couldn’t lose myself again, not now, not when I’d finally begun to like who I was becoming.
‘And I will always love you too, every moment, every day,’ he promised. We stared at one another for a few seconds. ‘Well, I think we have sorted that out. I’m gonna let you enjoy your quiet time up here, Ella,’ he said.
I watched him rub his eyes, then he handed me the pink peonies.
‘Don’t be a stranger, huh?’ he called, stepping back a few steps.
