Page 289 of The Heart You Kept

He doesn’t say a word all the way to the airport and I don’t try to chat or change the subject because I know that sometimes you just need to sit in your guilt for a while.

Feel the distance between the people you care for grow greater with every mile that you drive away.

His stance is sad as he stares out the window, my hand is on his thick quad, held tightly in his. “It was a wonderful week, thank you for bringing me to meet them.” I smile.

“It was.” He nods. “Thank you for coming.”

The car pulls up on the tarmac beside the plane, it’s raining now and our driver produces a black umbrella and holds it over us as we climb out of the car. “Thank you.” Edward takes it from him and holds it above as he leads me up the stairs. I watch my step closely, always so scared that I’m going to trip and fall over while everyone watches.

“Hello.” The captain smiles and shakes his hand, he turns to me. “Hello, Miss Sorenson.”

“Hello.” I smile. I’m just busting for someone to see my ring; I desperately want to scream it from the rooftops. I have news, big news. The best news that I could have to tell you.

We’re getting married.

Somebody notice, for god’s sake.

Edward leads me to my seat and I sit down, he takes off his suit coat and walks to the cupboard and hangs it up on a coat hanger.

“I’ll have a scotch, please,” he tells the flight attendant, his eyes come to me. “What would you like, Alora?”

“I’ll have a champagne, please.”

“Of course, sir.” She smiles as she disappears up the aisle.

Edward falls into the seat beside me and takes my hand in his again, his gaze goes out the window, no chitchat, and no banter. No lovey-dovey man that I’ve had the pleasure of spending the last week with.

“You okay?” I whisper as I kiss his shoulder.

“Yes.” He kisses my temple. “I hate goodbyes.”

“We’ll come back soon.”

He nods and turns his gaze back out the window and I lean my head back against the headrest.

My man is human.

Two long hours later the plane doors are opened on the tarmac in Nice. It’s late, nearly 9 p.m.

“Goodbye and thank you.” Edward shakes the captain’s and flight attendants’ hands and we make our way downstairs.

Philippe is waiting by the black Bentley and our things are loaded into the car behind it.

Edward opens the back door and I climb in; Philippe gets in behind the wheel. “Where to, sir?” he asks.

“I….” He shrugs. “I wanted to spend the night on the yacht but it’s late and we are tired. Take us to Miss Sorenson’s, please.”

“Yes, sir.” He pulls away and the car drives through the night and I smile out the window, happy to be going back to my place.

Edward doesn’t tell Philippe about us and it doesn’t feel like the right time.

Everything seems surreal, in my wildest dreams I would never have imagined the wonderful week we have just had. I just want to scream it from the rooftops.

We’re engaged.

“Doe, I’m going,” a husky whispered voice wakes me.

“Huh?” I drag my eyes open to see Mr. Orgasmic sitting on the bed beside me, it’s still quite dark and he’s dressed in his power suit and ready for work.