Page 21 of Fighting for the Forbidden
“Lauren,” she sighs, realising that she’s not getting anywhere. “Hopefully a few days away will help give you some perspective.”
“You really think I should forget everything that happened, what he did, and just dive back in?”
“No, I’m not suggesting you continue where you left off at all. I’m suggesting that you at least tell him the truth and spend some time with him…nowhere near a bed, ideally.”
“Or a car park,” I mutter, but it’s not quiet enough.
“You screwed him in acar park?”
Groaning, I lift my glass to my lips and drain it. Danni doesn’t need the details.
Flight number BA439 to Rome is now boarding. Please make your way to the gate and have your ticket and passport ready.
“Ready to run away?”Danni smiles at me innocently, but it’s just another way of her showing me how she really feels about what I’m doing with Ben.
“I’m not running. I just need a few days.”
“Sure, whatever you say.”
“Danni,” I breathe, already losing my enthusiasm for this trip.
“No, it’s fine. If you say it’s what you need, then I’ll stop. Let’s just go and enjoy ourselves.”
A little of my previous excitement flutters in my belly as we finish our drinks and head towards the gate, ready to board our plane.
We’ve got seats booked, so we don’t bother getting up to queue to get on board, instead favouring the uncomfortable seats and enjoying the coffees we stopped to pick up on the walk here.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Rome,” Danni says, pulling out a travel guide. I can’t help but groan at her. She’s the same wherever we’ve gone. She’s so organised it makes my brain hurt. She’s even had an itinerary for the couple of beach holidays we’ve been on.
“What? I like to know what I’m going to be doing.”
“Don’t I know it! So what does our schedule look like for the next three days?” I ask with a laugh.
“Well…” She pulls out a list and I burst out laughing.
“You’re something else, you know that?”
“You love it.”
I sit and listen as Danni talks through our plans and how we’re going to squeeze in as much of Rome as humanly possible in the next three days.
Once the queue has died down a little, Danni stuffs her guidebook and list into her bag and we head over.
I feel lighter knowing I’m about to get on a plane and disappear from everything for a few days. What Danni said earlier was wrong: I’m not running away. I’m just going to get my head together, to get some much needed sleep and to hopefully relax—not that I remember seeing that on Danni’s schedule. I’m well aware that everything I’m about to leave behind will still be here when I get back. Joe wasn’t all that happy about me going at short notice. He tried to convince me to wait until he could get the time off, but I knew I needed to go now. Jenny was equally as disappointed because she believed I should be there for Ben. I know she understood my reasons, and she’s trying not to get in the middle of us after warning me about his arrival a few days ago, but she’s got her hopes on us sorting everything out. I can only imagine Ben’s reaction when he realises I’ve gone. I can still vividly remember the excitement and relief in his eyes when he first opened them yesterday and found me sitting there. I knew I was going to give him the wrong idea if I was still there when he woke up, but I couldn’t find it in me to leave.
“Lauren, passport,” Danni prompts when we’re at the front of the queue.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter.
I’ve just taken it and my ticket back when every muscle in my body stills and my stomach turns over.
“Lauren, wait.”
“Holy shit. How did he…” Danni trails off as she looks over my shoulder.
His stare burns into my back as Danni’s eyes flick between the two of us. I stare at the tunnel just in front of me that’s going to take me away from here as my head and heart duel.
“You need to deal with this now, Lauren. Look at him; he should be in a hospital, yet he’s here, chasing you down,” Danni warns.
