Page 53 of Away With You
Where we’ve stopped? It’s an oasis of vast, empty spaces, peppered with neatly dressed staff members rushing to open my door and sort out my luggage. This place—as the signage denotes—is for the first-class passengers. Who, in this instance, includes me.
“Um, sorry about all the bags,” I say to no one in particular. Apart from smiling at me, no one is paying me much attention. Too busy organising everything and leaving me with only time to think on my hands.
What am I supposed to do now?
“Katie!”
I turn and smile with relief at the sight of a glamorously dressed Rosie waving at me. In complete opposition to what she advised me to wear for a nine-hour flight, she’s in a vibrant, blue-coloured maxi dress, complete with spaghetti shoulder straps and sandals. It’s currently five degrees Celsius outside, and yet if she’s freezing, she doesn’t show it. Nathan’s sister is nothing but perfect-looking all the time. If I didn’t love her so much, I’d have to be petty and hate her.
“Rosie.” I rush to her side, sparing a last glance at where my luggage has been whisked away. How do they know who I am? And where I’m going? This is a whole different world; this place where money makes everything easy. “You are gorgeous!”
Rosie pulls me in for a hug before leaning back and running her gaze over me. “You follow instructions well. You look perfect.”
My cheeks heat at the compliment. If there’s one thing I excel at, it’s listening to people who know more than me. Rosie lives in this world, so for the next seven days, she will be my guide.
“Thank you.” I smooth out my pants, happy to see they are still wrinkle-free as promised.
“Are you ready for this?” She links her arm through mine and pulls me further into the building.
“No,” I admit, pulling in a deep breath and smiling. It even smells rich in here. Like vanilla and old money. “But let’s do it, anyway.”
We walk into the first-class lounge, and I follow Rosie’s lead, handing over my passport at the desk and leaving it there. I’m assuming all the paperwork will be taken care of while we indulge in pastries and perfect cups of tea; again, it’s a window into how the other half live. Or the other one per cent, as the case may be.
“Kitty Kat.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention, and I swallow the entire pistachio macaron I’d just stuffed in my mouth before turning. It’s been two days since I’ve seen Nathan, sincethatkiss, and I’m still not ready to face him. To face him and pretend to be in love with him, while pretending not to actually be in love with him. It’s so complicated, I’m getting a tension headache already.
“Hi.”
Today, like me, Nathan is dressed for travel. He’s wearing dark denim jeans, a white t-shirt and a navy woollen cardigan. On anyone else, this would suggest dowdy; on this man, it screams yummy! Or kiss me.
Oh boy, am I in trouble.
“You look beautiful.” Nathan steps into my space and brushes his lips over my cheek. It’s the lightest of touches, and yet it setsmy skin on fire. My lips tingle as they watch on with jealousy, wanting the same attention given to them.
To give my hands something to do, other than grab onto him, I scoop my hair away from my neck and over my shoulder. Jade had spent a long while working on straightening it this morning, knowing that once the humidity of St. Lucia hits its strands, it won’t look like this again.
“Thanks. So do you.” The words are out of my mouth, and all I can do is blink and blush.Did I just tell him he looks beautiful?
Nathan smirks and tucks me under his arm. “Thanks, girlfriend.”
Ah, yes. The subterfuge starts now. Today and for the next week, I’m his girlfriend. Flirting, compliments and touching are all part of the deal.
Hmm, I don’t hate it.
He walks us over to where Rosie is seated, watching us with a knowing smile on her face.
“Girlfriend, h-hey? I t-think we can come up with s-something better than that,” I stammer, going for nonchalant but sounding starstruck instead.
His gaze traces over me, and he pulls me in even closer, like he wants every part of my side touching every part of his. “Oh, I can do better. What do you prefer? Darling? Sweetheart? Baby?”
My heart stutters. Never, ever have I been called any of these endearments. That Nathan is the one saying these things is mind-blowing.
It’s all fake, Katie. Please don’t forget that.
“How about you pick something that feels right?” My voice has a breathy note that is embarrassing. I need to pull it together.
Nathan peers down at me, his lips parted as he stares. “Hmmm, this may take a minute.”
