Page 94 of Caleb
Inside, Ambassador Murphy has made himself comfortable by turning his space into a mobile office. His laptop is open, and there’s a bunch of papers on the table in front of him while he types away on his phone. He nods my way and shoots me a conspiratorial look that’s laced with a subtle warning,don’t you ever forget we have an understanding. Like I could forget such a thing.
I nod in silent understanding, and with that simple gesture, I know we’re back in business. Behind him, I can spot Red’s auburn hair as she is seated in a rear-facing seat. Aaron takes a forward-facing seat next to the Ambassador across the aisle.
“Hey,” I say softly, trying not to startle her. She puts her book down before her green, unblinking eyes meet mine.
“You came!” Her eyes are wide and full of expectation.
“Uhhh, of course, I did, silly,” I say, trying to sound casual. Like I didn’t just almost fight her father to the death to earn my place back on this aircraft. “Why wouldn’t I?” My brows draw together like she’s crazy even to think I wouldn’t.
“I don’t know,” she says in barely a whisper. “I had a weird feeling. Call it intuition.”
I place my hand on her forehead.
“Mmm, you seem fine,” I tease. “But we might need to get that intuition checked out once we land in New York.”
She laughs.
The Ambassador’s phone rings, and he takes the call near the front airplane door. It seems like he’s having trouble with reception.
Red looks over to check on her father, then says, “I saved you a seat.” She jerks her chin at the empty seat in front of her, and I take it. “I talk too much during flights. It helps me with the flying anxiety. So if at some point I annoy you, that’s too bad because you are going to have to talk to me.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll just pretend to be asleep.” I laugh.
She grabs a napkin, makes a ball out of it, and tosses it my way. I gape at her while she laughs, and I grab it and toss it back to her, but it misses her head, which was my target, and lands on Ambassador Murphy’s desk. I grimace, and Red laughs harder. Fortunately, her father’s a workaholic and still on the phone, so he’s not paying attention to the flying napkin balls inside the aircraft.
Red eases out of the laugh and says, “I got your gift.” She smiles and pulls out the Eiffel Tower keychain. “I really loved it. Thank you so much. I’ll carry it with me always.”
“I’m glad you liked it.” I lean back in my seat and place my right ankle over my left thigh.
“I was meaning to ask, though, about the Hebrew inscription?”
“It means happy birthday,” I say, smiling.
“Of course.” She snorts and shakes her head. “Iprobablyliked the note even more than the keychain.” She smiles sweetly at me—one of those smiles that have the capacity to thaw me into a puddle on the floor.
“We’ll always have Paris,” she says, shaking her head like it’s a given. Like it’s our birthright. Like it’s the most brilliant thing anyone’s ever told her. And deep down, I feel like there’s nothing truer than that statement. That city will forever be ours, and we’ll always belong to it as well.
“Always.”
“But I don’t know,” she says, her eyes narrowing and her nose wrinkling. “I have a feeling New York is not going to be half bad either.”
Aaron’s words resonate heavily at this moment. They click. Make perfect sense. Because I definitely chose this, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
EPILOGUE
March 18, 2010
WE JUST GOT HOME FROM THE PREMIERE.And I can tell the whole experience was a nightmare for Red. She had to endure the photographers screaming questions at her. And William grabbing her as he did? It’ll for sure lead to drama with Nathan. But aren’t we all used to William’s shit by now? At least I know I am. It was obvious that he would attempt something like that with Nathan being out of town. It was the perfect opportunity for him to do so. And as much as Red might “hate” when stuff like this happens, I know she loves having William’s attention. But he took it too far and stressed her out unnecessarily back at the premiere. The only problem is she’s still very much struggling with her feelings.
And I don’t blame her.
This entire experience in New York has been exhausting. The drama seems never-ending, just like the male egos. And I know I’ve played my part, but at least I’m satisfied with where I’m at with her right now. We’ve finally reached this place in our relationship where I’ve convinced myself that it’s okay to live with these feelings inside me and that they won’t kill me. As long as I can be a part of her life, and she can be a part of mine, I’m good.
“Are you okay?” Red asks. I offered to walk her up to her apartment like I always do.
“Yeah, I shouldn’t have said anything.” I smile and click the elevator button. I had to open my big mouth earlier and say that shit about how they both looked happy in the red carpet photographs and how she lights up when he looks at him. Because it’s true. The way she looks at William … God help me.
“I just want us to be okay,” she says softly.
