Page 49 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

I am a strong, independent, ‘single’ woman. I can go wherever and do whatever I want, and nobody is going to stop me.

Not until they find out I’ve gone, anyway.

I know they said I shouldn’t fly, but it’s not really a long flight back to New York; It’s only five hours. Or maybe I could nip over to Mexico. That’s only three and a half hours.

That’s it. Mexico, baby, Mexico.

I check my bag and find that my passport is safely tucked away. I knew Zed had brought it in for the medical insurance, but I was praying he hadn’t taken it back.

I hold the beautiful little book in my hands and kiss itYes! Here we go.Excitement fills me as I flag down a cab. In only a short time, I am trying to buy a ticket. Jeez, these people. They wanted to know everything about my injury. I assured them everything was okay, and eventually, they granted me permission to buy the bloody ticket.

Two hours later, I board the flight, and as the wheels leave the ground, and the plane starts to rise into the sky, I finally feel free.

I’d been so busy looking out for my arm that I didn’t notice the man sitting in the seat next to me.

“Are you a nervous flier?” a deep voice asks.

“What? Oh sorry, no. I have just had an injury, and I am conscious of banging it.”

“Ah, are you going on holiday?”

“No. Well, sort of. I’m just going to my family’s villa for a few weeks to rest and get my arm better.”

“Oh, I see. You’re going to stay with family?” he asks.

It’s a bit of a strange question, but I answer him anyway. He doesn’t know me, so what does it matter?

“No, my family has pissed me off. I’m going on my own. I just need some time to get everything into perspective and work out what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.”

“Oh, wow. That must have been some fall out.”

“You could say that. Anyway, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t want to talk about it. It’s all still raw, and I haven’t gotten my head around it all yet.”

“Of course, what would you like to talk about? We’ve still got three hours in the air, and I have to be honest, I’m not the best flier. I get a little twitchy, especially if there is turbulence.”

Fucking wimp! Zed wouldn’t get twitchy, well not in that sense.I give a small smile to the guy but not for the reason he thinks.

“Tell me about yourself,” the guy says.

“Not much to tell. I’m a data analyst for my family’s business. What about you?” I ask. I’m not interested in the slightest. Although I’m trying to be polite, I wish he would just shut the fuck up.

“I’m Matthew. You can call me Matt. I’m in the security business. I’m on my way to Mexico for a job. Nothing fancy like a family villa, but it should be a nice couple of weeks away. I just wish I didn’t have to fly.”

“Nice to meet you, Matt. I’m East.” I look up and realise how good looking he is. Wow. He’s hot, and I can feel myself blush a little.

“That’s an unusual name.”

“Yeah, it is, but I like it.”

I get sick of explaining why I’m called East. It was my grandfather’s idea. He wanted us named after a nautical theme, so we are all named after the four points of the compass. I’m not telling him that, though. West is fairly well-known after the incident where Sutton and Kara were abducted and nearly sold at auction. So, it’s best if I leave this conversation hanging.

“Anyway, it’s been a bit of a week. If you don’t mind, I just want to sit back and listen to some music. I don’t mean to be rude, but I just need a little me time,” I say kindly with a slight smile.

“Oh, yes, of course,” he replies, but I can see him eyeing me. I bet he just thought ‘snotty bitch.’ Do I care? Nope, not in the slightest.

I put my ear plugs in, turn the music on, and drift away into a peaceful sleep with Maroon 5 playing quietly.

I’m sitting in a field with wildflowers.

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