Page 60 of The Billionaire's Teacher

I could tell Zee I wanted the next available charter. That was probably a better option than salvage and recovery. I didn’t need to do anything that was going to remind me of Wes. I’d be better off—so much better off—jumping into new experiences that would minimize memories of this trip.

The plane bounced gently on the tarmac, then slowed.

“This is my stop.” I drained the water in my glass and looked around for where to put it.

“I can take it.” Wes reached out. His fingers brushed mine. “Can I do anything to help? Grab your bags and walk you out? Anything?”

“Nah. I’ve got it. And you should get back in the air and on your way home. I imagine your friends are pretty excited to see you and make sure you’re okay.”

He nodded. “Yours, too. Right?”

There wasn’t really anyone who fit that bill. Zee, maybe. But she’d been fine once she knew I was all right. In the interest of keeping things professional—or more accurately, putting them back into that professional space—I just nodded. “Absolutely. Thanks for the lift.”

His eyebrows shot up.

The plane stopped.

I unhooked my seatbelt and stood. “Stay safe, Wesley.”

He looked like he was going to say more. Something in his eyes told me it was better that I not hear it. Not if I wanted to keep my heart safe.

It wasn’t too late for that. No matter what it felt like.

Losing Luca had shattered me and I’d really only just put myself back together. I couldn’t go there again.

I hurried to the front of the plane. The pilot had just finished opening the door and I bolted down the stairs with a mumbled, “Thanks.”

He followed me down and went to collect my bags from the luggage hold. Because of course I couldn’t just run off. Put that in the “con” column for private air travel.

I didn’t look back toward the door. If that made me a chicken, so be it. I didn’t want to know if Wes had followed me. If he was watching, waiting until I looked to say whatever words he had that were sure to devastate me.

And if he wasn’t?

That was almost worse.

Better not to know.

I took my two duffels from the pilot. “Thanks. Have a safe flight back to Virginia.”

I strode toward the airport. It took everything I had not to peek over my shoulder. But I knew if I did I wasn’t going to stay strong. I lifted my hand. It was a casual goodbye. Almost a brush off. But it had to be done.

I felt the crack in my heart as I pulled open the door into the little private air terminal. My eyes burned. I hurried around a corner, then leaned against the wall and stared up at the ceiling. My breath came fast and I knew I was going to break down if I couldn’t get it under control.

I swallowed and squeezed my eyes shut.

“Miss? Are you all right?”

I felt the cool touch of fingers on my arm and opened my eyes.

The concerned face of a flight attendant looked back at me.

“Yes. Thanks. Just…been a day. You know?” I was proud that my voice didn’t break. And talking, trying to keep things steady, seemed to help push my emotions back into the box where I preferred to keep them locked.

The woman—a quick glance down revealed her name was Angela, if her nametag could be trusted—chuckled. “I do. Are you catching a connecting flight?”

“No. This is home.” It wasn’t. But it was the home base for the charter company, and I needed to check in with them first. Then, maybe, I could take my personal boat and get back to my little beach cottage. Or, I could find a laundromat and jump into the next available charter. I still wasn’t sure which was the right choice.

“Lucky you.” Angela patted my arm. “I’ll let you get home. I hope you know it’ll be all right.”

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