Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
A lot of them are of the ocean and him diving, but there are a few of who I’m guessing is his sister and her son. Exiting out of his photos, I go to his texts and scroll through without opening any of them up before I go to his search engine.
I don’t know what I expect to find. I just know that mine is mostly filled with clothing shops, restaurants, and recipes. His isn’t much more exciting—websites for diving gear mixed with scores for football games.
The latest one in his long list grabs my attention though, because it’s for the travel time between London and Bournemouth, where he’s working, which I find out is less than two hours by train. I know I shouldn’t assume him googling that question has anything to do with me, but in my gut, I know it does.
And darn if I don’t like the way it makes me feel, knowing he wanted to calculate how far we’d be from each other.
CHAPTER 9
hanna
God, I’m ridiculous. I think to myself as I sit in the in the coffee shop outside my gate, and scan through the text exchange between Walker and me from this last week. I miss him, which is laughable since I’m the one who said I wouldn’t want to see him again after our time in Ibiza. Yet here I am, pining away for even the sound of his voice, something I haven’t heard since he lost cell service, and only has spotty limited Internet on the ship.
When a message suddenly appears from him my stomach dips.
Walker: Hey baby, are you at the airport?
Me: Yes, just drinking some coffee while I wait for my plane to show up.
I press Send on the text, and a second later, a reply pops up.
Walker: I would ask you to send me a picture of yourself in that tight skirt I know you’re wearing, but I wouldn’t get it, so I won’t beg.
Smiling, I roll my eyes.
Me: I actually have on pants today, because it was raining here this morning.
Walker: Good. I don’t enjoy the idea of every man on your flight imagining sliding up that skirt while you’re walking down the aisle.
Me: No one is thinking about that.
Walker: We’ll agree to disagree. Have you decided if you’re coming here or if I’m coming to you next week?
Biting my lip, I type back.
Me: You can come here. I have a spare room.
Walker: Otto and Ham won’t be joining me, so the spare room is good to know about but won’t be necessary.
I type…
Me: Where will you be sleeping then?
then delete it as another message from him pops up.
Walker: I’m getting ready to put on my gear, baby. I’ll talk to you on the upside.
Me: Okay, be safe <3
Walker: Safe flight, baby.
“Hanna?”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end hearing my name spoken in a deep, very-familiar British accent. Turning slowly and hoping I’m wrong I find Benjamin standing a few feet away, looking as handsome as always in his pilot’s uniform, with his hat tucked under his arm.
“I thought that was you.” He takes a step in my direction with a familiar smile on his face. “How have you been?”
How have I been, is he serious right now? “Are you seriously greeting me like we’re old friends?” I bite out as I shoot out of my chair and hurry to gather my things.
“Hanna.” He grabs my upper arm, and I jerk from his hold and whip my head around.
“Do not touch me.”
“Okay.” He holds up his hand. “I just want to explain things. I’ve tried to call and—”
“We have nothing to talk about,” I cut him off, enunciating each and every word.
“I should have told you.” His expression fills with sympathy and remorse.
“Oh my God.” I laugh without humor as I attempt to step around him, because stupid me chose the corner to park myself in, thinking it was away from everyone.
Unknowingly, I set my own trap.
“And how do you think that conversation would have gone, Benjamin?” I ask sarcastically, then do my best British accent. “‘Hey, Hanna, by the way, I just want to let you know that even though I told you I was falling in love with you, I have a wife and kids at home, and I’m sleeping with other women. I hope you don’t mind.’”
I try to step around him once more, but he blocks my path.
“Things between Terry and I are complicated.”
“Yeah, I bet. I mean, things do get kinda complicated when you cheat on your wife with multiple women and get one of them pregnant.”
He glances around then lowers his voice. “If you’d let me explain, you’d understand.”
I look up at him, wondering how big of an idiot he thinks I am. A giant one would be my guess, because there is no explaining away anything that he did.