Page 114 of Come to Me

But I wrench myself back, breathing hard. If this goes any further, I won't be able to stop myself.

"Can we talk?" I ask, my heart pounding.

She shakes her head. "I'm not really in the mood for conversation." Her voice is harsh, but she tries to shrug it off. "I suppose we should grab a cab, get our stuff, and get ready for our flight."

Fine. I can bide my time.

I nod.

"Okay," she says, folding her arms, trying not to look annoyed.

"Did something happen?" I ask. "You're not acting like yourself."

She doesn't look at me as she mutters an answer.

"Yeah. My life was turned upside down for six months." She takes a step towards the street, throwing her arm out to hail a cab.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Alyssa

Ispend most of the flight sleeping off my massive hangover. Ellen wasn't kidding about drinking until we drop.

Luke is sweet, fixing my blanket, offering me water or club soda or saltines. He makes nothing of me not eating. Either he believes it's nausea of he's learned I can take care of myself.

Under the cover of the blanket, I slide my fingers over my engagement ring. But the feel of the smooth platinum and the hard diamond does nothing to illuminate my situation.

Luke is next to me. If I manage to peel my eyes open to let in the horribly bright lights--God forbid--I'll see him, sitting next to me, reading some paperback piece of pulp fiction, half his attention on me.

He loves me. I don't doubt that.

But... I know I'm not the easiest person to be with.

I'm beyond guarded. And the fact that Luke kept a deliberate distance shows he's just a person.

Most people aren't strong enough to put up with my bullshit.

I pull the blanket tighter, willing the pounding in my head to go away.

Ryan wanted me, but he doesn't know the first thing about love. He treated me like a damn pet. If he really loved me, if he really knew anything...

The plane hits a pocket of turbulence and I jerk out of my chair, the seatbelt pulling against my pelvis. Ow.

Luke leans in towards me, his arm around my shoulders. "You okay?"

I nod, but I keep my eyes pressed closed, my body turned towards the window.

"How's the headache?" he asks softly.

I groan. "I'm never drinking again."

He wraps his arms tighter around me, laughing a deep, hearty laugh. "I'll hold you to that."

"Maybe not never again."

I blink my eyes open--damn, it's bright--and look back to Luke. His attention is fully on me, a smile playing with the corners of his lips.

He leans in closer, until I can feel the heat of his body, smell his breath.