CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
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EMMA
I didn’t expect for Ralph to resign, but I knew it was coming as soon as I saw them. The way they smiled at each other, how obvious it was that they not only cared, but loved one another. Even if they didn’t know it yet. It made me wonder, were we the same?
I couldn’t concentrate on what James was saying. I saw him talking to Ralph, and I assumed it was to do with his new business, until he looked at me, waiting for me to say something.
“Sorry, I was daydreaming. What did you say?”
His eyebrows furrowed together. “Marisa was asking you a question.”
I looked at her, and sure enough, she was also looking at me expectantly. I apologised, hoping my mind wouldn’t wander again.
She cleared her throat. “Oh, it was nothing. I just wondered if you missed home.”
Home.
I did miss home, and I was sure if I told James, he would drop everything and come with me. But I knew his lifestyle. I knew how busy he was, and I’d agreed to join him, to be with him everywhere he went, even if it were the end of the world. No matter how hard it became, how hard I found being in the limelight, I would be by his side.
There wasn’t anything left for me at home, and my studies… I was sure I could study online. If not, then I would need to figure something out.
With a smile, I joked, “Not really. As long as I can be close to him, it’s okay. Besides, now that Ralph won’t be there, he’s going to need a babysitter, right?”
James’s sudden stare made me uncomfortable. Did he see me falter? But the smile he had, the tenderness I saw in his eyes, made me feel secure. Made it all better, worth it.
I just had to get used to it.
We ate, laughing at stories of Ralph’s children and Marisa’s daughter. And all too quickly, it was time to go. James had an interview that he needed to attend, and I… well, I’d be there to support him.
As we made our way to the back door of the restaurant, James stopped short. “I think we should go through the front door.”
Confused, I asked, “Have you had a look outside? It’s full of paparazzi.”
“Exactly.” He held his hand out for me to follow him. “I have something I need to get off my chest.”
I held it, my heart leaping and fluttering with nerves. “As long as you’re sure.”
Once the door of the small family-owned restaurant opened, the flashes started furiously, each of them partnered with loud voices.
James waved to the crowd. My eyes were fixed on his profile. A natural smile lit his face as he focused on the cameras, letting them photograph him. I, on the other hand, hid beside him, not sure how to react.
The closest journalist thrust a microphone in his direction, asking, “James, we need to know what’s going on. Is it true that since your breakup with Jane, you’ve had more work?”
James answered without any qualms. “There wasn’t a breakup because there wasn’t a relationship to start with. I have to agree that we were close friends, but nothing else. Now, the amount of work I’ve been receiving I think is because of how good a job I do, don’t you think?”
The crowd laughed.
“And what about you and Miss Mitchell? Are you guys dating?” the same man asked.
“Dating? No, we’re not dating,” James answered. I held my breath and his hand gave mine a gentle squeeze. “She’s the love of my life, and I wanted to let everyone know that you won’t be seeing much of us in the next few months.”
“Why is that, James?” a voice asked.
He looked directly at me, his pearly white teeth showing. “Because we’re moving home.”
I couldn’t say what came first, my smile or my tears. But I knew when his arm circled my waist that he would pull me in and that, right in front of the cameras, he would kiss me.
The flashes and shouts came unbidden, but I barely noticed them. With that kiss, I could only feel him and the way my body wanted to mould to his, how it begged for more of him. His touch sent me into an uncontrollable spiral of emotion.
I would be lying if I said I enjoyed this life, one where my personal details were ripped open for everyone to see and analyse, where we would be poked and prodded to see our reaction—kind of like a lab rat being tested for a new shade of lipstick.
What I didn’t expect was for James to notice.
So, when he pulled away and smiled, his breathing laboured, and he muttered the little word “Home,” elation filled me, so much so that I thought I was going to fly off into the sunset.
I had to ask. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, very sure. This is the right thing to do. I need to settle down and stop eating takeaway food,” he answered, still holding me, right in front of the clicking cameras.
I couldn’t stop smiling. The very reason he gave me told me he knew, but wouldn’t blame me for the change. With my two hands, I held his face and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “I don’t think having a chef on payroll counts as takeaway food, at least not in my books.” I stared into the face of the man I’d known most of my life. “I love you.”
His grin grew even bigger—if that were possible without cracking his skin—and he pulled me closer than before and kissed me. “I love you too. More than ever.”