Page 152 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars
I think about that notion—of coming home to her every night and being able to make love to her whenever I wanted to. Of busy Saturdays at the museum, followed by drinks with friends and then going home to have sex in every room in the house. Of lazy Sundays, lying in until noon, eating pastries and drinking coffee in between glorious, languid lovemaking sessions. And I feel a hunger deep inside that I didn’t expect. I want that. So much. I want to be settled. To put down roots. I’d be able to see my new family, my real father.
But it’s such a huge change, and what if it didn’t work out with Elora? There’s no guarantee. I’d have made that momentous shift and blown up my old life for nothing.
Her eyelids are drooping, so I scoot down the pillows a bit and pull the duvet over us, and hold her, smiling as she curls up in my arms. She’s asleep in less than a minute, worn out, I’m sure, with all the excitement about the ring, followed by our strenuous lovemaking session.
I’m tired too, but as I lie there looking out through the window at the stars, I realize it’s finally time for me to step into Future Linc’s shoes and make the decision about my future.
I think about it for a long time, while Elora’s breathing deepens, and the moon rises higher in the midnight-blue sky.
Eventually, trying not to wake Elora, I reach over and pick up my phone. I send a few texts, unsurprised when I get replies quickly, as we were all night owls and rarely went to bed before one or two in the morning.
And then, at last, I put down my phone, curl up with Elora, and close my eyes. And this time I fall asleep in seconds, with the peace of a man who’s made up his mind.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Elora
The next day, Linc has booked us a helicopter flight back to Queenstown. It’s my first time in a helicopter, and I spent most of it staring out of the window with an open mouth, stunned by the beauty of the Fiordland National Park. Rivers, forests, waterfalls, mountains—this place has it all. The flight up Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown is just as beautiful in a different way. We talk about how much the landscape reminds us of The Lord of the Rings, pointing out different areas and reminiscing about scenes from the movie.
When we land in Queenstown, Linc then reveals he’s booked us a charter flight to Christchurch. It’s only when we’re in the sky, on our way to the city, that he tells me he’s hired a car, and he’s going to drive us up to Hanmer Springs.
I stare at him, shocked. “Why?”
He sips the hot coffee the flight attendant has just brought us. “I thought you’d like to show your mum the ring.”
“Well, yes, but my dad will also be there…”
“I know. It’s time to put old ghosts to rest.”
My heart skips a beat. “Do you mean you want to make peace with my dad before you leave?”
He looks down at his coffee cup and removes a mark with his thumb. “We need to talk about it, you and I,” he says eventually. “But I’m not quite ready. Is it all right if we wait just one more day?”
I swallow hard. I want to yell no and demand he tell me what’s on his mind right now. But that would be childish, and I know I need to give him space to weigh the pros and cons of the decision.
Part of me is sad that he doesn’t want to talk through it. But I have to pull on my big-girl pants and deal with it.
We don’t talk much for the rest of the flight. The magic from last night seems to have faded like mist in the morning, and Linc is preoccupied, lost in thought as he stares out of the window. I take out my phone and, although I don’t have an internet connection, pull up the notes I’ve been working on for my MA and pretend to read through them and make alterations.
But I’m not really seeing the words. All I can think about is what he said. We need to talk about it, you and I… But I’m not quite ready. Does he mean that he hasn’t made up his mind? And why will one more day make a difference?
I sigh, because there’s no way to answer the question. I’m not going to beg him to talk to me. When he’s ready, no doubt he’ll let me know his decision.
I feel a little sulky and resentful, but I don’t voice my frustrations. I leave him to his thoughts, and before long we land in Christchurch.
While he heads over to pick up the keys for the car he’s hired, I call Mum to let her know we’re coming.
To my surprise, she says, “Yes, I know.”
My eyebrows rise. “What? How?”
“Fraser and Joel are here. They’ve told us what’s been going on.”
I go completely cold. “They’ve told you… about Linc?”
“Yes, love,” she says softly.
“What did they tell you?”
