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“Yes. Go to her.” She stood on tiptoes and pressed a kiss against his cheek. “And Kiral?”
“Yes?” He was already beginning to move off.
“I have something to discuss with you too. Something … of vital importance.”
“Is it about Abi?”
“No. It can wait. But not for long.”
He nodded. “Soon.”
She watched him leave the helipad and then turned slowly. Will was waiting, only a little way from where she stood. How did she not run to him and throw her arms around him? She was aching to feel him. Aching to touch him. But she walked slowly towards him, like some kind of cold-hearted automaton. Lilah felt how she must have looked and she hated it. But that was who she was… who she had been raised to be.
“Hello,” she said softly, her eyes showing the softness of her heart if the rest of her was incapable of doing so.
“Hey.” His smile was constrained. He shoved his hands in his pockets and Lilah wondered if he was also tingling to touch her.
“I’m glad he came,” she said, for something to fill the silence with. “That article was dreadful.”
“It’s just rags,” he said simply. “But I’m glad he came too.”
“And you.” She cleared her throat. “It’s … good to see you.” So insipid! So bland! She cringed inwardly and shook her head. “Come inside. I’ll make tea.”
His smile was a shadow. “No, thanks. I don’t have long.”
Lilah must have mis-heard. She lifted her face to his, scanning to see what she’d misunderstood.
“I’ve got a flight booked. I leave in an hour.”
“An hour?” She blinked and then shook her head. “Where are you going?”
“Home,” he said with a shrug. “New York.”
Lilah swallowed the pronouncement with a sense of doom. It was an almost out-of-body experience. “New York.” She nodded, urging herself to be calm. “For how long?”
Now it was Will’s turn to look confused. “For … indefinitely. It’s where I live, remember?”
“Right. Of course.” She swallowed.
“I only came over for the wedding.”
“Of course.” He was leaving. He hadn’t come to Delani for her. He was leaving. Going. Disappearing.
Will searched for something to say that would make some kind of sense out of their ill-fated relationship. But what was there he could offer?
“Do you need me to arrange a driver?” She heard herself ask, though inside she was screaming at him to stay longer.
“Kiral’s asked the chopper piot to take me.” He nodded towards the bird and Lilah realized the crew was still inside, staring straight ahead.
It was really happening. He was going. And without her, despite what he’d said.
“Will …”
He nodded, understanding that she too had no way of explaining what she was feeling. “I know.” He reached out and briefly put his hand on hers. The warmth and awareness flashed between them and Lilah had to bite down on her lip to stop from making a sound of surprise.
“Well,” a polite smile accompanied by a stepping away. “If you’re ever in New York …”
She nodded, incapable of smiling. “Sure,” she said softly. “I’ll look you up.”
