“Another round of mojitos, please,” Dad says to the server.
Indie looks up. “Just a water for me.”
Three drinks then switch. Same as always.
“I’m looking forward to Christmas,” Dad says.
“Me, too.”
Mum brightens. “A family Christmas. I trust we’ll see you on that day, Indie.”
I hold my breath. Mum has said way too much. She’s never invited Indie because she’s never wanted her to have to have to talk about her parents. If Indie accepted the invitation, we’d wonder why she didn’t want to stay home with her family. She’s usually comes over on boxing day.
Her dark eyes fill with panic. “Erm, in the afternoon, I can. That would be lovely.”
Mum smiles.
Indie made it sound like she will spend the morning with her family and the afternoon with mine. We’re together now and that’s a normal thing to do.
I try to catch her eye, but she avoids me and focuses on her burrito.
Once our long dinner is finished, we get into my car and I drive to the airport. Indie holds onto my hand a touch too tightly.
By tomorrow, she’ll be buried in her textbooks, trying to catch up on the three days she missed. I bet it only takes her a day. She’s so fucking smart.
Mum and Dad are quiet in the back, watching LA pass them by. They’ve loved their trip, and it was great to see them here. I think Mum will be pestering Dad for more time out here—longer next time, probably. They have much more to see.
I park at the airport and start loading bags onto a trolley that Dad wheeled over. Indie hovers next to me, never more than a foot away. Dad takes the trolley, and I take my girl, wrapping my arm around her waist.
We follow behind my parents, and she lays her head on my side.
My stomach flips as we walk through the airport doors. I pull her even closer. God, I don’t want to do this.
“Stay,” I whisper against her temple.
Her breath quickens. “I wish I could.”
“I hate uni.”
“We’ll be fine, Spence. Right?” Her words are muffled against my chest.
“Yeah, baby, we’ll be fine. We can FaceTime, and I’ll message you so much, you’ll be bored of me.”
“Unlikely. Do you think you’ll get the time?”
“I’ll make it. If I’m working long days, I’ll keep my phone on set and message you every time I go for a pee.”
Scrunching her nose, she says, “As long as you don’t FaceTime while you’re doing that.”
“You have my word.” I laugh.
Some days, I’m so beat, I barely make it back to my trailer before I collapse. Out on location is so much more intense. I’ll make time for her. I don’t care how exhausted I am. I won’t miss a day this time.
We use the self-check-in screen and drop their bags at the bag drop point. Next up is security. I’m not allowed in there. I’ve gone as far as I can without a ticket.
“We’ll wait for you the other side of security, Indie,” Mum tells her. Then she turns to me and her eyes water. “Spencer, I am so proud of you.”
I let go of Indie, which has to be my new most hated thing, and I give Mum a hug. “Thank you for being here. It means a lot.”
“Christmas,” she says sternly.
I step back and salute.
“Come here, son,” Dad says. He’s not usually a big hugger but he hugs me tightly, patting my back. “You’ve done us both proud.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He turns to Mum. “Come on, love. Let’s get through security and give them a minute. We’ll see you in there, Indie. Take your time.”
Indie rasps, “Thanks.”
I pull her into my arms and press my forehead to hers.
She looks up at me with eyes full of tears. “Saying goodbye to you is impossible, Hollywood.”
“Good thing this isn’t a goodbye then.” The moment my lips touch hers, I want to pick her up and run.
“Christmas is six weeks away.”
“That’s a definite. If I can be back sooner, I will.”
“You’ll let me know as soon as you do, right?”
“As soon as I know, I’ll be on the plane, I promise.”
She sighs. “No goodbyes.”
“No goodbyes. I’ll see you soon.”
Tilting her head up, she smiles sadly, and I wince at the sight of a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Indie,” I whisper, kissing the tear away. Fuck. “Don’t, or I won’t let you get on that plane.”
“All right. We’ve got this.” She takes a breath and smiles. “I’ll see you soon, Spence.”
I kiss her again and finally let her go.
It’s the worst feeling in the world.
Twenty-Five
Indie
I’m grateful that Jodie and Andrew are two rows ahead of me this time. Andrew offered to go at the back, but I need some space right now. We’re all in our pods, not sitting right next to each other anyway. My half-height door is closed, and my chair laid down to make the bed. Not that I’m at all tired. I’m too wired to sleep. I just don’t want anyone to see my red eyes.
My heart is in LA, and every mile closer to my parents and away from Spence makes me nauseous.
When we get home, it will be around five in the afternoon. My parents will be up. Well, they’ll be awake, sitting in the living room drinking. I roll onto my side and will sleep to take me. Spencer will be home. He’s tracking our flight back to London. How often will he check it? It’s two in the morning in LA now.
I bet he wakes up in the early hours and checks. I would probably stay awake all night watching the little plane icon fly across the world.
God, I need help.
The last thing I thought I would go home with is a boyfriend. Actually, we haven’t stamped that label on our relationship yet. Not that we need to say it to both know we’re official. There is nothing else we could be, and no way either of us aren’t
