Unseen Messages(16)

“You don’t want me to travel with you.”

“I never said that.”

“You did.”

“Whatever. Hear what you want to hear. I was merely concerned for your welfare.”

I planted hands on my hips. “My welfare. What do you care about my welfare? You don’t even know me.”

“That’s right. He doesn’t.” Duncan stepped between us, acting as referee. “Six people. No problem at all.” Patting me on the shoulder, he grinned. “Pleasure to have you along for the ride, Estelle.”

“Estelle?” Galloway’s voice stole my name, turning it from a simple address to an angry caress. “That’s your name?”

“Don’t tell me you have a problem with that, too?”

His face tightened. “I don’t have any problem with you. No problems. None.”

“Then stop being one for me.” The snapped command hovered between us, neither dispersing nor fading.

His eyes turned to steely flint as the friendliness and whatever bond we’d had evaporated.

Jerk.

He’d had the opportunity to talk to me on the plane and didn’t. He’d deemed me unworthy of his time, insulted me more times than anyone, and we’d only just met.

The moment we got to where we were going, I’d put him out of my mind and never waste another second on him.

Unless it’s to write a nasty song where he meets an unfortunate end.

“Okay, six people for six hundred. Done.” The driver pushed off from his slouch and wrenched open the sliding door of his van. “Get in.”

The Evermore children climbed in first, followed by Amelia and Duncan. Galloway planted himself in front of me, pausing to talk to the driver. “Where exactly are you taking us?”

The driver said, “I have a cousin who flies produce and supplies to outlying islands. He can help.”

“He can get us there tonight?”

The man nodded. “Tonight. No problem.”

“Great.” With a cold smile, Galloway clambered inside the van.

Hugging my jacket with my pockets filled with random survival gear, I squeezed in after him, taking the spare seat beside Pippa. The little girl smiled, stroking the foot of her kitten. We shared a look as the driver slammed the door, cocooning us in the tight space.

My mind skipped ahead to the idea of waking up tomorrow on a quiet beach, eating fresh fruit, and penning lyrics in the sunshine. Pure excitement fell like silky petals.

I was pissed off at Galloway and more tired than I’d ever been after two months on the road, but for the first time...I was uncomplicatedly happy.

I’m proud of myself.

I’d finally listened to the messages to live deeper, louder, brighter.

I’d finally paid attention and decided not to squander my life away with mediocrity.

Pity, I completely misread the signs.

They weren’t there to be adventurous. To live in the moment. To be reckless and stupid and alive.

They were there as a barricade against the exact same flaws I’d just embraced.

Ironically, I’d done the exact opposite of what I should.

By trying to live, I killed myself.





Chapter Six


...............................................

G A L L O W A Y

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I COULDN’T STOP looking at her.

My gaze somehow found their way to her no matter how much she pissed me off.

What the hell is she doing here?

She wasn’t like me.

She didn’t have an obligation to uphold.

She had a plane reservation leaving in the morning and every reason to stay in the crappy hotel supplied by the airline and leave the moment she could. So why the hell had she thrown that away to come with us?

Stupid girl.

Stupid, beautiful, sexy-as-hell girl.

Why couldn’t she vanish and let me live my damn life?

You don’t know anything about her.

I didn’t want to. I’d only had a few conversations with her, and already, I guessed she was a high-maintenance shrew with the personality of a pencil.

My fists curled as the van bumped over badly paved roads, heading through villages shrouded in darkness.

I couldn’t stop staring.

Why the hell can’t I stop staring?

I was glad I hadn’t talked to her on the plane. I wished I didn’t have to talk to her at all. Not only had she ruined the perception I had of a sweet woman who would’ve let me walk all over her and not held my balls in her hands, but now, I also had the unwanted situation of sharing transportation with her.

And what was worse...she would be on my island.

Kadavu.

She would check into the resort where the Evermores were staying and infect my piece of paradise. She would be close enough to visit, apologise to, let down my walls, turn off my temper, and truly see what the hell had happened between us when we touched.

She didn’t look my way—not once.

I cleaned my glasses; just to be sure I’d catch any glimpse of her sneaking a look.

But nothing.

Her eyes locked on the passing Fijian countryside, her fingers tapping a nonsensical beat on her puffer jacket in her lap. She’d removed her pink jumper and the delicate lines of her naked shoulders and the hint of bra straps beneath her black tank top pissed me off even more.