Page 98 of Even Ground

Judith approaches me, and I straighten up. “Is there something you want to share, Ms Wilson?”

“I just pricked myself with a pin. Sorry for the disturbance.”

She snorts and walks back to the other student.

I slip my phone back out and hold it under the table.

Me: What do you mean?

Reece: I need to know what address to give the taxi driver.

I stare at the screen, and before I know it, I’ve tapped in the address and sent it.

Reece is here? My heart thuds. He’s said nothing in previous days about arriving. I thought he’d be with Delaney and Josh, maybe even helping out because of the baby arriving.

Instead, he’s in Auckland and texting me.

My heart wants to believe he’s here for me, but my head tells me I’m being stupid, and Reece is filming something and forgot to say anything. It’s entirely possible.

I can’t focus enough to get much more done, and I drag through the bare minimum before it’s time to go home. I’m just glad tonight isn’t a work night as it appears I’ll be catching up with Reece instead.

“See you all tomorrow,” Judith says.

For a moment, I just sit there.

“Pania, are you okay?” Sam asks.

I nod even though I’m not sure I am.

Grabbing my bag, I stand and make my way out of the door. I reach the exit and lay eyes on him. He’s leaning against one of the pillars outside, his arms folded and his ankles crossed. I’m sure there are all kinds of curious looks at him, but he’s all I see. My heart thrums at the sight of him, in the flesh, right in front of me.

I come to a halt, and a body slams into me from behind, jolting me forward.

“What the …” Sam’s voice sounds right near my ear. “Is that …”

“Reece,” I whisper.

I walk toward him, our gazes locked together as if no one else is there.

He straightens up. “Hey.”

“Hey. What are you doing here?”

He wraps his arms around my shoulders, and I fold into his embrace, closing my eyes. We might not have been face to face for two years, but he means so much to me. Hope grows inside me that this means I mean the same to him.

A smile sweeps his handsome face, and he presses a kiss in my hair. “I came to see you.”

“Me?”

“There’s a lot I want to say, and it didn’t feel right doing it over Skype.”

I lean back, letting go of him. “Stop. Are you here making a movie?”

He shakes his head. “No, Pania. I flew halfway around the world just for you.”

I choke down what feels like a golf ball-sized lump in my throat. “What are you talking about?”

Reece looks into my eyes. I’ve never seen such an earnest expression on his face—not even in any of his films. “Can we go somewhere more private to talk?”

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