Page 22 of Redemption

I could hear Brooklyn talking to someone in the other room. Based on the animated tone of her voice, I assumed it was Sophia.

“I’m sure you’ll be eager to return to London after your sailing trip, but I was hoping you’d attend Kendall’s bridal shower.”

I wasn’t sure I’d be eager to return home, at least not until the threats stopped. And considering I planned to break up with Edward, I didn’t think I’d have a relationship to return home to.

“I’d like to,” I said. “I’ll do my best,” I added.

The chef delivered a charcuterie board, and I wondered if I could ask Emerson about Jackson without arousing too much suspicion. Surely it would seem natural for me to be curious about my bodyguard, right? Especially considering the fact that we’d be in such close quarters.

“What do you know about Jackson?” I asked.

Emerson considered me a moment then said, “He’s a former Navy SEAL. Forty-four. Great with kids. Obsessed with safety. Discreet. Loyal.”

I already knew all that, but I simply listened as if it were news to me. Her comment about Jackson being “great with kids” surprised me, despite the fact that Brooklyn had gushed about him.

“What do you know about him personally?” I asked, trying to subtly inquire about his home life. His relationship status.

She lifted a shoulder. “Not much. Like I said, he’s friendly but professional. It took months before he finally agreed to switch from calling me Ms. Thorne to Emerson.”

I popped a cracker into my mouth, chewing as I considered.

She tilted her head, assessing. “Why? Are you concerned about something?”

“Just…apprehensive about the situation in general.” A glance at my watch told me it was getting late in London. I was running out of time to talk to Edward before my trip, and I didn’t want to leave with things as unsettled as they were.

“It’ll be okay.” Her smile was full of warmth and understanding. “You’ll see. Having a bodyguard isn’t so bad, and Jackson’s the best.”

I wondered if she knew about Kendall’s bodyguard. I wondered if I should tell her since Kendall was her best friend. But then I decided it wasn’t my place.

I stood, smoothing down my skirt. “I’d better go call Edward.”

“I’ve got to do some stretches. I’ll catch up with you later.”

When I reached my room, I shut the door behind me and kicked off my shoes. I dragged a hand through my hair, padding across the carpet. I was sick of making excuses. Done with lying to myself.

I knew what needed to be done. With a deep sigh, I pressed the button to connect the call. Edward answered on the third ring.

“Sloan, darling.”

“Hey.” I stared at the contents of my suitcase.

We fell silent for a minute, awkward tension stretching between us. This wasn’t the type of conversation I wanted to have over the phone, but he’d been too busy to meet up in the weeks leading up to my trip. And I didn’t feel like I could put it off any longer.

“Do you… Do you feel like this is normal?” I asked, trying to ease into it.

“What?”

“Our relationship. It just…” I sighed, trying to choose my words carefully. “It feels like we’re disconnected.” Surely he could see that, right? Even my brothers could see that, and they lived on the opposite side of the world.

“I’m not the one who decided to leave for a two-month sailing trip.” The words came out clipped, and I could imagine him smoothing a hand over his hair as if he could smooth away his agitation. “You know I get motion sickness.”

Edward hated open water, often joking that he could get seasick in a bathtub. I’d always told myself it was okay for couples to have different interests. But sometimes it rankled that we couldn’t share something that was so important to me. Something that was as much a part of me as my green eyes.

“I know,” I snapped, frustration lining my tone. But he wasn’t getting it. This had been simmering beneath the surface for a long time. “This isn’t about the sailing trip.”

“Then what is it about?”

Everything else.

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