Page 41 of Learning to Love

I gather my bags from the taxi, and immediately notice the hearts, balloons, and banners at the airport, celebrating Valentine's Day. Worst day ever. Can't wait for it to be over. The even worse part is that I'm going to live it twice as we fly through to another time zone.

I check in and move into the special Platinum Elite lounge to wait for the boys, coffee in hand. After not even five minutes, they arrive holding champagne flutes.

"Guys, it's 7:00 a.m. Come on." I can't believe they're starting so early on the booze. I haven't even had breakfast yet.

"Time for celebrating, son. We're going around the world." Corey and Florian clink their glasses, and I sigh.

"Plus, it's Valentine's Day, they were giving them out for free." Florian, ever practical, makes me laugh.

"How's Ellie? Is she coming to Brazil in April?" Corey takes another sip of champagne.

I suppose this is as good a time as any. "Ellie and I … we broke up a couple of weeks ago." I continue drinking my coffee, trying not to give too much away.

Corey almost drops his champagne flute. "You're kidding. Please tell me you're kidding."

Florian keeps his silence, fixing me with his gaze.

I look at Corey sadly. "It's not going to work, okay. She's working at the preschool. She doesn't want to traipse around the globe, and I ... I don't think it's fair to her. You've always said we're not cut out for relationships. Why are you so put out now? Anyway, I need breakfast."

I get up, go to the buffet, pick at some food, hoping for a respite. Meanwhile Corey and Florian are having an animated discussion. I rejoin them, and the conversation stops. Doesn't bother me.

"So, what are you doing?" Corey's question sounds strange.

"What do you mean what am I doing? I'm eating breakfast, then waiting for the boarding call, then going to Europe with you two losers." I stuff my mouth with another forkful.

Corey clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth and rolls his eyes. "About Ellie." Am I testing his patience?

"Nothing. She's moved back to Tayla's. I'm on my own. I'll get over it." I sound more optimistic than I feel.

"Sam …"

The announcer's voice provides a welcome interruption. "Air New Zealand flight 310 to Singapore is now boarding from Gate 2. All passengers please go to gate."

I hastily grab my bag. "That's us." I leg it before Corey or Florian can mention Ellie again.

It's going to be alongcouple of flights. We're doing Auckland - Singapore, Singapore - London, London - Málaga, with not much time in between. I don't want to go sightseeing. I just want to go to Spain and get on that fucking boat, and put as much distance between me and Ellie as possible.

Corey knows me inside out by now, and when we're sitting together in First Class courtesy of Air New Zealand, Florian right behind us, he can't hold it in any longer. "Sam. I'm worried about you. Like … really worried about you."

"Nah, all good. I'll be fine. We go to Málaga, start prepping, then head off for a few weeks. Just what the doctor ordered." I'm trying hard to be upbeat.

The more cheerful I try to seem, the more I start believing it's going to be okay, and Ellie will be a distant memory, and I'll get over her like … like … Damn. Likenothing. I haven't actually had to get over anyone because I've never loved anyone like I loved Ellie.

Like IloveEllie.

There it is, that tightness in my chest again. It's not even 9:00 a.m. on the first day away from New Zealand. The time’s going to stop, isn’t it, every second inching along like a snail race. "I fancy some whisky. When's the lady coming round?"

Corey tosses me a disapproving look. Florian rolls his eyes.

I slump into my seat. "I'll remind you two saints that not even half an hour ago you were guzzling champagne for breakfast. And I've just lost the love of my life, okay, not that you two know what that's like."

Florian scoffs at me. "Oh, is that so? Tell us more. I'm dying to hear it."

I raise an eyebrow just as the flight attendant comes past to take orders. "I'd like a whisky please. Make it a double." I'm belligerent again, and I'll be damned if they're going to make me feel guilty about it.

Corey smiles, showing every single tooth in his head, I swear. "A fruit tea please."

It’s my turn to roll my eyes.

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