Page 39 of Heal You
“I can’t believe this is happening.”Morgan laughed nervously.“I can’t believe you even exist in my world, but I definitely can’t believe I’m going to spend a week with you abroad.”
Jan winked and lowered her arms from Morgan’s shoulders, instead wrapping them around her waist.“I’ll look forward to seeing you in a bikini.”
Morgan’s world aligned at the mere thought of Jan laid out in a bikini, her bronzed skin sparkling against the sun.She cleared her throat, imagining a refreshing cocktail instead.“Only if I get to see you in one, too.”
With her arms tightening around Morgan’s waist, Jan leaned in and said, “Try and stop me!”
* * *
How the helldid your life end up like this?
Jan didn’t have the answer to that, but right now, she didn’t care.In two days, she would be flying out of the country with Morgan, and the truth was that she couldn’t wait.Not only would she have the chance totrulyrelax for probably the first time in twenty years, but she would have Morgan beside her on a sun lounger while she did so.
You’re a little bit crazy!
Maybe Jan was, but it beat staying with a man who had no issue dropping his pants for another woman.In time, Jan knew this would all come crashing down around her.She knew that she would probably have a meltdown at the idea of her marriage being officially over.But for the time being, she was going to enjoy having no work to deal with, and she was going to enjoy something for herself.Not anyone else.Just herself.That enjoyment came in the form of Morgan Tate.
Only it’s not simple enjoyment, and you know it!
As she stepped out of the lift and walked through to the bistro within the hotel she was staying at, Gillian was waiting with a smile at a table further back in the room.Jan had called her this morning, knowing she didn’t work Wednesdays, and here she was…about to reveal her plans for the next week or so.
“I haven’t ordered yet,” Gillian said as she stood and kissed Jan on the cheek.“I wasn’t sure what kind of afternoon this was going to be, so I thought it was best to wait.”
“I think I’ll stick to coffee for now.I have a few things to sort out, and I need to call to the house for my passport.”
Gillian nodded.“Identification.Always handy to have it on you.”
“For the holiday I’ve just booked, actually.”Jan sighed as she lowered herself into one of the comfortable leather bucket seats dotted around the expansive room.She hadn’t technically booked a holiday, but she had booked her seats on the flights.The fact they were available next to Morgan on both legs of the journey told Jan it was meant to be.“Fly out in two days.”
“I’m sorry, what?A holiday?Jan Bartlett…is leaving the country?”Gillian’s eyes widened, but Jan saw the humour.It wasn’t often she gave herself the chance to unwind in the sun.“Where are you going?”
“Gran Canaria.”It wasn’t the first place Jan thought of when she imagined a holiday, but she trusted Morgan to take her somewhere she would enjoy.
“You don’t strike me as the Gran Canaria type, love.”
“It’s something different.”Jan shrugged, ordering a cappuccino when the server came to their table.Gillian ordered the same.“And the weather is gorgeous there at the moment.I’m not staying in the area with all the clubs.I’ll need to take a cab there if I decide to venture to that part of the town.”
“If you’d waited a few more weeks, we could have come with you.I don’t like the idea of you travelling alone, and I certainlyhatethe idea of you in one of those clubs.”
Jan rolled her eyes.“Plenty of people go on holiday alone, Gill.I’ll be fine.I’m going to lie by the pool for the entire week and not think about anything else.It sounds perfect to me andexactlywhat I need right now.”
“I know.”Gillian regarded Jan with an understanding smile.“You’ll call me and let me know how it’s going?”
“If I even bother to pick up my phone while I’m away, yes.”The very few holidays Janhadbeen on usually entailed some kind of business call while she was away with Phil.It seemed easier to be at the office than dare to take time off to relax in another country.“I’ve already logged out of my work email account on my phone.I’ll log back inifI decide to return to the office, but until then, I’m a free woman.”
“You’re really going a mile a minute here, aren’t you?”
Jan shook her head.“No.Going a mile a minute would mean I’d already started divorce proceedings.This is just me taking time out to do something for myself.To stop worrying about the shit I’ll be facing once I’m home.”
“I like this side of you.Maybe if you stick to the idea of working less, we can finally have a holiday together at some point in the future.”
Jan would like that.Preferably with Morgan in tow, too.She may not know exactly what her future held, but she did want Morgan in it in some capacity.Ideally as her partner down the line, but Jan knew she couldn’t think that far ahead.It would be a mistake for the both of them.As it stood, Jan was taking each day as it came.If she dared to dream about her future right now, the impatient side of her would kick in.Being impatient would only bring issues with it.Jan wasn’t stupid, she knew this was going to take time.Potentiallya lotof time.“Sounds like a nice idea.”
“You and I haveneverbeen able to day drink through the week because of our jobs.At least if we were abroad, we’d have an excuse, and nobody could judge us.”Gillian winked and sat back.“Finn sends her love, by the way.”
“Once I’m home, I’ll come over, and we’ll drink wine.Finn will drink beer, obviously.”
Gillian suddenly gasped and leaned in.“What if youdon’tcome home?You could meet some Spanish hunk and fall in love with him.”
