Chapter 86

Juno

I tried not to cry as Alma spotted me, her expression taking everything in, including the bag and laptop I still clutched and the sodden tissues grasped between my fingers.

"Tell me everything, now," she demanded.

I shook my head, unable to give her the information she wanted as tears threatened to fall again. I'd already had to hide in the alcove by the stairs, not daring to use the elevator, and calm myself down. It had taken several minutes, and I felt awful about what I was doing.

"It's over," I said when she didn't move and made it clear she would wait. "My fault."

"Oh, Juno. But Jack is so smitten with you."

"I know. But it's done now. Can't be undone. I need to get to the airport," I said as I fought back more tears and tried to focus on what came next instead.

Despite my desire to move on as quickly as possible and put distance between me and everything that was part of Jack's world, Alma refused to leave my side and put her arm around me.

"You can't go to the airport and wait there," she said. "You'll be treated like cattle in a stall. No. Stay here tonight, and try to book a flight for tomorrow. I'll pay for the?—"

"No," I said, not wanting another penny from anyone.

I didn't want to owe anyone anything else, and I definitely didn't want to run the risk of bumping into Jack again. Getting to the airport was my only option.

Alma didn't let go of me, however.

"I can't," I said. "I just can't. I need to be somewhere else, and I need some distance. I also really need some sleep."

As I spoke the last words, I felt the weight of how true they were. I didn't doubt sleep would help, but I couldn't get it here. I needed to be locked in a hotel room somewhere else.

"There's another hotel right up the road. Let's try there. The buildings farther inland have fared even better, and I'm sure they'll have spare rooms just like here."

I nodded as Alma steered me, slipping her arm through mine. For a minute or two, I let her guide me and listened as she talked to Eve about how scared they'd been through the storm as well.

It gave me time to gain further control over my emotions and relax in their company.

Alma turned out to be right about another hotel nearby that had some space.

I quickly got checked in and requested information on the airport as soon as there were available flights out before ordering some lunch to my new room.

With the main essentials taken care of, I turned back to Alma and hugged her.

"Thank you for everything," I said as I pulled back.

"Now, don't say it like that. This isn't goodbye. You and Jack may have hit a bump, but I refuse to believe it's anything more than that. I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you."

I looked down, not sure I could agree but feeling guilt wash over me. Despite the guilt, I knew I couldn't go back to him.

A moment later, Alma asked the receptionist for pen and paper and scrawled her number down.

"Here," she said, handing it to me. "When you're back in the UK and feeling a little better, call me, and we'll talk about everything."

I nodded, not sure I would but unwilling to argue.

"See you around, I guess," Eve said, giving me a quick hug, but she was clearly less concerned, and I couldn't blame her. We definitely hadn't bonded the way Alma and I had.

I watched the two women leave again before I returned to the hotel room and waited for my lunch.

As soon as I was alone, I sank onto the small sofa in the room and cried my eyes out. I was interrupted by a concerned-looking waiter, but I assured him I'd be fine and tried to eat some of the lunch he'd brought me, apologizing for having no cash to tip him with.

Not as hungry as I thought I'd be, I tried to figure out what to do next. I made the mistake of turning my laptop on and found a massive number of messages from friends trying to get hold of me and find out if I was okay.

Feeling guilty in a whole new way, I quickly let them know where I was and that I'd survived, and I would be flying home as soon as I could, but my phone was dead. I then did the same on a social media account that was public enough that it would be seen by pretty much everyone else I knew.

Before I'd managed to get away from the direct messages and people I needed to reassure, I had an email from my agent. It contained his number and the command to call him.

Although I wanted to sleep, I suddenly worried that Jack had dug his heels in about the song or something now that we'd broken up, and I wasn't going to get anything at all for it.

I was going to have to call and swallow the charges for using the hotel phone. As soon as I got to the airport, I would buy a cheap burner and make sure I could message and call again properly. Hopefully, my account would sync up, and I wouldn't have lost any numbers.

"Oh, thank God you're still alive," Harry said after picking up. "I was so worried I'd lost my most promising money-maker. I need something to retire on, you know."

I exhaled, smiling as I wondered how serious Harry was. I knew he liked me at least partially for the money I made him, but he always did right by me, too.

"Tell me you're not hurt, and that hunk of a man is still floating your boat through this little storm."

"I'm not hurt, but Jack and I aren't floating anything. Is that why you wanted me to call?" I asked, fear making me tense.

"Oh, no. What made you think I was calling about money? I might joke about it, and I might think more favorably because you make me wealthy, my dear, but you are also one of my favorite people on this planet. Well, you're one of the few I can stand…"

"So, nothing went wrong with the song deal?" I asked.

"No. It's all but signed. I'd have you signing it now, but I think it can wait till you're back in the UK."

"Thank you." I exhaled, feeling a little relief, at least. I wasn't sure I could have coped with a fight of that nature, too. Every inch of me would have wanted to give in, but Harry wouldn't hear of it.

"It's really over, then?" he asked, the sadness in his voice surprising me.

"Yeah. I think so," I replied, my voice breaking up as tears sprang up faster than I could stop them.

"Oh, Juno, darling, I'm so sorry. It sounds like you'd fallen pretty hard."

"Yeah. You could say that," I mumbled through the crying.

"Get some rest, get back home, and we'll find a project to distract you. Maybe see if we can add another hunk into the mix and really distract you."

I laughed, although it sounded slightly hysterical, and then Harry hung up again, and I was left to cry all by myself again.

Sighing, I removed my pants and got into the large bed. Maybe I could sleep some more, and it would hurt less when I woke up.