She’s kidding herself if she thinks I’m not coming home to her. I don’t care that we’re going through this, I don’t care how bad our fighting is or that I fucked up beyond repair. She doesn’t know what happened and I hope she never will, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s mine. Above all else, that I love her and she loves me. She can’t deny that.

My seat groans as I readjust in first class. I clear my throat and clench my teeth as the plane rumbles again, reminding me that she’s miles and miles away. Reminding me that I left her again.

I can’t bring myself to feel like I deserve her forgiveness. Or that I deserve her at all. That’s always been the case between us. She’s always been too good for me. The guilt is all-consuming and now I’m trapped in a corner, desperately looking for a way out of the mess I’ve gotten myself into.

My computer pings as the plane continues to fly across the ocean taking me farther away from her, and I lean forward to check it. I’m far too quick to do it too, praying it’s Kat.

Praying’s never helped me before and sure enough, it didn’t this time either. It’s only a message from James, my boss and Samantha’s now ex.

My teeth grind against one another, making my jaw even more tense as I read the message. It’s the schedule for the rest of the day and my room number for the hotel.

It feels like a slap in the face. I can’t keep up this façade and live each day as if nothing’s happened. Pretending like nothing’s changed.

The back of my head pushes into the seat as I take a calming breath.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place is an inadequate saying.

I’m fucked. Just waiting for them to pick, pick, pick away at me while I have my hands tied behind my back.

Only years ago, I loved my life. It was a high most would be envious of. This is what I wanted more than anything. On the outside, it’s glamorous. I stay at five-star resorts, party with celebrities and have every sinful pleasure at my fingertips. That’s what a life of helping the rich and famous avoid prison has afforded me.

I protect the clients from any bad press, keep charges from sticking, and avoid any altercations that could lead to something … unwanted. In return, I’m paid generously and live the high life.