Free A Twist of Fate by Demelza Hart Page A

deliberately avoided so much as a glance at him.
    Emma smiled. ‘We’re arriving in half an hour or so. I just wanted some time for you to collect your thoughts. We weren’t planning on masking you completely when you step off the plane. The media are far enough away not to harass you, but they will be able to take plenty of pictures. Just go straight down the steps and into the car waiting for you. I’d just keep your head down and walk. You can wear these caps if you want. Shield you from prying eyes.’
    Paul took his gratefully and Emma held mine out to me. A baseball cap. Urgh. Did I have to?
    â€˜That’s OK, I won’t bother with the cap. My hair’ll probably blow all over the place. That’ll do.’
    â€˜Are you sure?’
    â€˜Yes. Have our names been released to the press?’
    â€˜They have. No photos though. We’ve stopped that at the moment.’
    â€˜Well, they’ll get one sooner or later, I suppose.’
    â€˜They don’t have to, Callie,’ Paul said calmly.
    I flitted my eyes to him. My clit throbbed again. I turned to look out of the window, guilty about what I must do. Emma left us to gather her things. ‘Helped you sleep, didn’t I?’ asked Paul, soft and low.
    He certainly had. I glanced at his hands, those long, magical fingers. Would I really not feel them again? I didn’t reply.
    â€˜Were it nice?’
    â€˜Paul …’ I looked at him. ‘You know how I love it, but I told you – I have another life to go back to, another man to go back to. What happened between us happened because of the crash and the island and all that. It could never work back here.’
    He was silent for a time, the muscle in his jaw flexing and unflexing obviously. ‘You know that’s crap, don’t you?’
    My eyes narrowed in annoyance. ‘It’s not crap. We’re completely different people. I’ve got the sort of life you’d hate.’
    â€˜How d’you know that?’
    â€˜I just do. It’s obvious. And anyway, there’s Rupert.’
    He scoffed. ‘Rupert? What is he? A fuckin’ bear with a scarf?’
    â€˜Don’t you dare! Rupert is a lovely guy.’
    â€˜ Lovely? Sorry if I don’t do lovely .’
    â€˜Stop it. Let’s not do this now. I couldn’t cope with a new relationship when I’ve got the trauma of coming home to deal with too.’
    â€˜I could help you with that. You know I could. We worked so well on the island, Callie, you know we did. And the sex … bloody hell, that were the best ever. Don’t tell me you’ve ever had it so good.’
    â€˜You arrogant shit! How do you know I’ve never had it so good?’
    â€˜Well, you haven’t, have you?’
    I opened my mouth to retort, but it was true – I hadn’t. Luckily, at that moment, the captain announced that we would shortly be landing. I stared out at the gentle rolling green of England. Somewhere down there were my parents. Somewhere down there was Rupert and normality.
    Paul and I didn’t speak for the rest of the trip. My hands grew clammy again as landing approached, but I clasped them together, not letting them stray towards him as I so wanted to do.
    We touched down smoothly, and when the plane finally finished taxiing, came to a standstill, and the engines shut down, I breathed out a huge sigh and felt a rush of tears. I had done it. My feet were on the ground again.
    Paul reached over for my hand, but I undid my seatbelt and stood up quickly. He gave a rueful smirk and stood too. It didn’t take long for the steps to be joined to the plane and the door to be opened.
    â€˜Ready?’ asked Emma. We nodded. Paul pulled his cap over his eyes. I didn’t bother. It was quite exciting in a way. The last time I’d been in the papers was when I gave the Head Girl’s speech on Leavers’ Day at school.
    We shuffled down the