Free Perfection Is Just an Illusion (Swimming Upstream #1) by Rebecca Barber

face. While she had James, who had gone to extremes to be by her side the entire night, there was something in Anna’s eyes that revealed that she too felt lost and alone.
    “Can you do something for me, please?”
    Nancy nodded. “What is it, dear?”
    “Can you take a bunch of flowers and put them near him, or with his things or something? He deserves that at least.” Anna’s eyes welled with tears as she spoke.
    “Sure, sweetie. Now get some rest. That man of yours will be back soon and I’m guessing that he won’t be very happy if you haven’t been taking it easy.” Nancy smiled and vanished out the door, taking with her the enormous bouquet of white roses.
     
    ***
     
    James
     
    James tossed and turned in the huge hotel bed. He knew he was beyond tired and that he was useless to Anna unless he got some sleep but he still couldn’t force himself to close his eyes. What if she needed him and he wasn’t there? What if something happened? All the questions that were bouncing around inside his head were beginning to drive him crazy. He’d had enough. Wearily he climbed out of bed and rushed to the shower. After quickly dressing in his favourite faded blue jeans and cream coloured jumper, he headed for the door.
    Twenty minutes later he was strolling back through the sea of reporters and the heavy glass doors, and straight to her bedside. Anna was wide awake when he breezed through the door. The smile that appeared on her face when she saw him made him feel instantly at ease. Sleep was no longer needed. It was almost as if Anna’s smile, no matter how weak it was, recharged him completely.
    “Hey, you! You look good.” Anna grinned as her eyes scanned him from head to toe.
    “So do you. Well, sort of, but you’re smiling, so nothing else matters.” James bent down and gave her a kiss on her cheek before he sat on the side of the bed. “How are you feeling, really?”
    Anna wiggled up as much as she could. She reached out and took James’s hand. Ever since the moment he had left all she had wanted to grab hold of his hand and never let go. She couldn’t help it. She saw James’s hand as her safety blanket, her lifeline. “I’m doing much better now you’re here,” she admitted honestly. “James, I’m so sorry about—”
    “It’s okay, Anna. You don’t have to do this. Justin told me what you said. You know it wasn’t true, don’t you?” James felt a sharp pain race through his body. What was he going to do if she really didn’t want him? He was praying it wouldn’t come to that. He looked down at their intertwined fingers and was shocked to see her engagement ring was missing. “Where’s your ring?” James asked shakily, lifting her hand up and pointing out to her empty finger.
    Nancy walked in and caught the last part of the conversation. “You might want this again now. There is a no jewellery policy in theatre so they had to remove it when you came in. Here you go.” She smiled, dropping the small but elegant ring into James’s outstretched hand.
    “Thanks,” Anna mumbled, looking at Nancy. Nancy took the hint and quickly scurried out of the room.
    “So…Do you want to put this back on, or am I returning it to the jewellers?” The jittery look on James’s face reduced Anna to tears.
    “If it’s o-okay w-with you,” she stammered, “I’d like to put it back on.” Now it was Anna’s face that was covered in panic.
    James looked over at her. He could see the pain in her eyes because it was the same heartbreaking, gut-wrenching pain he was feeling deep in the pit of his stomach. Slowly he slid the ring onto her long skinny finger. “Back where it belongs!” James smiled sweetly, dropping a light kiss on her fingers. “Marry me, Anna?” he asked, looking up into her wide blue eyes. James bit the inside of his cheek as he waited for her answer.
    Anna couldn’t speak, but she didn’t need to. In that instant, they both knew this was how it was supposed to be.
    Once it