Maybe he knew something the others didn't.
Kira shot to her feet and immediately saw black spots in front of her eyes.
'Whoa. Giana grabbed her hand. 'Easy there.'
Kira waited for the head rush to pass. 'I need to call someone.
'Who?'
"Austyn's friend. He probably knows what's going on.
Glana and Noah exchanged a look.
Neither of them held out much hope, but it was good for Kira to find something else to occupy her mind.
'Shoot, my battery died.' Kira held her phone and looked crestfallen.
'Then come back to the dorm with me. We can charge your phone there. Have you had dinner?'
'No,' Kira said automatically. I'm not hungry."
'But I am.' Giana took her hand. 'Come on. Eat with me.'
Kira seemed to have just noticed Noah.
Her heart ached when she saw the couple standing close.
They looked so good together.
She held back her tears. 'Sorry, Noah, I didn't see you there.'
"It's fine.' Noah smiled at her.
'Did I interrupt you guys on a date? I'm so sorry. Kira wrung her hands, feeling contrite.
She had troubled Giana enough times already.
She shouldn't have dragged her friend into the mess that was her personal life.
'It's all right. We were on our way to dinner anyway. The more the merrier."
Kira gave him a grateful smile.
Noah was so considerate and so gentle.
No wonder Giana wanted to marry him.
Kira's thoughts flew to her husband.
Their marriage got off on the wrong foot.
Now it seemed to have reached its abrupt and equally tragic end.
If only she had never agreed to marry him, she would have been spared all the anguish and heartache.
But then her father would be dead.
Kira thought back to the past year,
If she had a time machine, if she was given the chance to choose again, would she still marry Austyn?
Giana interrupted before she could come up with an answer. 'Kira, look!'
'What?' Kira looked up and saw the main gate of Stamford General.
'Look there! To your right! Under the ficus tree!' Giana shook her arm. 'Is that...is that Austyn?
Kira finally saw the man Giana was pointing at..
She froze.
'Is that him?'
Giana's voice sounded so faint, Kira didn't catch t
Everything else around her faded away.
All she could see was the man in a dark navy suit.
He was looking down at his watch with an impatient scowl on his face.
She could see the furrow between his brows even from a distance.
He held an unlit cigarette between his fingers.
Kira couldn't make out the brand logo, but somehow, she just knew it had to be a Sobranie Black Russian.
She thought she was moving, but she wasn't.
She stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly.
Giana was saying something but Kira didn't hear a word.
It had been ten days since she last saw him.
Well, nine days, twenty-one houts and eleven minutes, to be exact.
He had vanished without warning
Now he reappeared, just as suddenly.
At first, she thought it was a dream.
The man was just a product of her imagination, like so many times in the past ten days.
But what were the odds of Giana having the same dream as her?
Kira felt her tears coming back.
She clenched her hands into fists.
Maybe it was Giana's voice, maybe it was a sixth sense-Austyn looked up and locked eyes
with Kira.
He started moving towards her.
He covered the distance between them in a few quick strides and was now standing right in front of her.
He stared at her, his heart pounding.
He inhaled the familiar scent of her coconut shampoo.
Her eyes were red and puffy.
She didn't look up.
Her eyes were level with his chest.
Her shoulders were trembling.
Austyn took a deep breath.
He stretched out both arms.
At long last, he could hold her again.
He leaned in...
The slap was so loud, it could be heard from the other end of the street.
He Deserved It
Every pedestrian turned to look.
Austyn's hands fell to his sides.
He stepped back..
Kira's right hand hurt, but she didn't regret it.
Austyn deserved it.
He deserved more than one slap, in fact.
Austyn fixed his gaze on Kira's stony face.
A trace of anger flashed across his eyes.
He was bone-tired from the forty-hour flight.
The
moment he left the airport, he headed straight home, wanting to see her face.
Elsie told him she'd moved out.
He asked Kai to drive him to Stamford University.
But he got cold feet at the last moment,
He stood outside the main entrance, dithering.Text content © .
Should he call her first?
What if she was in class?
What if she refused to see him?
The surgery and the three-day stay at the hospital had disrupted his plan to shop for an apology gift.
He had come home empty-handed.
Would she forgive him?
Austyn stood on the pavement, unable to make up his mind.
Then something told him to look up..
There she was, standing on the other side of the street, staring right at him.
He abandoned all rational thought and just wanted to go to her.
And he got a slap in the face for that.
Austyn held his anger in check.
No one had dared slap him.
But Kira was not just anyone.
He could understand how mad she must be.
'Kira.' He took a deep breath. 'I can ex
Kira shoved him back.
She brushed past him and continued walking.
'Go after her.' Noah nudged his girlfriend.
Giana chased after Kira.
She caught up with Kira, whose shoulders were trembling.
Violent sobs racked her whole body.
Giana sighed.
She could understand what Kira must be feeling right now.
The tears were equal parts relief and anger.
She walked quietly by Kira's side.
Austyn watched Kira disappear through the main gate.
He started walking,
'Mr McCarthy.'
His path was blocked by a man.
No, not a man, a boy.
Early twenties, slender build, an open face.
Austyn scowled. 'Who are you?'
'I'm Noah, Giana's boyfriend."
Austyn moved past Noah.
He wasn't interested in making new acquaintances right now.
'Mr McCarthy, if I can just talk to you for a minute."
'Not now."
'It's about Kira."
Austyn stopped.
He turned back and sized up Noah. 'What about her?"
'I've been with Giana for almost every day in the past week. She had to look after Kira, and I had to look after her, I got a front seat to the hell that Kira went through.'