"You know... I used to have problems sleeping before you." Lucas grumbles against my cheek in his fifth attempt tonight to get me to sleep

I don't know exactly what his issue is, I was laying here quietly, which was much better than the nightmares every time I closed my eyes.

"I'm sure there's a gold medal for that." I grumble back tiredly

Besides, having his weight on me when I couldn't see him just hit different after the dinner...

"I mean I found it hard to sleep and then I held you in my arms and poof, insomnia gone." He yawns, so very knackered he was bordering on incoherent

"Did you just call me nyquill?" I protest grumpily

"Yes...and I'm saying you need to find your nyquill..." he sleepily mumbles, dosing off like a beautiful tonk

Boyd was being an absolute champ about my foul mood. I wouldn't call it foul, it's just that I had watched enough RomComs to both dread and maybe anticipate Lucas running through the airport gates to declare his undying love for me. I'd gone the whole nine, blocked his number, moved to my mum's so he couldn't come over with his kisses and his smirks and his charm, I'd even drafted the longest route to the airport so he doesn't find me in traffic or whatever. Boyd was being very supportive of my paranoia, even now as we stood in line and I dreaded/waited for that familiar voice to shout my name, fight the four security guards and then proceed into a romantic tirade about how we're meant for each other.

I'm not saying I was disappointed when it didn't happen, or that I lingered around the ticket area a little bit just in case it was a time thing. I'm foolish, this is a well established fact, and I'm moist, another fact.

"Ms.Obatunde..." The lady at the boarding gate breaks into my thoughts

I needed to get to California, to have this meeting with Oriadne that Boyd had set up for me, to gain some distance from London, its lying Dukes, its playboy Earls, its scheming ex-girlfriends. I smile shakily at the flight attendant, giving her my boarding pass.

"You've been upgraded to first class. Enjoy your flight." She says with a friendly smile

I...what?

She waves her hand towards first class where Boyd is heading. There's a bouquet of flowers and chocolate on each of our seats. I watch Boyd flip open his card, a smile coming to his face before he shakes his head. I frown at my bouquet of gazanias, seeing the box of expensive liquer infused dark chocolate and the card stuck on them. I look around the cabin for a second, just...curious to see if the toff was somewhere in here waiting to pounce on me in some crude romantic overture. I sigh when I can't spot him, grabbing the card and opening it.

I wanted to run through

airport security

yelling out

I love you Funke

but I didn't want to

embarrass you

Rupi Kaur

Of all the times Lucas Roland has either threatened to or just gone ahead and embarrassed me! Now is when he is shy? Can you believe the nerve of him, actually listening to me complain about a beautiful romantic convention like running through the airport to claim a love that's soon to be lost! This is oppression! if I ever see him again I will be letting him know my thoughts on him, refusing to run through airport security so he can cajole me into not leaving for California because he loves me! Just because I said romance was oppression? I also said Chris Evans can destroy me if he wants! Where's the justice?!

Where was this shame when he was announcing he's in love with me infront of mr. moneybags, my ex and my date? Then it was oh my love I will love you loudly, now it was I don't want to embarass you! I was fuming all the way to California, getting angrier as I thought about it, almost in tears, ready to punch Lucas Roland in the damn gonads for doing this to me. It was even worse when we finally landed, going through customs and immigration and grabbing our luggage only to find a stunning woman with long braids, a crown of crimson flowers that matched her lipstick and sweater waiting for us. One hand was in her jeans, the other holding a bouquet of flowers and she looked like a painting of some kind as her lips spread into a soft stunning smile.

"Are you going to introduce me to your gorgeous wife..." she teases as Boyd pushes past me like I wasn't there

Wow... You think you have family...

"You'd have to marry me first." He retorts in a way that strangely feels like the beginning of a porno

I watch them exchange bouquets as he pulls her into his arms in a poignant display of affection that I get uncomfortably happy about. Looks like I do get to be part of a romantic airport scene! He whispers something to her as she caresses his face, her eyes closed, their foreheads pressed against each other, his luggage on the floor. I do what any person oppressed by the mores of romance would do in this situation, I snap a picture. I'm of a mind to send it to Lucas so he can see how it's meant to be done! Boyd was moist, the streets didn't even want him anymore! He'd been proper evicted! With a decisive nod of my head, I send the pic to Lucas, with the caption "See how Boyd's babe treats him, actually picking him from the airport with flowers and kisses and loving him loudly, meanwhile I'm just here. It's been hours and the only person whose called me gorgeous is Boyd's babe...will I even survive? You just wait until I run into Chris Evans and he realizes I'm the love of his life."

I turn back to the beautiful couple, who are now whispering to each other about how much they've missed each other. What is wrong with Lucas Roland? Why isn't he here to cuddle me?

"Please, maam, don't be distracted. I believe you were in the middle of calling me gorgeous..." I interrupt them, seeing as I would be left standing here like an extra on the black version of the Notebook or something

She turns her beautiful gaze to me as Boyd mumbles something and throws his hands up.

"You must be gorgeous Funke." She chimes adorably at me

"She's being very grumpy because she misses Luc, so bare with her." Boyd warns like I was some wild animal in the park

"We should take a photo and send it to him!" She offers brightly, already pulling me in

"Maybe it'll convince him to get on the next flight out." She whispers cheekily to me and you know what... I love her

We take a few pictures, Boyd joining in for no reason and then I watch her type in a text.

"Whose your celebrity crush?" She wonders as I see that she's typing a clear threat to Luca

"Chris Evans." Boyd and I reply, he more dryly, I more excitedly

"That IS America's ass." She mumbles softly to me, turning to look at Boyd with a naughty smile on her lips

She'd just written "Hey Luc, just met the absolutely gorgeous Funke. She's too beautiful for you and I've decided to introduce her to Chris Evans instead. I hope your memories of her keep you warm over there in England.xx" and pressed send

"Ok, let's grab some breakfast shall we?" She happily offers, taking my hand and leading me to a Lamborghini Urus in turquoise chrome

I look at the car and then at Boyd who was so drawn to the sight of her he didn't even see the question in my eyes

"This doesn't come out until..." I start to calculate as she smiles

Four months. This car is getting officially released in four months...

"It's my cousin's. He'll be happy someone's noticed he's driving a pre-released vehicle." She shrugs just as her phone rings

She chuckles brightly while picking it up and I pout when I hear the familiar voice. I couldn't even get a text back and she was already...wait a minute...this might be the jetlag speaking but why/how did she know Lucas?

I turn to Boyd, who was stuffing out luggage in the boot of the car as the math starts adding up. Boyd said he'd met Lucas in California... Lucas told me he'd been in California to try and help Hervé and his ex wife through some stuff...and so if Beyoncé was right and one plus one equals two...this was...this gorgeous divine being was Sadie?

"He says he loves you and if you could please unblock his number that'd be great." She chimes beautifully at me as I try to pick up my jaw

What in the soap opera was going on here? Boyd was in love with Hervé's ex wife, Hervé was having a stolen sperm baby with Lucas' ex girlfriend...is this the Kardashians? And am I Kendall?

"Funke?" She pries as I turned my awed gaze at Boyd

"Sadie?" I croak in complete disbelief

"I'll explain everything over breakfast...but for now, please...unblock your vanilla king before Aunt Fola calls me." Boyd assures me with a smile