Cole looked at the bandage on her head, his face filled with guilt. “Jaycie, I’m so sorry. Eileen and I have an upcoming collaboration, and we have to attend some events together, so her face couldn’t be injured. That was why I protected her. You can hit me, yell at me—I’ll take it all. Just don’t shut me out, okay?”
His apology seemed sincere, and his reasoning almost made sense—if Jaycie hadn’t known the wedding was less than two weeks away. The event he mentioned was likely the wedding.
She kept her eyes down, neither accepting nor rejecting his apology. Her expression remained unreadable, calm and detached.
Cole continued to apologize, his words tumbling out in a rush. Suddenly, as if he was struck by an idea, his eyes lit up with hope. “Your birthday is coming up in a few days. Let me give you your gift early, okay? What do you want? I’ll buy you anything.”
At this, she finally looked up at him, her gaze steady and emotionless. “Then buy me a plane ticket to Housleton, three days from now.”
“Housleton? What for?” He was surprised but quickly supplied his own answer. “Do you want to go on a trip?”
Jaycie didn’t explain. She simply nodded and said, “Yeah.”
Cole didn’t press further. Right there in front of her, he pulled out his phone and booked a ticket to Housleton. After completing the purchase, he added, “I’ve been really busy lately, so I can’t go with you. But you go ahead and enjoy Housleton. When I have time, I’ll join you. A plane ticket is too small for a birthday gift. I’ll make it up to you with a bigger surprise later.”
Jaycie shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. “It’s not small. Not at all.”
After all, this plane ticket was her ticket home.
She wanted to thank Cole for the gift—for sending her home with his own hands.
