Chapter's song: Touch by Little Mix

I can't believe I jumped into this.

That's my constant thought as the hours pass and I'm stuck in a plane for hours, unable to sleep because I'm too excited to see Mark again. And in freaking Australia. I don't even know how I agreed. I don't even have clothes for more than one day. When I went to my apartment to get my passport, I had barely time to grab the first pair of fresh clothes I could get my hands on.

Shaking my head, I take a deep breath. I really can't believe I jumped into this.

Not even the fact that I called Emily on my way to the airport makes anything more believable. Especially after the bomb she dropped. I was telling her that I wasn't sure what the hell was I doing, that I was worried about work, and she told me that I could tip Tom about a royal exclusive. Turns out that she's pregnant again. They hadn't told anyone because she was scared that something could happen and that she could lose the baby, like it happened many times before. I was really happy for her, and I also understood where all the moodiness came from, but I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't give away something so precious, especially not to the press. Emily and Scott were always very careful with their private life leaking out, and that really hard to achieve, since everyone loved them and always wanted to know more about them.

If I got fired for asking for a few days off in the spur of the moment, so be it. I knew my boss didn't give a crap, and I hated the advice column. It was time to step up the game. Or start a new one, depending on the answer that will probably be waiting for me when the plane lands.

To be fair, my last concern is my job. I'm more concerned about meeting with Mark. It's clear I feel something for him, and the fact that he went out of his way to invite me to Australia kind of gives me hope that he might like me too.

One thing was for sure, there was no way that I'm going to do any more extreme sports with him. My heart is over the edge already.

She's coming. She's bloody coming to Australia. To actually spend time with me, and that has to mean something. I mean, not every girl would cross the whole world to be with me. That, or she's seriously fucking bored.

Either way, I haven't stopped smiling like an idiot since I last talked to her. I told her Scott had bought the ticket, when in reality, I had. Yet, I knew she would feel worse for my brother than for me. I'm pretty sure that for whatever reason, Kate wouldn't care much if she knew that it was me. It's unnerving. I've never felt so jealous of my brother like whenever it comes to her. She likes Scott, like a brother, but she's incredibly nice with him, and she's absolutely difficult with me.

I'm going to make him repay the ticket because I'm ticked off, and he made me come here because apparently, Emily hasn't been feeling well. I don't give a crap, he's paying for it.

Also, I have to make sure to actually charm Kate this time. I'll do whatever it takes, I just have to figure out what works.

However, I'm not minding so much the bunch of meetings Scott arranged for me, because I know that at the end of tonight, she will be here.

My mouth quirks up. When did I turn into a whipped guy? I'm thinking that I'm reaching Scott's level. And that's something.

In between breaks, I keep googling all the places we can go. I want to show the world to Kate, literally and figuratively. I shake my head. So fucking whipped.

The hours seem to pass too slow, I can't wait to have her here.

Finally, the time to pick her up settles in and I'm restless. I'm walking around the waiting lounge when the plane is finally announced, and I almost glue my face to the window panel to see the plane land. My heart rate is in override as the plane stops and I move across the room to reach the gate. Please, let her go through Customs as fast as she can. I glance at Kyle, my bodyguard, and he nods. They're waiting for her and will let her pass through much quicker. Perks to being a royal member.

Less than fifteen minutes later, she's crossing through the glass door with an officer in tow. Her hair is disheveled, and she's wearing plain blue jeans and a black t-shirt and she looks amazing. Okay, I'll admit it. She could be wearing whatever and she would still look amazing.

Her baby blue eyes lock with mine and her lips tug up. "Hi," she waves a hand and I know she is bloody tired, yet her eyes lit up at my sight and my stomach clenches.

"Hi," I walk up to her and greet the officer who brought her. "Let me take you to the hotel, so you can rest a little."

"And miss my first-night ever in Australia? I don't think so!"

I chuckle. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm starving." I grab the handle of her little suitcase and pull it as we move along. "Did you get time to pack?"

She shoots me a glare. "I just brought clothes for tomorrow, so I'll have to go shopping or something."

Smiling, I shake my head. "Sorry for not giving you much time to pack."

She snorts. "I don't think you're sorry at all, Mark."

She's right. I'm not. 

We get inside a really fancy car and I'm baffled, much like I always am, at the luxurious way Mark lives. I mean, I've seen how Emily and Scott live, so I shouldn't be much surprised, but it's the first time that all the attention is turned to me, like I'm some sort of celebrity or something. For example, like when the Customs officer approached me and took me to a private office to process my passport and such, everyone stared at me and I felt completely self-conscious. I didn't even have to get my luggage; the officers brought it to me. This has Mark's name all over it and as much as anyone else might find it exciting, I find it terrifying.

"So, ready to eat some kangaroo?"

At first, I think he's joking, but he's not. "People eat kangaroo here?" For real?

Mark is probably showing off because he's sporting that huge-ass smirk on his face. "It's very common meat to eat. Plus, it's lean, and it tastes really good."

As I lean back on my seat, I'm trying not to imagine all the kangaroos jumping around. "But they're so cute!"

He laughs at me before saying, "Cows are cute too." Touché.

I think about ducks, rabbits and goose, and they're all pretty darn cute too, and yet, we eat them. "Okay, I'll try it," I sound as insecure as I feel. He asks me about the flight and so on, and before we know it, the car has stopped in front of a fancy restaurant that seems packed already. And suddenly, I'm not sure I want to get out of the car and be seen with Mark. I know how crazy things can get, I remember what Emily had to go through at the beginning when she started to date Scott.

Then again, I just flew half-way around the world to be with him, so it's pretty much pointless to over-think things now.

"Everything okay?" Mark asks as if he senses my hesitation.

"Yeah," I breathe out and step outside the car. I'm expecting a bazillion cameras and photographers shouting at us, but there's none. I'm definitely not complaining.

We don't enter through the main doors, the hostess is already expecting us and leads the way through a hallway and takes us inside the kitchen. There' s a small table on the corner set for two, with a red rose in the middle, and a bottle of champaign in a fancy cooler, waiting for us. The executive Chef comes to greet us and I can't help but stare in awe at everything that is happening around us. For one, the kitchen smells delicious. There's a grill inside and I'm smelling the coal and the unique smell of barbecue. Everyone is working at different speeds and at first it might seem like a huge chaos, but in reality, everything is working like a clock.

The Chef pretty much plans our meals but we don't care because everything seems delicious. After the initial toast, they serve us red wine that happens to be Australian too, and it's really great. Our first appetizer is kangaroo carpaccio and I stare at my plate for the longest of moments before deciding to try it out. Mark laughs at me, of course he does, but as I grab a forkful and bring it to my mouth, I try not to imagine a baby kangaroo. In the end, I have to admit that it's, good, like, really, really good.

That's when the conversation starts flowing easily and I tell Mark about Emily's pregnancy.

"She is?" He's completely taken aback, and I don't know what to say, I thought he knew. He takes a sip of wine before shaking his head. "It all makes sense. It's not like Scott to change plans." He shrugs. "I'm happy for them."

My lips tug up. "Yeah, I'm happy for them, too. Especially since they took so long to have Marianne. This is actually pretty awesome."

Mark tilts his head, and he's watching me with curious eyes. "Do you want to have children?"

I'm still eating and I almost choke. "Why do you always have the most random questions, Mark?"

He laughs. "Don't you think that everyone has them? We just simply choose not to tell them out loud, but with you, I can be myself, I can ask the most random things because I know you won't judge me. You'll probably roll your eyes or something like that, but you'll listen, and most importantly, you'll answer me."

My pulse is already racing as I gaze directly at him. For a moment, I forget how to breathe and I have to take a deep intake of breath before I lean back on my chair. "I do want children, but by the way things are going, I'm not sure if I'll ever have any."

Nodding, he stays quiet for a moment. A waiter comes by and changes our plates, bringing us some green soup with a beautiful flower as decoration. I feel like Mark wants to ask me more about Scott, about my dating life, about the whole disaster that is my love life, but he grabs the spoon and tastes the soup. He looks up and a beautiful smile plays on his face. "I'm glad you came to Australia, Kate."

I'm glad too. 

I have a really bad cold. I'm not even sure if any of this makes sense. I hope it does. 

Love you all!