"I think we need snacks for the trip," I suggest while zipping my suitcase shut. We are checking out of the hotel and taking a slow drive to James' family vineyard in the meantime. Henry and I were going to leave in our own time since we had the car. He already got the address from the booklet of an invite. I know that the coach already left an hour ago with everyone after breakfast. Most people checked out just before breakfast and left their bags to be loaded onto the coach. Henry and I are probably the last ones to check out. We have until noon so there is no rush for us.

"We should find the South African Asda or Tescos to shop. We can try out something new," Henry agrees. His suggestion is even better than mine, which was originally to find a petrol station on our way out of Cape Town to find a few things to keep us going instead of having a normal lunch. There is a chance we will get there in time for lunch, however, once we are there, we won't be able to sneak off and do our own things since the vineyard is in the middle of nowhere with the closest small town like 20 minute drive away.

"I love the way you think." I flop onto our bed, knowing I still have to do one final sweep of the hotel room to make sure that I didn't forget anything. Henry barely needed to pack and was already done before we even needed to head down to breakfast. I think I am way more comfortable than him in our room since my skincare routine was unpacked and all over the bathroom counter on the first night.

"Do you want to take a nap before we leave?" Henry asks while playing with my hair. The last few days have been very busy and I know the next few days would be too. This might be the last peace we get until we get home. However, I wanted to go snack shopping now.

"Nah, I just think I will miss this bed." I think I might fall off to sleep if he keeps playing with my hair.

"Then you better pack it in your suitcase and take it home," he says in good humour. It reminds me of when someone is going on holiday and I say I want to join them so they say they might have space in their suitcase.

"I think this bed would take up all my flat space and half of yours," I joke. This bed is huge and worth every star this hotel has. I think it's my favourite part of the hotel. The bed is not too hard and not too soft, it's just the right amount of firmness. I feel like I am on a cloud of bliss whenever I am on it.

"I don't mind sharing." is the last thing I hear from Henry before drifting off to sleep. I don't know how long I sleep for until Henry walks me up and claims we need to check out soon. He had already put our bags into the car whilst I was sleeping.

"One day we need to go on holiday, just the two of us, with no itinerary," I say as we leave the lift, hand in hand. While I am enjoying my time, having everything planned for each day without much freedom is restricting and reminds me of a school trip where they would plan millions of activities during the day and by night, everyone would have no energy to stay awake.

"We can save money by sharing a room too."

"You're right, that way we can get a five-star hotel instead of something else."

"Maybe we should save on rent too," Henry replies, but I'm not paying attention. I hear the sound of familiar voices as we get closer to the lobby and stop in my tracks.

"What-" I cover Henry's mouth my hand and push him against the wall. Luckily the area is fairly empty. I lean close to Henry while trying to hear the conversation coming from the front desk. The voices are of the people who I suspect, James and Eva.

The conversation between them is heated.

"I am not imagining things," James demands bitterly. I think I am past going around the corner to interrupt them at this stage as I stay pressed against Henry who has no choice but to join me in eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Are you suggesting I don't smile at men now? You are being dramatic and controlling," Ava replies, brushing him off. I can imagine her waving her hands around to make a point. She is very expressive.

"You were flirting right in front of me."

"I was doing no such thing. If I was interested in him, would I be marrying you in a few days?" She sighs. Is this what wedding stress looks like on couples?

"I don't know! I am just stating what I saw." James is getting louder now. Henry wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer at the sound of James' voice increasing. I concentrate on the voices of Ava and James instead of the intimate position I am in with Henry.

"Are you sure you even saw the events correctly? I politely smiled at the guy," Ava defends. She's using a tone I know very well. It's the one when she feels backed into a corner and she's trying to get out.

"You know what, it's fine. We can finish this conversation later," James says when it sounds like the person from the front desk has returned with something.

"This conversation is over now." Ava gets in the last word. By the sounds of things, James and Ava stopped at the hotel to collect something that someone left behind in the rush this morning. They leave soon afterwards and we are not caught.

Henry pulls my hand away from his mouth, which I even forgot I put there since I was so invested in their conversation. He doesn't remove his hand from my waist when I step back. Nor does he comment on the argument we witnessed. Instead, he checks his smartwatch, "We better hurry before we miss checking out."

I smile, he is worried about the most important things, isn't he?

~*~ 

So it looks like I won't succeed in Nanowrimo this year. My new goal will be to complete this book before the end of the year.

Girlboss. Gatekeep. Gaslight. 

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