“THIS is a disaster,” Andi said, sobbing into the phone. “I can’t be some tabloid It-Girl. That’s not who I am.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Zander said. “We’ll figure this out. I mean, after all, it’s not so bad that people know about us, is it? It was only a matter of time.”
“Yes, but I’m not cut out for this sort of thing. I’m just little old me from Vegas. I’m not the girl anyone wants to put in their magazine. It’s you they want, not me.”
“I understand,” he said. “But sometimes that goes hand in hand. I promise you it will get better.”
“I’m afraid this isn’t anything I think I can get used to, Zander. It’s just not me.”
“Andi, of course you can. We can muddle through this together. Why don’t I come and get you, and you can join me here and we can sleep on it?”
“Oh, God. And have to meet your parents under the circumstances? That would be so awkward. No, no. I don’t think that’s a great idea.”
“What if I come out there? Pips won’t mind.”
“Yeah, except photographers are going to scent you like they’re bloodhounds. And then they’ll be out here and bothering Pippa. It’s bad enough I’ve overstayed my welcome, but I don’t want to make her home her prison.”
“Pippa’s a big girl. She’d have fun with the paps. Maybe push one or two into the pool even.”
“I have to think on this. I’m not sure what I’m to do about it.”
“You know I care a great deal for you, don’t you?”
Andi nodded into the phone as if he could see it. “Yes. And I can’t believe how wonderful it’s been with you. I just don’t know about all this other stuff. Let me get some sleep and try to figure out it.”
“Okay then. But Andi?” Zander said, his voice sounding boyish in its hopeful tone. “I know it’s early and all, but I really think I could be falling in love with you.”
Andi’s voice faltered. “Me too, Z. Me too.” She hung up the phone.
~*~
Andi slept fitfully. Well, fitfully would have been a generous term. She woke so much that she finally got up and wrote a long note to Zander.
Dear Zander, she wrote. You’re not going to like this, but I think I know what I have to do. By now I’ve gotten the first train out and am making my way back to Africa. I know there I can focus on others instead of on myself, and I can stop worrying about strangers accosting me and what people will think of me, if they’ll think me inadequate for the role of girlfriend to a prince.
Z, the thing is I’m not like you. I’m a simple girl from a simple background with simple needs. I’m not made to be all fancy and famous. As much fun as it was, I realize now that’s a role I wasn’t meant to play forever.
Thank you, though, for the best memories. I cannot begin to tell you what a perfect, magical time we spent on holiday together.
I’m going to leave this beautiful evening wear you so kindly bought me here for Pippa. It’s the least I can do after she lent me everything right down to her brand new tags-still-on-it lingerie for our romantic getaway. Maybe she’ll be able to wear it to the wedding. I’d love to keep it, but really, it would get all wrinkled in my backpack. And it’ll only serve to remind me that I’ve left you behind, which wouldn’t have been my first choice.
I know you’ll find someone better suited to your lifestyle. But you have to promise me you’ll never take her skydiving. That’ll be our memory alone.
In the meantime, I will forever keep you in my heart.
With love, Andi.
With that, Andi packed up her backpack, left a thank-you note for Pippa, and slipped out the door. She walked down the mountain road toward town with the plan to hitch the first ride to the train station she could find.