The Invisible Assassin(65)

Jake stood, watching the gate, hoping against hope that things would change, that she’d return, that Gareth would change his mind, that she’d walk back through to him and fling her arms around him and they’d run off into the sunset to spend their lives together. But she never came.

After an hour, when the flight had been called, and the board announced that it had departed, only then did Jake turn and head for the exit.

Yes, she’d gone. But the planet was small. He’d see her again. And next time, he’d have something special for her. A book. One of the Malichea books.

‘Next time,’ thought Jake determinedly. ‘Next time . . .’