Love or In Love (COMPLETED)

29. 'PESTO BASKET'

Hannah woke me up. "What time is it?"

"It's 4.30pm ma'am. Mr. Avery will be arriving shortly to pick you up for dinner." Hannah informed me.

"What?" I asked perplexed. "What dinner?" I didn't even know when this plan was made!

"Mr. Avery asked me not to cook dinner. He said that you agreed to go out with him before you fell asleep."

"Well that explains why I don't remember anything about it." I said stressing dramatically on 'anything'.

I got off the bed and planned my outfit. "Any idea where he's taking me?" I asked Hannah hopefully.

"No idea ma'am." She shook her head. Shoot.

I finally picked out a plain black semi-formal dress that landed mid-thigh. I did remember wearing it for someone's funeral... but I guess today is a funeral. The death of my relationship with Jackson.

I took a quick and much needed shower because I reeked of alcohol. Hannah kept my dress ready. I put in minimum efforts to dress up. Prompt at 5.00pm, Jackson was at my door.

"You look nice." He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my head at the right moment, so instead it was a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you." I said curtly. "Shall we?" I pointed towards the door. Instead of taking his arm, I clutched my purse tighter into my hand and walked off before he could respond.

"So, where are we dining tonight?" I asked. Who the fuck actually says that? I preferred if fancy word stuck to court rooms. I was getting sicker with nerves by the minute.

"There is plenty of time for that. First, there's somewhere I wanna take you." Jackson smirked. Oh dear. This wasn't gonna be good. I could already see the evening ending badly, well at least for me.

Jackson's driver drove us towards the outskirts of the city to some open fields.

"Where are we?" I asked in confusion. Jackson and I stepped outside the car.

"Put this on." He handed me a blind fold.

"What? Why?"

"Will you just trust me?" he sighed. I turned around as Jackson tied the soft silk cloth across my eyes. He knotted the scarf and pulled my free flowing hair to one side as he laid a gentle kiss on my exposed shoulder.

The peck was soft and sweet, but I felt nothing. No sparks, so shivers, no butterflies. Simply nothing.Jackson held my hand and guided me through the area. 

"Are you ready?" he asked. I nodded in the positive. Jackson deftly undid the scarf. I blinked my eyes to adjust to the light.

In front of me laid this huge hot air balloon. I gasped in surprise.

"You like it?" he asked nervously.

"It's amazing." I answered honestly. It was extremely romantic and beautiful. It was almost time for sunset, so it was the perfect time to go for a ride. Jackson made it so much more difficult for me to break up with him.

"You ready for a ride?" he asked. I swallowed a huge lump down my throat and smiled. "Let's go."

The aeronaut was ready and waiting inside the rather large hot air balloon. We stepped inside and the basket lifted off the ground inch by inch.

The sun was almost setting, a dull orange mixed with a bright yellow hue sky embraced us. As the city lay below us, I caught Jackson staring at me. I ducked my head and rotated my neck to the other side.