The Secret (Boston's Best 1)

Chapter Fifty-One

Maddie

I've never been in First-class before on a plane. Business-class once but other than that just economy normal seats.

My family has money but we're nowhere near as rich as the people that I've come across the last few months. Hell, Penelope and Darius' families both have private jets –though I don't actually know what Pen's family does, she's pretty private about that.

But anyway Matt and I are currently sitting in the First-class section of the plane on our way to Dubai so that Matt can see the work that ultimately led to both of his parents' deaths.

He isn't talking much about it and how it might be affecting him but I know him well enough now to know that he's just trying not to bother me with it. Which is ridiculous because I bother him with every detail of my day.

It seems like whenever he doesn't want to talk about something he either completely shuts off or else he talks about every single thing that comes to mind so he doesn't have to say what's bothering him. He chose the latter today.

"...like if a deer or a lion came charging at you, admittedly they are very fast, but you have a better chance at running away or hiding. But if birds came flying right towards you then you'd be a goner."

"How are birds more of a threat than lions? We interact and live with birds twenty-four-seven, and we see lions at the zoo."

"They can fly, Maddie! Birds can fly! And I'm not necessarily just talking about crows or robins, but yes still them if they were in big groups, but like an eagle could probably pick you up."

"Not me, I'd drag it down." I laugh.

He puts the coffee he was drinking down, "Maddie. Stop."

I raise my hands and finish my bag of crisps. He continues, "So, anyway they could take over the world if there were enough of them and if they had the will power."

"They, as in the birds?" I ask.

He nods, "Yes, the birds. Because if there were enough they could fly everywhere they can scare people away, but lions are much more limited to one region."

"Okay, whatever you say."

"What? Do you have a better contender than that?"

I laugh again, "No, Matt, I don't. And I'm not entertaining this conversation anymore until you tell me how you're really feeling about all of this."

"All of what? How terrifying birds are? Because I could go on about that for a long long time."

"Don't play dumb, it doesn't suit you. About flying out here and seeing all of this."

He leans back in his chair and thinks for a second. "Scared. To be honest I'm scared."

I stay quiet, waiting for him to continue. "I know that my parents did an amazing thing by organising and getting the program up and running but this is literally the thing that caused their death." He rolls his eyes, "And I know technicall, it was whatever terrorist group did it, but this is the thing that caused it."

He runs his hands through his hair, clearly not letting go of that habit. "What if I come here and see all of the work they put into this place and I decide to quit football and work at the firm here permanently? Or what if I see it all and decide that I can't quite deal with the pressure of it all and decide to hand over my shares? And if I can't deal with the pressure of this then how the fuck am I going to even pretend like I can go pro for football?"

I reach over to him and take his hand in mine. "Listen to me, Matt. You are one of the most extraordinary people I have met in my life. You are kind to everyone and humble and make everyone you meet feel comfortable around you. And partially owning a law firm and managing a refugee program and becoming a pro-footballer are completely different paths of life, they don't even compare to one another. You'll decide what's best for you and I'll support you no matter what you decide."

He lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles and smiles at me, "You know this is kind of nostalgic."

"How so?"

"Cause we met on a plane."

I smile too, "Oh, shit, yeah. How come you were in economy and not First-class then."

"Obviously, I knew that was the day I was going to meet the most beautiful woman ever."

I roll my eyes and fail to hide my smile. He shakes his head, "No, I got caught in some serious traffic the day before and ended up missing my flight, so I just had to book the next available one and that's all there was."

"So, fate?" I ask only half joking.

He kisses my knuckles again, "Yes. Fate."