The Layover(35)

Earlier this morning, when we woke up, Blake had left me one last gift on the nightstand. It was a small grey box and inside were two items: A flight ticket to Nashville that was scheduled to leave in four days with the words, “Stay,” written across the top. And a small charm—a small silver plane with the words “You’re in my seat” etched onto its wings.

I’d wanted to take them both, to tell him “okay” to me staying, but I couldn’t do it. Instead, I slipped the charm onto my bracelet and wrote the words, “I can’t...” on the flight ticket.

“I’m ready now,” I say when I walk into the living room.

“Okay.” He stands up from the couch and takes my bag from me, leading the way to the garage. He looks over at me once before he pulls off, saying, “I enjoyed every second that you were here.”

“Me, too.”

We don’t talk on the way to the airport. There’s nothing to say.

I look over at him every chance I get, trying to make sure I memorize his every feature, and every time he looks at me I pretend as if I wasn’t staring.

When we make it to the airport, he grabs my bag and opens my door—walking me inside like a complete and total gentleman.

Taking my bag from him, I avoid eye contact. “Thank you so much for letting me stay with you, Blake. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And um...The sex was okay.”

He places his fingers underneath my chin and tilts my head up. “Okay?”

“Do I need to define the word for you?”

He slips his arms around my waist and presses his lips against mine. “I’m sure you’ll still be thinking about how ‘okay’ it was weeks from now.”

“Maybe.”

Hugging me a little tighter, he sighs. “What’s the worst that could happen if you stayed with me for four more days?”

I open my mouth to say, “Nothing” but I pause. “Feelings.”

Not seeming to understand the ramifications behind that, he kisses my forehead—whispering, “I wouldn’t mind that.” And then he lets me go.

I turn around and walk away from him, but I stop and look over my shoulder.

He looks absolutely confused—torn, but he’s hiding it behind a smile.

I walk over to him again, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him like he’s kissed me so many times before. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’ve already told me that.” He pulls away and threads his fingers through my hair.

“So?”

“So, if you still plan on leaving me, I suggest you do it now because if you don’t, I’ll be dragging you back home within the next twenty seconds.”

“Goodbye, Blake.” I slowly let go of him and head towards the desk, looking back every few seconds—making sure he’s still watching me. Until he isn’t anymore.

For some reason, my chest is tightening, and I can’t help but feel like I’m making a huge mistake.

“Welcome back, Miss Weston,” the desk agent says as she hands me my boarding pass. “Have a safe flight.”

I look over my shoulder, telling myself that if Blake is still there, it must be some type of hopeless romantic sign, but he isn’t. No one is.

I make my way through security without incident. There are no random alarms, no TSA agents emptying and re-emptying my bag, and unfortunately, no one I’m in a rush to get away from this time.

By the time I make it to my gate, almost everyone has boarded.

“Enjoy first class, Miss Weston.” A woman scans my ticket, and I smile.

I’d told Blake that my ticket home was coach-class and that I didn’t need an upgrade, but he’s done it anyway. I want to send him a text, to playfully berate him for going against what I said, but I can’t.

I don’t want him to get the wrong impression.

We’ve already said goodbye.

As I buckle my seatbelt, I look outside my window. I’m halfway expecting Blake to come on board at any second, to say, “I’ve decided I want to fuck you in Nashville, too,” but no one takes the seat next to me.

“Ladies and gentlemen aboard flight number 3718, the main cabin doors will be closing in two minutes...”

I tap my foot in anticipation, still holding on to the same hope.

“The main cabin doors have officially been closed. Please stow away all personal electronic devices until we reach the proper altitude.”

I shut my eyes and lean back in my seat. The second Blake’s face crosses my mind, I know for a fact that I’ve made a big ass mistake.

I could’ve stayed for four more days...



I bypass baggage claim and make my way to the escalators.