Chapter 1
Annie
JULY | Balance: $52,623
I waited at the end of the jetway, staring down the airport’s hallway, watching for his face. I did my best not to check my phone every ten seconds, which was turned on full volume anyway.
“Miss, I’m sorry, but we’re about to have to close the doors for takeoff.”
I gave my most winning smile. “Maybe one more minute?” I asked as my phone dinged a few times in succession.
The flight attendant pursed her lips. “Thirty seconds.”
I checked my messages.
R
Not going to make it. She knows
Good luck at the wedding
I’ll see you at the office when you get back
Dinner and you can tell me all about it?
My stomach dropped, my polite smile faltering as I struggled not to burst into tears. Not only had he not boarded in Chicago, he’d never made his first flight in Nashville. He knew hours ago that he wasn’t coming. And yet, there I was: playing the fool, again.
“Oh, um, I guess they’re not coming. I’ll just board now. Thanks for waiting.”
The flight attendant’s face turned sympathetic as she scanned my boarding pass. “Men are rarely not a disappointment.”
On a shuddering inhale, I nodded, not meeting her eyes. I couldn’t stand to see the pity there. I had to pull myself together before boarding. People I knew were on the same flight.
I hurried to my seat, waving to those I knew on my way: Kitty’s friend Jessie, and her boyfriend. Jessie’s boyfriend gave a big smile and waved back, while another hockey guy I vaguely recognized from the engagement party sat behind him. His eyes flicked to mine as his ears reddened.
Fortunately, since I’d had a seat next to Roger, I was alone in the row, and a few rows back from the others. I shoved mycarry-on under the seat in front of me, having checked my big bag in Nashville.
Once I sat back in my seat, I pulled out my phone and did what I should have done months before.
This is over. See you at the office.
Then I turned off my phone and calculated just how hard I could cry and not draw attention to myself.
* * *
I jolted out of my stupor as the plane hit the runway in Charleston.
I should have been excited. It was my best friend’s wedding. I’d successfully planned and executed a dream bachelorette in Big Sur for all of her rich and famous friends, and gave a great speech at their engagement party. By all accounts, I was a picture-perfect maid of honor. And notably, Kitty’d chosen me for that role over all her rich and famous friends. Kitty and I had been part of each other’s lives the longest, for sure. We’d seen each other through snot-nosed ugly cry heartbreaks. The loss of loved ones. Pets. Getting our periods. Holding each other’s hair back as we puked in corn fields while we tried to bounce back from said heartbreaks. My true ride-or-die, who always made time for me no matter how big and important she was.
All I felt was numb. And not a fun, quiet numbness—a staticky chaos. A numbness that made me restless and antsy.
Maybe I could have one of those flings with the best man that romantic comedies made seem so appealing. I’d had a massive crush on Kitty’s brother in high school. Maybe reigniting the flame would be a fun distraction.
I swiped open my phone as the plane taxied. My background was a picture of the last flowers Roger’d sent me. The edge of the note was visible. “Love you, kid.”
He’d just had to miss a dinner withme, making it up by sending flowers. I was somewhat used to it. After all, I knew I was number two.
I vowed to browse the internet for a more fun background. Maybe Kitty and I could take a cute selfie over the weekend and that could be my new background.
