“Must be the motion. This is only her second flight,” I tell Reid.
He turns to face me. “Sounds like she had a great time.”
I nod. “It was a unique opportunity.”
My palms are dripping, and my yoga pants do little to soak up the clamminess as I run my hands up and down my thighs.
“I bet. Want to elaborate?” He’s quiet, keeping the conversation between the two of us.
Reid looks like a knockout with his khaki shorts, white polo, and scruffy face. I’d rather kiss him, but that tactic hasn’t worked. I should have told him a long time ago.
“I do, but it’s complicated. And more than likely going to make you very mad.”
“More mad?”
“Probably.”
Our voices are hushed, our heads close. To anyone walking by, we look like a couple in love, whispering sweet nothings and promises.
I decide to rip off the Band-Aid. Go big or go home, that kind of thing. “I’m the UAB.”
“What?” Reid looks at me like I’m an alien with seven eyes. “What did you say?”
“I writeThe UnAffectionate Blogger. That’s me. That’s how I make a living.”
Reid doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t move, not even a twitch.
“The blogger you’ve been corresponding with is me. Andrea, but I’m really Andonia, which is the truth. I knew who you were when the girls trick-or-treated at your house. I wasn’t stalking you ... what I mean is, I didn’t come to your house on purpose. James was reading your blog, and my sister was concerned he was having an affair, and since I’m a blogger, she asked me to read your blog. Then the girls ended up at your house by chance, and I was in shock. It was you, and we lived in the same city.”
“Youarea blogger, notwasa failed mom blogger,” Reid says slowly, interrupting my verbal diarrhea.
“Yes and no. I’m a blogger, but also my original mom blog failed.”
He doesn’t say anything in return. I have to hand it to him ... his expression is schooled, giving away nothing.
“I was invited on this trip as part of the blog. I’m going to promo Universal in my own snarky way, which I’ve been reconsidering lately, but then I also have to pay the bills. I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. I wanted to tell you, but I knew it would end us, and I think I just wanted to hold on as long as possible.”
My chest tightens as I wait for him to say something.Anything. My mind silently begs him to talk.
He looks at me, saying nothing, though.
“Everything else was the truth.” It’s a lame excuse or explanation or whatever you want to call it. I lied, and it’s going to mark the end of the small slice of happiness I’ve enjoyed these last three months.
Reid pulls in a deep breath and takes my hand in his. It gives me pause, and I let out a sigh of relief. He’s touching me, igniting a warmth I haven’t felt in days.
“Andi, Andonia, Andrea, whoever you are.” He stares at me, his eyes icy and cold. “The only thing I believe is that you didn’t want me to hurt your daughter, and out of respect to her, not you, when we get off the plane, we’re going to say good-bye, see you soon, and all of that made-up crap. I’ll smile at Gabby and she’ll walk off with her Goofy doll, and then you can come up with whatever excuse you want, because we will never see one another again. Hear me? I guess, after all, the Spencers of the world win. I was a pawn in another game.”
I can’t breathe. My stomach twists and rolls, threatening to empty, and my eyes search for the barf bag.
“Nod if you understand. This is the best I can offer you.”
I nod, willing the tears not to fall. I think about Mr. Coffee and his running away from me. I consider Gabby, and how I have to be strong when I should really be thinking about owning up to my bad behavior.
“It’s been a lot of fun, whatever part of it was real or not, but now it’s over.”
Those are the last words Reid speaks to me before we leave baggage claim and he makes good on our faux good-bye. It’s a send-off I’ll never forget.
In other words, it will haunt me forever.
