Yearning for her in a way that I’ve never experienced,but will she ever stay in Saxville?
The way I heard her choke up last night has me booking a last-minute flight to Norfolk to surprise her. I’m able to board my flight at 9:50 a.m., which will put me down on the strip she mentioned right after lunchtime.
This is out of character for me, but I want to brighten her day the way she brightens mine. Once I land, I’ll grab an Uber to the strip, and he can drop me off. I’ve packed light because I’ll be back on the red eye home tonight. These next few hours will be worth every penny and every moment when I see her face in a few brief minutes.
My heart is pounding, and my palms are sweating as I try to wipe them on my shorts to clear the clamminess. I never thought she’d be anything but happy to see me, but now I’m doubting if this was a goodidea. Too late, pal. The Uber driver pulls up to the curb, I say thank you, and get out of the car.
It’s surreal down here. The sun is high in the sky, with people and trucks lining the streets.Will I find her in all this chaos?
I sling my backpack over my shoulder and trudge through the crowd. Trying to remember the exterior details of Pages & Brew—light pink, which helps in a sea of blue, green, and orange trucks. Hers will stand out. I pick up the pace when I see light pink over the crowd. I’m practically jogging, dodging people in my way. My heart thuds in my ears, faster than when I arrived.
Standing before me in the van’s window, there she is, framed…again. It’s like an invitation to approach her, but of course, there’s a line. It moves quickly, and when I approach the window, she turns toward me, but her eyes stay glued to her paper. “What can I get you this afternoon?” Pen in hand, ready to take my order.
“I’ll have a large hot French Vanilla coffee with four sugars, hold the cream,” I say to her, waiting for those hazel eyes to peer up at me with the sound of my voice.
Her pen halts, and her face lifts in slow motion to meet my eyes, which are glinting back at her with a smile no one could wipe off my face.
When she finally locks eyes with me, her mouth opens, the pen drops from her hand, and she runs out of the van straight into my arms. I wrap my arms around her waist and pick her up.
With her face buried in the crook of my neck, she mumbles, “How are you here?”
“A plane.” I laugh. It’s deep, and her body against mine is exactly where I want her to be.
Her head pops up and swats my shoulder. “No kidding.” She gently places both hands on my face, inspecting to see if it’s really me. It’s thenthat I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she is the one for me. I want her every single day.
When she wipes her eyes on my polo shirt, she giggles. “Are you seriously wearing a polo shirt?”
“Polo shirts highlight one of my best features.” I puff my chest out with her hanging from me.
I lower her to the ground. Running her hands over my shirt, she says, “I approve.”
“Isn’t that a good thing for me?” I say, sweeping my fingers over her cheek, as her eyes close like we both are savoring this very moment. “You’re busy, so let me help, and then we can figure out the rest later.”
She pops an eyebrow up. “You think you can hang?”
“I can. Tell me what to do and I’ve got you…like your very own sous chef.” I run my hands through my hair, hoping like hell she doesn’t send me packing until she wraps up the day.
“As long as you can handle me barking out orders, then it could work.” Shit. She could bark out orders at me anytime, anywhere…
“Let’s get to it.”
She grabs my hand and walks us inside the van. Her hands are flying, pointing out everything I need to know. I'm a quick learner, so I’ve got this in the bag. The afternoon flies by as she yells orders, and I try to keep up. No wonder she’s exhausted every night. This is brutal. The line never ends…literally never.
We’re closing it up for the night, bringing in the books, bookshelves, and tables as she cleans up the kitchen and coffee areas. The key locks it up tight. When she turns to me, her eyes are tired, but the light inside them is bright.
“Thank you for your help today. And gah, I can’t believe you’re really here.” She pushes my chest. I don’t move; she’s not that strong.
I grab her wrist and tug her to me. “I’m really here. I thought since you were missing your sister, that maybe a friendly face would cheer you up.”
“Well, you sure surprised me. Did I scream when I saw you because I was in my head?” She laughs and takes my hand in hers. “How long are you here for?”
I glance at the time. “I have to be at the airport at eleven…so we have four hours.”
FOURTEEN
Ava
My body is vibrating with all the adrenaline that’s coursing through my body. Having Kai here intensifies it. I’m still in awe that he hopped on a plane to surprise me. It melts my heart. He’s been a comfort while I’ve been down here; it’s crazy he’s standing in front of me.
